Nghe An: Warning about fire and explosion safety on ships and boats
(Baonghean) - Recently, fire and explosion prevention work on ships has not really received much attention from ship owners, the risk of fire and explosion can happen at any time...
Cua Hoi fishing port on peak days has 150 - 200 boats anchoring. More than 50% of these are boats from provinces from Nam Dinh - Binh Dinh. With a sea journey lasting from 10 - 15 days/trip, each boat is likened to a miniature house. On board, the boat is equipped with utensils and appliances like a family. However, the arrangement of electrical lines, lighting systems, kitchens and other facilities is very sketchy, posing a high risk of fire and explosion...
The QNG 97064 ship of Mr. Do Hong Quang (Nghia Hanh - Quang Ngai) was newly built and put into use for more than 1 year with a cost of nearly 4 billion VND. However, the ship does not have on-site fire fighting equipment such as fire extinguishers and safety equipment according to regulations. In addition, the electrical system area, electrical equipment; engine room area; fuel storage area are arranged quite close to each other. The ship owner often burns incense on full moon days, Tet holidays or when the ship is about to depart... posing a high risk of fire and explosion. That is also the common situation of other ships.
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| The fishing boat caught fire at Phong Thang fishing wharf (Tien Thuy commune, Quynh Luu district) |
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| Mr. Vo Duy Nhan (from Quang Ngai) said: "In fact, we are also very worried about fire and explosion. However, prevention and control mainly depends on experience and there is no specific plan". |
At Cua Lo Port, there are nearly 200 boats anchored regularly, but most of the owners are not aware of fire and explosion prevention. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Truong - Deputy Director of Cua Lo Port is concerned: We have warned people about the risk of fire and explosion, but they deliberately ignore it. There are times like the full moon day, Tet holiday... people freely burn incense, leave the incense burning without anyone watching... This affects the reputation of Cua Lo Port, because foreign ships often dock here. In case of an incident, the damage to goods and boats will be very large.
Following the border guards and police officers from the Fire Prevention and Fighting Department No. 4 - Provincial Fire Prevention and Fighting Police to inspect the fire prevention and fighting work on ships, it shows that this work still has many limitations. For example, ship NA-90505, although equipped with quite adequate fire fighting equipment, the equipment is mainly for coping, because the ship owner and captain does not know how to use fire prevention and fighting equipment.
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| Fire Police Department No. 2 (Cua Lo town) propagates fire prevention and fighting to fishermen at Cua Hoi port |
In many cases, during use, due to leakage of engine oil, fuel oil, LPG gas, when exposed to heat sources, open flames or electrical sparks due to short circuits in equipment, fire and explosion occur. The fire of the vessel with license plate NA-99899 in Phong Thang hamlet, Tien Thuy commune (Quynh Luu) that just happened in mid-March is an example. Previously, two other fires also occurred on the fishing vessel NA-90437 of Mr. Ho Huu Da (Quynh Tien, Quynh Luu) and the vessel NA-95726 of Mr. Tran Binh (Quynh Di commune, Hoang Mai town). In 2014, a dangerous fire also occurred in Nghi Tan ward (Cua Lo town) causing 3 deaths and missing people.
| Lieutenant Colonel Hoang Thanh Quyen - Political Commissar of Quynh Phuong Border Guard Station said: According to regulations, all ships entering and leaving the port must be fully equipped with fire prevention and fighting equipment, but the number of ships and boats with full fire prevention and fighting equipment such as fire extinguishers, sand buckets, electric cutting gloves, etc. is very small. Even some large ships, although the water pump and lighting systems are very elaborate and must use strong electric current, many ship owners are subjective and do not pay much attention to the problem of fire and explosion on ships and boats. |
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| Fishing boat of fishermen in Quynh Nghia commune (Quynh Luu) caught fire at sea, March 8, 2016 |
To effectively implement fire prevention and fighting on ships, there are many issues that need to be discussed. In the immediate future, it is necessary to strengthen propaganda and mobilization so that people are aware of the risks, dangers and damages caused by fire and explosion. In addition, it is necessary to raise vigilance and prepare conditions to prevent and fight fire and explosion according to the motto "4 on-site": on-site command, on-site forces, on-site means and on-site logistics. In addition, functional agencies such as the Waterway Traffic Police, Border Guard, Management Boards of fishing ports, anchorages, local authorities, etc. need to closely coordinate in propaganda and training on fire prevention and fighting as well as strengthen inspection, reminder and punishment of ships that do not strictly comply with the equipment of fire prevention and fighting. On the other hand, fishermen themselves need to voluntarily comply with fire prevention and fighting regulations when using flammable fuels, and must regularly check and promptly repair damaged equipment to have safe sea trips.
| Statistics from Fire Prevention and Fighting Police Department No. 4: Currently, only about 30% of fishermen at sea in Dien Chau, Quynh Luu, Hoang Mai Town are trained and equipped with necessary knowledge on fire and explosion prevention and fighting... Meanwhile, one of the main causes of fires and explosions on ships today is the subjectivity and carelessness of ship owners and workers on ships who violate fire prevention and fighting regulations. In addition, offshore fishing vessels often go for long periods of time (from one to several months), so they store a large amount of flammable substances such as gasoline, oil, LPG gas cylinders, fishing gear, styrofoam boxes... However, areas that are prone to fire and explosion such as the engine room, kitchen, and fishing gear storage areas have not been given attention, protection, or isolation. |
Article and photos:My Ha
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