Inland Waterway Barge and Tow Boat Fires

One and one half day program that incorporates everything from our 2-day Shipboard Firefighting program above except for the ship familiarization seminars. This intensive informational seminar examines many of the features found aboard the inland river and waterway barges and towboats that can either help or hamper a firefighting operation. Many Fire Departments as well as commercial river workers take the dangers of fire aboard towboats and barges for granted. That's a BIG mistake!

From small deck fires to fully involved petroleum barge fires this seminar covers the features and firefighting techniques that your firefighters or tow boat/barge workers will need to know. From extinguisher or small hose line operations to massive foam monitors and CO2 operations, this seminar will graphically discuss each operation.

Stability is just as important aboard a barge or towboat as it is aboard the largest ocean going vessel. If your Fire Department or crew causes the barge or towboat to sink due to a lack of understanding then your waterway may be closed while the sunken vessel is salvaged. We will discuss the principals of stability that your Firefighters or employees will need to know in terms that they will be able to readily understand. Once you understand the basics we will discuss how to de-water the vessel as we are fighting the fire. This 1 ½ day seminar can be combined with either the "Excursion/Dinner Boat" seminar or our "Small Boat and Marina Fire" seminar to make this a full two-day seminar. Photos courtesy of Tom Olympia of the Harrods Creek, KY Fire Department.

If you are thinking that because you don't have a commercial port in your area that you do not need this information then consider this. Does your area border a body of water on which ships pass to reach one of these ports? Then what will happen when an explosion or fire in the engine room of one of these large ships causes it to loose both its power and steering and it has to drop anchor just off your shores.

Who do you think will be called? If you are thinking, "Let the Coast Guard handle it". Sorry. The Coast Guard's recent cut backs have reduced it presence drastically. Also, the Coast Guard feels that it is the responsibility of the local Fire Department to fight ship fires.

How about your legal liability?

Chapter 15-1.2 of NFPA standard # 1405 dealing with volunteer, career, as well as mutual aid fire departments who have been defendants in law suits involving losses at ship fires, states, "An understanding of the dangers inherent in marine fire fighting should include an understanding of the consequences of the failure to provide a standard of training, planning, response, and action equivalent to that which a department provides on the land-based portions of its response area."

And if you're thinking that this doesn't apply to you because you are not located directly on a commercial body of water... what about mutual aid? The above liability also applies to mutual aid Fire Departments. A major ship fire will require HUNDREDS of Firefighters and their equipment. Are you so far away from the water that there is no chance you might be called in?

ARE YOU READY?

 

Unlock the Secrets of Knowledge - Training is the Key

Contact Tom Guldner at MarineFires@aol.com for all your Lecture and Consulting needs.