Fires on Yachts and Superyachts The Risks and Solutions
Agenda:
Defining yachts and superyachts
Fires on yachts, fires on superyachts
Statistics
What are the risks?
What are the solutions?
What is a Superyacht?.......good question
• Technically, greater than 24m is a “Large Yacht” LY3 applies
• Commercially, brokers will market anything over 40m as a ‘superyacht’.
• Practically, a yacht crew would laugh at crew on a 40m who said they were on a ‘superyacht’
• The average LOA is now 52m. So now need to be over 90m LOA to make in into top 100 yachts compared to 44m a decade ago
• 50m plus can be considered a superyacht, as by the time you get to that size you’re in a pretty exclusive club.
• Megayacht and Gigayacht are terms applied to 100 metre plus yachts
So a superyacht is….
• Luxury yacht with a loadline length of 24 metres or above
• Either private use, only by their owners
• Or private and part time commercial charter
• Others on full time charter
• 80% motor powered and 20% sail
• For the purpose of this exercise; any vessel under 24 metres used
for leisure or pleasure activities
• Also called simply boats or pleasure craft
• Construction usually fibreglass, composite or wood, some
aluminium and a few steel
• 50% motor powered 50% sail
What is a Yacht then?
Difference between Yachts and Superyachts• Construction rules are very different
• Operating regulations are different
• Licensing of crew and operators is very different
• Lifesaving and firefighting regulations are different
• Larger Superyachts at 3000 GT and over fall under the IMO commercial shipping regulations SOLAS
International Yacht Regulations
• All yachts carrying 13 to 36 passengers to
comply with PYC, (Passenger Yacht Code)
• Commercial yachts LY3, (Large Yacht Code)
Equivalence to SOLAS (commercial ships)
• Private yachts up to 12 passengers – No
regulations at all?
REG Yacht Code• The REG Yacht Code incorporates various Large Yacht Code
versions since inception in 1997 and the PYC
• Common Annexes cover areas not specifically addressed in
previous versions.
• Battery systems.
• Fuel in fixed tanks
• Over-side working systems
• Requirements for occasional workers
• Drills and Exercises
• Applies to new vessels constructed after 1 January 2019
FIRES ON SHIPS - RULESHISTORY OF SOLAS FIRE PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS
Sinking of the
Titanic in 1912
1914 and 1929
SOLAS
Conventions
Fire on board SS Morro
Castle in 1934
– 134 fatalities
1948 and 1967 SOLAS
Conventions
FIRES ON SHIPS - RULESHISTORY OF SOLAS FIRE PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS
1974 SOLAS ConventionCame into effect in 1980 - still in force today
Separated the fire requirements into a
Separate chapters:
• SOLAS chapter II (Construction)
• Fire protection
• Fire detection
• Fire extinction
Further revised 1981 & 1983
FIRES ON SHIPS - RULESHISTORY OF SOLAS FIRE PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS
1992 Fire Safety Amendments
In 1990, a fire aboard the
Scandinavian Star passenger
ship left 158 persons dead.
FIRES ON SHIPS - RULESHISTORY OF SOLAS FIRE PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS
1996 Amendments – FTP CodeFire Test Procedures
• Non-combustibility test
• Smoke and toxicity test
• Test for ''A'', ''B'' and ''F'' class divisions
• Test for fire door control systems
• Test for surface flammability
• Test for primary deck coverings
• Test for vertically supported textiles and films
• Test for upholstered furniture and
• Test for bedding components.
FIRES ON SHIPS - RULESHISTORY OF SOLAS FIRE PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS
SOLAS 2000 Amendments Chapter II-2
(Entry into force: 1 July 2002)
PART B - PREVENTION OF FIRE AND EXPLOSION
• Regulation 4 - Probability of ignition
• Regulation 5 - Fire growth potential
• Regulation 6 - Smoke generation potential & toxicity
FIRES ON SHIPS - RULESHISTORY OF SOLAS FIRE PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS
2007 Amendments – Fire Safety Systems Code
• Separate from carriage and other
statutory requirements
• May be applied in a more user-friendly
manner by equipment manufacturers,
systems engineers, etc..
FIRES ON SHIPS - RULESHISTORY OF SOLAS FIRE PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS
Structural Fire Protection Classes
Temperature to rise no
more than 180°C
Temperature to rise no
more than 140°C
• class "A-60" 60 min
• class "A-30" 30 min
• class "A-15" 15 min
• class "A-0" 0 min
INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONSCOMMERCIAL YACHTS UP TO 12 PASSENGERS
Yachts Up to 12 Passengers Commercial Ships
GT <500
(LY3)
GT ≥500
(LY3)
L ≥ 85m
(LY3)
SOLAS – cargo
ships
SOLAS – passenger
ships
Cat A machinery spaces and
Sauna fire rating
A30 A60 A60 A60 A60
MVZ and enclosed stairways No Yes Yes No Yes
No. Independent fire pumps 1 2 2 2 2 GT<4000
3 GT≥4000
Restrictions on combustible
material in interior outfitting
No No No Restricted to 45 MJ/m2 of calorific value and
total volume equivalent to 2.5 mm on
combined areas (walls, ceiling and lining)
How big is a motor yacht of just less 500GT?
About 50m maximum
And 3000 GT?
About 85 to 90m
INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS - FIRE PROTECTION
- A30 fire rating
- One independent fire pump
- No restrictions on combustible material in
internal outfitting
- No MVZ and enclosed stairways
COMMERCIAL YACHTS UP TO 12
PASSENGERS (LY3)COMMERCIAL SHIPS (SOLAS)
A60 Cat A machinery spaces and Sauna fire rating
Two or more independent fire pumps
Restrictions on combustible material in interior
outfitting
Passenger ship only - MVZ and enclosed stairways
LENGTH [m]
GR
OS
S T
ON
NA
GE
[G
T]
≈50 85
≈3
00
05
00
A60 Cat A machinery spaces
and Sauna fire rating
Two independent fire pumps
No restrictions on combustible
material in interior outfitting
(io) MVZ and enclosed
stairways
• Made commercial shipping much safer
• Superyachts and yachts on charter comply with the same rules hence they are also much safer
• The larger yachts and superyachts suffer less fires because of the regulations.
• Less risk for Underwriters
INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS – WHAT HAVE THEY DONE?
INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS - FIRE PROTECTION & SOLAS
PRIVATE YACHTS “pleasure yachts not engaged in trade”
With less than 12 passengers onboard
No requirement
to comply with
any
regulations.....?
So what about the smaller yachts, boats etc?
• Lack of regulatory requirements – increased risk, more fires
• Less experienced crews, “weekend sailors” - more groundings, capsizing and more fires
• Portable gas appliances used, galley cookers, heaters etc.
• Fire detection systems and fire protection systems not mandatory
• None or little crew training in fire fighting
• Highest frequency of all yacht fires are in the 10 to 20 metre range
Relative Yacht Population Variation (number basis)
CASE REPORTS
Casualty-Type Distribution | by Number
CASE REPORTS
Casualty-Type Distribution | by Cost
CASE REPORTS
Causes of Yacht fires
• 26% of fires are caused by “Off-Boat” sources
• 20% of fires are due to “Engine Electrical”
• 15% of fires are due to “Other DC Electrical”
• 9% of fires are due to “Other Engine”
• 8% of fires are due to “Batteries”
• The remainder are galley fires, petrol filling, smoking etc.
Potential maintenance issues
Marina Fires
Marina Fires
Boatyard Fires
Boatyard Fires
Boatyard Fires
Lürssen Superyacht Fire – Bremen Sept 2018
PROJECT SASSI – Before the Fire
approximate loss of $700 million
Nakilat Damen Shipyard Fire – Qatar August 2019
• CONSTELLATION, 80m Oceanco-built
• MARACUNDA, 52m CRN
• AL ADAID, 36m Riva
Reported on Superyacht News websites in the public domain it is
thought, although not confirmed that the yachts;
Were completely destroyed by a fire in a shipyard shed
Fire at MB92 in Barcelona –Sept 2019
Refit and Repair Yard Fire Risks
• Fire risks – vessels closely grouped together
• Painting involving highly flammable solvent materials
• Sub contractors, lack of safety procedures
• Cutting gases and welding
• Electrical cabling and equipment
• Open and unprotected fire zones
Solutions to reduce risk
• Regulations to encompass smaller yachts
• Mandatory training and certification of yacht owners
• Marina risk assessments
• Ship and boatyard risk assessments (JH143)………
Shipyard/ Boatyard Risk Assessments (JH143)
• The JH143 risk assessment is a proven tool in reducing shipyard
risk, since the early 2000’s there has been a significant decrease
in shipyard losses.
• Initial assessment after a thorough audit
• Recommendations for improvements
• Monitoring for continual compliance and improvement
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