Medium sized marine vessels, i.e., 24 meters or less, are some of the hardest working vessels on the water. Many commercial vessels, such as fishing boats, tugs, support vessels for offshore operations, and research vessels fall into this category. There are tight confines, machinery everywhere, limited crew, and often a 24/7 schedule.
Other vessels in this size category are also hardworking at providing a sense of style, luxury, and comfort. These are the medium sized yachts. With a crew to serve both the guests and the yacht, they are often on duty 24 hours a day, like the fishing vessel.
The Fire Risk
A fire on board any vessel that is underway is a super-serious matter. Vessels in the ~24-meter category are in that perfect-storm size where there is a sizable onboard engine, onboard generator, and other operational equipment in the engine room. Then, there is a crew, and possibly guests as well. They are all confined into small vessel, and there is nowhere to safely retreat. A fire in the onboard engine space that is not suppressed expediently will quickly threaten the entire vessel.
Even if the crew is well-trained and equipped for marine firefighting (but note—they probably won’t be) and extinguishes the fire, any significant damage in the engine room is problematic. Mechanically speaking, almost everything that is important to the vessel is located in the engine space.
Hydraulic pumps, electrical generators, and the fire pump are typically installed in the engine room. Damage to other systems can leave the vessel in the dark, unable to maneuver, and lacking hydraulic power. And since most fire pumps are electrically driven, the crew can also lose their ability to fight the fire. In short, an engine room fire can easily result in the vessel being dead in the water.
The engine room is the most common location for fires onboard a vessel. Everything needed to start a fire is there:
- Fuel – Vessel fuel, lubricating oil, and hydraulic oil
- Heat – Super-heated manifolds, engine block, and piping
- Oxygen – Present in air and supplied by ventilation systems
When a fire occurs on a vessel, there is no fire department to call. The crew is responsible for fighting the fire. On a vessel this size, their numbers are limited, they are mariners, not firefighters.
The Solution
With so much at stake—lives of the crew, guests, and the vessel—having a system on a small marine vessel that can rapidly and effectively suppress a fire in the enclosed engine space is incredibly important. The Stat-X® total flooding aerosol system is an ideal and proven fire suppression system to protect marine engine spaces.
The compact units are easily installed in locations where, in the tight spaces of the engine room, they are out of the way. The Stat-X electrically operated generators can be connected to a fire detection system for activation, or the thermally operated units themselves can be specified to activate at a pre-determined temperature.
The rapid response of the Stat-X system can quickly suppress engine space fires while they are still manageable, thereby reducing damage and keeping the engine turning. Additionally, the agent remains suspended for up to twenty minutes to prevent reflash. Discharge of a Stat-X unit does not damage equipment and requires minimal cleanup.
Stat-X® Fire Suppression Features:
- Effective Agent Performance
Highly effective based on required density - Compact and Modular
Offering adaptable design especially when space and weight are critical - Simple and Economic Installation
No expensive labor-intensive piping is required - Durable
Ideal for harsh environments and remote locations - Long service life
Service life of fifteen (15) years - Virtually Maintenance Free
- U.S. EPA SNAP listed for normally occupied and unoccupied spaces
- Environmentally Friendly
Zero Global Warming Potential and Zero Ozone Depletion Potential - Made in the USA
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