Jeju Fire Station Conducts Collaborative Response Drill with Related Agencies for Ship Fire Preparedness

Published 24 May.2024 10:40(KST)

Jeju Fire Station (Chief Yang Young-seok) announced on the 24th that it conducted a joint response training with related agencies on the 22nd at Jeju Port 2nd Pier to prepare for ship fires.

This training simulated a situation where people were trapped due to a fire on a ship docked at the pier, and was carried out as a joint exercise involving about 50 personnel from five related agencies including the Fire Department, Coast Guard, and Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation.

On the 22nd, a collaborative response drill for ship fire preparedness was conducted at Jeju Port Second Pier. [Photo by Jeju Fire Station]

The main focus was on organic cooperation among agencies for rapid suppression, including ▲ releasing mooring and towing to prevent fire spread ▲ searching inside the docked fishing vessel and transferring patients between ships ▲ marine firefighting using coastal rescue boats ▲ marine pollution control using containment vessels ▲ mutual communication using disaster safety communication networks.

Including ship fires at Seongsan Port and Hallim Port in 2022, a total of 15 ship fires have occurred in the province over the past three years, resulting in 5 casualties and approximately 4.2 billion KRW in property damage.

Ship fires are mainly caused by aging electrical equipment on fishing vessels. Due to the fire-vulnerable FRP material, there is a high risk of rapid initial spread, and the presence of cooking LPG and fuel oil poses a constant explosion hazard.

In particular, the complex and narrow internal structure acts as an obstacle to internal entry for searching for people, and during weather advisories, ships are moored closely side by side, raising concerns about large-scale damage in case of fire, requiring special attention for fire prevention.

A Jeju Fire Station official stated, “Electrical equipment on ships is easily corroded and contaminated due to exposure to seawater, and there are many foreign crew members, which may cause difficulties in initial response,” adding, “Please pay attention to fire prevention by conducting regular equipment inspections and safety education.”