Crew Safety Training: The First Line of Defence
Captains can sail for years before encountering their first major dangerous goods fire. When it happens, the crew's response depends entirely on training received months or years earlier.
Captains can sail for years before encountering their first major dangerous goods fire. When it happens, the crew's response depends entirely on training received months or years earlier.
At 0430 in Rotterdam, an inspector approaches another tower of steel boxes. Based on industry statistics, 2.5% of inspected dangerous goods containers hold mis-declared cargo capable of destroying ships and killing crews.
Container ship fires are not rare events. Yet the industry continues to train crews for calm-weather scenarios that bear no resemblance to a real emergency at 0300 in force 6 conditions. Technology could close this gap — if the industry is willing to use it.
The maritime industry spends enormous energy training crews to respond to dangerous goods fires. But once a fire takes hold on a container ship, putting it out is not a realistic option. The real work happens long before any smoke appears.