In December 2019, Viking Life-Saving Equipment introduced a groundbreaking container firefighting solution called the HydroPen. This initiative comes in response to an alarming increase in the frequency of container fires at sea, prompting the International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) to call for enhanced fire protection measures and improved firefighting equipment on existing container ships. Notably, high-profile incidents have underscored the urgency of addressing this issue, with the TT Club statistics indicating that a significant fire on a major container ship occurs approximately every 60 days.
The repercussions of these maritime fires are substantial, resulting in loss of life, extensive cargo damage valued in millions, and severe disruptions to global supply chains. Factors contributing to this dangerous situation include the misdeclaration of flammable goods and the sheer size of modern container vessels. As containers are now stacked higher than ever, traditional deck-level firefighting techniques prove ineffective; they only douse the outer areas of the fire, failing to extinguish flames within the burning containers.
To tackle these challenges, the HydroPen system, developed by Rosenby Engineering and distributed exclusively by Viking, presents a novel solution. This innovative tool enables crews to combat fires at elevated heights directly from the burning container’s door. Using a telescopic lift, a single crew member can attach the HydroPen to the ship’s existing hoses and elevate it to the fire site. Once in place, the HydroPen drills into the container and automatically switches to a spraying mode to extinguish the fire using water, foam, or CO2, depending on the type of material involved.
With an initial order covering over 40 vessels, each equipped with two HydroPen systems for swift response, the technology has piqued interest among regulators and ship owners alike. It received the prestigious Safety at Sea Award for Best Safety Product in the firefighting category, reflecting its efficacy and potential impact on enhancing maritime safety.
In-service trials have confirmed the HydroPen’s ease of use, requiring minimal training, and demonstrated its flexibility for addressing fires in both elevated containers and those located in cargo holds with an accessory called HydroLock. In fact, feedback from one trial highlighted its effectiveness, with the HydroPen successfully deployed during a real container fire after just a single training session.
Viking Life-Saving Equipment aims to continuously introduce cutting-edge technology to maritime operations, and with the HydroPen, they believe they have created a vital tool to significantly improve firefighting capabilities and address the critical issue of container fires at sea. As container ship sizes increase, the importance of effective firefighting solutions has never been more pronounced, making the HydroPen an essential addition to modern maritime safety equipment.
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