DESMI brings benefits of firefighting systems to Europe
(Posted on 11/11/20)
After years of success in Asian-built ships, DESMI is now bringing its efficient firefighting products to the European market. In marine applications, DESMI’s FineFog Fixed Water-Based Firefighting systems offer a safe, low-pressure alternative.
In Asia, DESMI is known not only for its pumps but also for its firefighting systems. More than 180 such systems are supplied to ship owners around the globe – though most of these are for ships built in China. There have not been so many installations in European shipyards, so DESMI’s Marine and Offshore Sales Manager, Christian Mellergaard wants to reach out to European ship owners and shipyards to change this.
“They mainly know us for our pumps and might not know we offer these highly efficient firefighting systems – which of course include our pumps and offer some great advantages,” he says.
DESMI has the following types of firefighting systems available:
• Fixed water-based local application system for machinery space
• Equivalent water mist fire extinguishing system for total flooding in machinery spaces and
cargo pump rooms
• Water sprinkler system for accommodation
• Deck foam system for oil/chemical tanker deck protection
• Foam system for deck and helicopter landing areas
• Water spray/deluge/drencher system for special category spaces.
For machinery spaces, DESMI offers its low-pressure, water-based FineFog system. FineFog dispenses a mist – like a fog. “You can kill the fire much easier with mist than by just pouring water on it. These millions of small droplets absorb much more heat, and oxygen is displaced locally at fire source. As a result, an inerting effect is generated, effectively killing the fire,” Christian says.
Ships will benefit from the automatic system around high-risk objects like combustion machinery, oil-fired boilers or burners, incinerators or purifiers for heated oil fuel. If there is an oil spill that catches fire, then the FineFog nozzles above that application are activated – based on a signal from flame detector or smoke detector – and the alarm sounds. The crew can still enter the room and continue with conventional firefighting with hoses. Or, if necessary, they can release the totalflooding mechanism in engine rooms up to 5036 m.
“And that's where our system has a big advantage over gas-based firefighting systems like CO2,” Christian says. While CO2 systems are effective, they come with a risk to human life. “With CO2, if you have a fire on your engine room, you first need to evacuate everybody because otherwise the gas will suffocate them. And you have to make sure ventilation is shut off, and the room is completely sealed off. You must also ensure that all machinery in the engine room is stopped. This can take several minutes. In this time, a minor fire can grow quite large,” he says. “You only have one shot with CO2 –you can only release the
fire could reignite very easily. And afterward, you can’t go into the engine room or confined space for several hours. You need to be totally sure that the fire is put out first before restarting ventilation of the engine room.”
Latest News
Damen shipbreaking pilot project to be made available for larger vessels
(Posted on 23/04/24)Damen Shipyards Group is launching a pilot project in which a small tug will be dismantled at Damen... Read more
John Sutch Cranes seeks collaboration to address travel restrictions challenges
(Posted on 18/04/24)Mobile crane hire and contract lifting specialist based in the North West of England, John Sutch Cranes... Read more
ClassNK awards AiP for Mitsui methanol fuel supply system
(Posted on 15/04/24)ClassNK has awarded an approval in principle (AiP) for a methanol fuel supply system developed by Mitsui... Read more
Bühler launches fully automatic bagging station with Premier Tech
(Posted on 15/04/24)Swiss technology group Bühler, in partnership with leading Canadian packaging equipment manufacturer... Read more
Groke unveils new situational awareness tool for ship managers
(Posted on 15/04/24)Groke Technologies, the Finnish technology company behind the Groke Pro Situational Awareness System... Read more
Pacific Basin leads dry bulk’s adoption of graphene-based coating
(Posted on 29/03/24)In a proactive move towards energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, Pacific Basin, one of... Read more
ClassNK grants endorsement to two MOL initiatives
(Posted on 29/03/24)ClassNK has granted its Innovation Endorsements for Products & Solutions*1 to two initiatives by... Read more
Marcor Stevedoring receives new LHM 800
(Posted on 25/03/24)Contributing to a greener bulk industry. And no Diesel engine is needed. The LHM 800 will do its work... Read more
Need for new safety rules for methanol fuelled vessels revealed
(Posted on 25/03/24)A new fire safety study by global Survival Technology solutions provider Survitec has revealed that... Read more
Cargill shares outcome of first wind-powered ocean vessel’s maiden voyage
(Posted on 18/03/24)Cargill has revealed exciting results of the six-month test period of the Pyxis Ocean, underscoring... Read more
