The EU-funded research project “OVERHEAT- Innovative Strategies for Containership Fires Prevention and Management” was recently launched to promote technologies that aid in the prevention and management of fires on container ships.
As The Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL) explains, the OVERHEAT project will focus on the development of a digital solution (DS) that provides a comprehensive overview of the situation on board and around the ship. By integrating Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), a system for fire prevention, early detection and rapid response will be established.
A wide range of stakeholders, including shipping companies, port administrations, public authorities, policy makers, business organisations and academic participants will be brought together in the OVERHEAT project.
The Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL) is part of the consortium and will focus on analysing existing prevention systems and measures, the requirement profiles of the various parties involved in combating and preventing fire on container ships and on reviewing the project results.
The reason behind the project
Container ships play a crucial role in world trade, transporting around 90% of globally traded goods by volume and value. Despite their importance, modern container ships have often been built according to outdated design principles without paying sufficient attention to potential safety and environmental implications, ISL notes.
Cargo fires pose a significant threat to ships, including ferries with trucks carrying containers. These fires can result in human and cargo losses and can also impact coastal zones and marine protected areas.
To remind, in a recent interview with SAFETY4SEA, Ansuman Ghosh, Director of Risk Assessment (Singapore) at UK P&I Club, drew the attention towards a recently launched industry initiative, the Cargo Fire & Loss Innovation Initiative (CFLII), designed to mitigate cargo fires and losses in the maritime sector.
The Safetytech Accelerator Cargo Fire & Loss Innovation Initiative (CFLII) is a collaborative technology acceleration program that will help tackle the issue through shaping joint requirements, identifying technology solutions, undertaking carefully designed trials and developing best practices and recommendations.
