Navigation and Seamanship

5.1.1. Fire fighting

                                                                             

Fire on board is one of the major hazards in a vessel. A navigator should always be alert about the possibility of a fire. Prevention is better than fighting the fire. In the situation where there is fire accident the crew of the vessel must work together as a team to fight and survive. The navigator must know the type of fire and method of fire fighting to select the right type of extinguisher and extinguishing agent. This chapter briefly gives an idea about the fire and fighting methods.

CHEMISTRY OF FIRE

In the oxidation process a substance combines with oxygen and form new chemical. Burning is the rapid oxidation of millions of vapour molecules. The molecules oxidize by breaking apart into individual atoms and recombining with oxygen into new molecules. During the process of oxidation, heat energy is released to the environment. As the combustion is rapid oxidation the fuel combines with oxygen at a very high rate. Energy is released in the form of heat and light. This is called as fire.