Vehicle Carrier Safety Forum: Industry urges shift from guidance to realistic drills

October 28 ------ The Vehicle Carrier Safety Forum (VCSF) is emphasizing the importance of realistic fire drills and stronger cooperation between shipboard crews and shore-based teams to improve emergency preparedness aboard vehicle-carrying vessels.

The VCSF announced its new Fire Drill Guidelines for Vehicle Carrying Vessels, designed to help operators translate established fire response principles into practical exercises involving both shipboard crews and shore-based emergency teams. The guidance applies to Pure Car Carriers (PCCs), Pure Car and Truck Carriers (PCTCs), RoRo and Ro-Pax vessels, recognizing the different operational challenges associated with vessel design, cargo arrangements and firefighting equipment.

Rather than introducing prescriptive procedures, the publication focuses on how crews make decisions under pressure, coordinate with external responders and adapt when a fire develops beyond the initial response.

From firefighting procedures to realistic emergency scenarios

A central message of the guidelines is that fire drills should test more than the crew’s ability to follow established procedures. Exercises should progressively challenge personnel with situations in which conditions change, resources become limited and initial firefighting efforts prove unsuccessful.

The VCSF identifies six scenarios covering emergencies at sea and in port, grouped around three possible outcomes:

• Fire controlled by initial response – Testing early detection, crew mobilization, firefighting system activation and monitoring.

• Fire contained within established boundaries – Practicing sustained firefighting, boundary protection, coordination with specialists and assessment of re-ignition risks.

• Fire that cannot be contained – Preparing for evacuation, external firefighting assistance, salvage operations and potentially abandoning the vessel.

The scenarios are supported by tabletop exercises that encourage crews and shore teams to consider decisions extending beyond immediate firefighting, including engagement with authorities and port of refuge planning. The guidelines also reinforce the importance of timely action, establishing an objective for the deployment of fixed firefighting systems within 15 minutes of the initial alarm, as soon as reasonably practicable.

Industry representatives stress the importance of preparedness

Geir Jorgensen, Chair of the IG P&I Ships’ Technical Committee, emphasized the role of cooperation in strengthening emergency response capabilities: “Industry collaboration is essential to improving fire safety. Realistic drills help ship and shore teams prepare to respond quickly and effectively, reducing the risk of a fire escalating”.

Furthermore, Lional Sharon, Marine Adviser at the International Chamber of Shipping, highlighted the benefits of a systematic training approach. "This guidance aims to provide a structured approach to conducting fire drills on board ships. As the industry faces increasingly challenging fire scenarios, they will help ensure crews are better prepared to respond effectively. By following a consistent and systematic approach, the guidelines can strengthen onboard preparedness and improve the crew’s ability to manage fire emergencies," said Lional Sharon.

The guidelines complement the VCSF’s existing Fire Response – High Level Guidelines and are intended to provide operators with a flexible framework for testing emergency preparedness under realistic conditions. Their broader message is that effective fire safety depends not only on onboard equipment and established procedures, but also on the ability of crews, companies and external responders to act together when an incident develops beyond expectations.

"We developed these guidelines because changing industry practice takes more than issuing guidance – it needs to be rehearsed through realistic drills so that response works when it really matters. By helping crews and shore teams practice together, we aim to embed better decision-making, coordination and a faster, more effective response to fires on vehicle carrying vessels, ultimately protecting lives," said Colin Gillespie, Chair of the Vehicle Carrier Safety Forum, stressing that improvements in emergency procedures depend on their practical application.

What operators should prioritize

Beyond complete fire emergency scenarios, the VCSF encourages operators to incorporate focused training exercises into their preparedness programs.

An additional consideration is the role of shore-based teams in reducing the demands placed on crews during major incidents. The guidelines recommend that companies establish access to firefighting expertise in advance, enabling shore personnel to coordinate specialist assistance when necessary.

Why joint drills matter for ship and shore teams

The VCSF highlights port operations as an especially important setting for realistic emergency training. Vehicle loading and unloading activities can create additional challenges because cargo spaces may be open, shore personnel may be working onboard and multiple organizations may need to respond simultaneously.

The guidance therefore encourages coordinated exercises involving shipping companies, port authorities, terminal operators, emergency services and other relevant parties. These exercises should test not only firefighting capabilities but also how effectively personnel can be accounted for, how information is transferred to external responders and how responsibilities are divided during an emergency.

To support this cooperation, operators are encouraged to make essential vessel information available to shore responders, including fire-zone plans, cargo declarations, firefighting system details, access arrangements, vessel stability limitations and information about batteries and other energy storage systems.

Source: safety4sea.com