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ππ₯ When Cars Catch Fire at Sea: Safety on Ro-Ro Ships and Ferries
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Transporting cars across the sea on Ro-Ro (Roll-on/Roll-off), Ro-Lo (Roll-on/Lift-off) vessels or ferries looks simple: vehicles drive aboard, get secured, and the ship sails away. But behind this smooth picture hides a serious risk β fire.
Every year, accidents involving car decks remind us that even a single spark can lead to disaster. Letβs dive into the dangers, precautions, and real-life lessons.
β‘ Where Do Fires Come From?
Electrical faults : Short circuits, old wiring, faulty chargers.
Fuel leaks : Invisible drips that ignite in closed spaces.
Overheated engines : Cars often board with red-hot exhausts.
Electric vehicle batteries : Thermal runaway in lithium-ion cells can cause uncontrollable blazes.
Human carelessness : Smoking, leaving devices charging, undeclared hazardous cargo.
π Case study : In 2022, the Felicity Ace, a car carrier loaded with EVs, burst into flames in the Atlantic. Firefighting efforts failed, and the vessel sank with thousands of luxury cars onboard.
π‘οΈ Precautions That Make the Difference
Disconnect batteries on conventional cars.
Check for fuel leaks before loading.
Keep tanks half full, never brimming.
Ensure ventilation in car decks.
Dedicated EV zones with thermal sensors and fire blankets.
24/7 patrols and crew training.
β οΈ Prevention is not bureaucracy β itβs survival.
π¨ When Fire Breaks Out
At Sea π
Sound the alarm immediately.
Crew must seal compartments, activate COβ or foam systems.
Passengers must evacuate fast β no going back for bags.
π Example : In 2008, the ferry Lisco Gloria caught fire in the Baltic. Thanks to drills and quick reaction, over 200 lives were saved.
In Port β
Disembark passengers and vehicles instantly.
Local fire brigades take control.
Isolate burning cars to prevent chain reaction.
π Example : The Sorrento ferry (2015) suffered a truck fire off Mallorca. All 156 people evacuated safely thanks to immediate action.
π’ Lessons from the Past
Norman Atlantic (2014): Chaos during evacuation cost 11 lives.
Grande America (2019): A Ro-Ro blaze sank the ship along with cars and dangerous goods.
History shows: every accident was predictable and preventable.
βοΈ Final Word
Cars at sea mean risk. The risk grows with every EV, every shortcut in maintenance, every overlooked detail.
π₯ For shipowners: fire safety is not expense, but investment in survival.
π₯ For crew: vigilance is the only weapon.
π₯ For passengers: discipline saves lives.
Because on the high seas, thereβs no fire brigade rushing to the rescue β only those onboard and the choices made before the fire began. ππ
Picture: Netherlands Coastguards via AFP
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