Is it Time to Abandon CO_2 as an Approved Engine Room Fixed Firefighting System?

摘要

Carbon dioxide has served us well over many years, but has the significant drawback in that it is understandably viewed as a system of last resort by most mariners. Undoubtedly, CO_2 will remain the system of choice for the protection of cargo holds. However, the advances in fire safety engineering in the author's lifetime as a firefighter and fire preventionist now provide the marine community with improved water based systems -systems of first resort, which do not place a Master in the unenviable position of saving the ship but sacrificing crew trapped in a machinery space protected by CO_2. At the time of writing this article, yet another machinery space fire resulted in over 1,167 passengers abandoning the Princesse Ragnhild, in "flat calm". At this point the firefighting measures taken by the crew are not known.