Introduction

Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the exothermic chemical process of

combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. The flame is the visible portion
of the fire. If hot enough, the gases may become ionized to produce plasma. Depending on the
substances alight, and any impurities outside, the color of the flame and the fire's intensity will
be different. (1)

A fire on a ship is one of the most dangerous incidents which can happen on board. If the
fire is detected in good time, the crew can prevent larger damage by taking immediate measures
– such as fighting the fire. If the fire has already spread, professional aid is absolutely needed,
which can be rendered via helicopter or by ship. (2)

This course is part of the mandatory Basic Safety Training and instruction requirements
for all seafarers under Regulation VIII, Section A-VIII of the 1978 Standards of Training,
Certification and Watchkeeping for seafarer or STCW Convention, as mended in 1995. It covers
the specified standard of training recommended in Annex I of the IMO Assembly Resolution A.
437 CXII and the required competence set out in Table A-VII2 of the STCW code.(1)

The problem of fire prevention and firefighting become even more acute once a vessel
leaves port. Then rough seas navigation difficulties may also increase the hazards.((2)

Some fires may be purely accidental and others may be caused by circumstances beyond
control. Like –carelessness and irresponsible acts. Some of the most common cause of fire is-
careless smoking and faulty electric circuits.(2)

Fire Prevention on board a ship

Some countries have the funding and resources to assist a ship in trouble. A professional
response demands a great deal of preplanning by the Fire Department, thus poorer countries may
not have the funding to set up an Emergency response team for offshore work. It is not straight
forward to set up a team for ship firefighting, the selection of suitable personnel, training of those
personnel not just for ship firefighting, but also helicopter operations and sea survival will need
to be funded, in most cases separately to local funding arrangements. The funding is very often a
grey area and the retrieval of costs involved in fighting fires can be difficult due to the
complexities of salvage claims. Shore based firefighters offer some obvious advantages over a
ship’s crew, a greater understanding and experience in fire and dealing with hazardous materials.
Professional fire team trains regular in some cases every day and regularly performs exercises,
which demand the mobilization of a large amount of resources. Early notification is essential in
order that the shore-based service can assess the situation and plan a safe approach. The
reluctance to call early for help whatever the reason, be it company policy, salvage claims or just
lack of understanding of what is available, may incur serious delays which will affect the success
of the operation. (2)

Before boarding, the senior fire officer will carry out a dynamic risk assessment, to
ensure the safety of the team. Safe access and escape routes, together with the risks on board are
their main concerns. Liaison with shore based services once on board the officer will need to be
given a full briefing by the ship’s command, using the ship’s fire safety plan. A situation report
will be sent to the fire departments control center giving the land-based command indications to
the size of the task and the resources that need to be organized. Although the shore-based team
has a greater knowledge about firefighting, the sea conditions, knowledge of stability, layout of
the ship, and the equipment on board will disadvantage them. Liaison between both parties will
help to overcome the difficulties. A ship fire to a land based fire fighter is a hostile environment,
not just the because of the difficulties in attacking, but also the team’s involvement at sea means
a fire in the advanced stages. (2)

The risk of fire, explosion and leakages are high, therefore the design of the platform,
detection equipment, efficient firefighting facilities, together with a well-trained organization are
an absolute necessity to prevent a disaster. The threat of fire must be detected as early as
possible, from which well-rehearsed actions are implemented, including shut down of
production, initiating manually or automatically fixed fire protection and intervention by fire
team to prevent the situation from worsening.(2)
COMMON SHIPBOARD FIRE HAZARD

Smoking and Naked Lights

Careless smoking tops the list of causes of fire. Smoking is therefore permitted on board
a ship, only in designated smoking areas. These areas must be identified and clearly marked.(1)

Spontaneous Combustion and Auto Ignition

Some materials when damp or soaked with paints, oils of vegetable origin in particular
can ignite without external application of heat. Auto ignition temperature of a material is the
temperature at which a flammable material will ignite without initiation of a spark or flame.
Petroleum liquids when heated sufficiently will ignite without the application of a naked flame.
When fuel or lube oil under pressure sprays onto a hot surface, it will get hotter and will auto
ignite as a result.(1)

Electrical Circuits and Electrical Equipment

Electricity is a safe and convenient source of power if the equipment concerned is
properly insulated and wired. If worn-out, misused or poorly wired electrical energy is converted
into heat and the equipment concerned becomes a source of ignition and thus a fire hazard.
Only approved electrical equipment for shipboard use that will stand the strenuous conditions at
sea are installed and/or used on board a ship. Any electrical equipment onboard must be
installed, maintained, tested and repaired in accordance with existing regulations and only by
qualified personnel.(1)

Ship’s Galley
Once vessel leaves port for sea, the cooking range battens are to be used at all times.
Electrical power to any hot plate not in use must be switched off. No cloth or paper should be
stowed above a cooking range as it can be ignited easily through carelessness. Hoods, filters and
ductwork for cooking rangers to be thoroughly cleaned every week and no oil/grease
accumulation allowed in and around hot plates.(1)
 A deep fryer can be a source of both heat and fuel for a galley fire. The fryer should be
fixed in a location and must never be left unattended while it is operating. Fryer basket should
never be filled so full that grease splatters and overflows.(1)

Flammable Liquids used on Board Ships

Most commonly found on board are bunker fuels, lube oils of various grades, diesel oils,
kerosene, paints and thinners. For some flammable liquids, rate of vapor release is over a wide
temperature range e.g. gasoline gives off vapor even at minus 43c thus proving itself a
continuous fire hazard. (1)

Heating increases the rate of vapor release. These vapors are heavier than air, will seek
low places, can spread to a distant source of ignition and dissipate slowly. Bunker fuels and lube
oils must be heated to release sufficient vapor for combustion. But once a light or heavy
flammable liquid is burning, radiation feedback and the chain reaction quickly increase flame
production. (1)

The Benefit Of Modern Technology To The Educational Behavior Among Students

Introduction

In the modern day, technology plays a large role in many aspects of day-to-day living, as

technology continues to innovates and introduce different techniques, methods and knowledge

student also change their way of learning and instructor change their way of teaching.

The old chalk board classroom setting is now being replaced of computer, wherein computer is

used as a modem in presenting instruction and lecture. As technology continues to evolve, it

brings new opportunities and challenges for educators and students. Social networking is a great

example of technology that can help or hinder education, depending on how it is used and

integrated into teaching or learning.

According to the Office of Educational Technology, U.S. Department of Education, 2010-

Students are able to create multimedia content and immediately share it with the world and

participate in social networks where people from all over the world share ideas, collaborate, and

learn new things. Outside of the classroom, students have the freedom to pursue their passions in

their own way and at their own pace. Opportunities for today’s students are limitless, borderless,

and instantaneous so it only logical that their learning environment should reflect their everyday

lives.

Mike Muir, Bette Manchester and Jim Moulton (2005), explained that laptop computers can

accelerate, enrich, and deepen basic skills, motivate and engage students in learning increase the

visibility of tomorrow’s workers and connect students and schools to the real world. Just as pens

and pencils were the predominant tools for knowledge and learning during a large part of the last

century, computers and the Internet are key tools for learning and knowledge production for

student’s future. Furthermore students who use Internet to do research and apply information

they find to enhance their projects rather than using the Internet as one big answer key. They also

suggest that teachers’ lessons are more extensive, use up-to-date resources and provide more

opportunities for students to explore knowledge and information in more depth.

According to one of the maritime student using computer or internet during classroom discussion

is a very useful because they can able to check the spelling and able to easily understand the

lecture base on the presentation given by the instructor.

Another marine student also told that technology is a great help to him as a student because he

can easily research the lesson he had and it’s not time consuming going to the library to locate a

book for the research.

A student also admitted that technology is a great help in his studies because he can easily

communicate to his classmate and able to change ideas regarding on their lesson.

Despite its benefits technology is still a disruptive innovation as well as an expensive one.

Faculty members are forced to invest time in learning new approaches with little budget support.

With technology, students are more than ever engaged in creating their own knowledge. Distance

learning and online degree programs have gained firm foothold in academic institutions all over

the globe. Once regarded as the niche channel for the delivery of educative content is rapidly

becoming mainstream, increasing access to education, expanded revenue opportunities and new

market for content for universities.

Both private and public sectors approve that technological innovations will continue to have

major effects on teaching approaches over the coming years. Certainly, it will be a core

differentiator in attracting corporate partners and students in academic institutions.

Computers and related technology are essential to the learning process in several ways. Although

some people feel that the use of technology can have a negative impact on the socialization and

development of critical thinking skills of young children and adolescents, and may be misused

by some instructors, they are fundamental and significant tools used in classrooms and the

workforce, and foster greater understanding of diverse cultures.