Since we launched the Fire Cloak™ over three years ago, we began to work with a variety of ferry operators. Following a recent count, we’re proud to say we have now supplied hundreds of Fire Cloak™ fire blankets to 12 UK ferry companies, and many more around the world, as they seek to further enhance their commitment to providing unrivalled levels of fire safety for passengers and crew. But why is it so important for ferries to include fire blankets in their fire safety equipment essentials?

More and more electric vehicles on board
Year on year, the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) continues to increase. And with that increase is the need for any company that transports, stores, repairs or provides parking for EVs to address the specific fire risk that such vehicles pose.

Unlike traditional diesel or petrol powered cars, EVs are powered by lithium-ion batteries. And these batteries, if damaged, overcharged or faulty, present a number of unique fire risks. These include:

• Thermal Runaway: thermal runaway can occur when just one single cell in the battery is damaged or faulty. If a cell is damaged or faulty, the release of heat from that cell can be accelerated and spread extremely fast from other cells within the battery. This can cause intense fire and explosion, and the fire created is difficult to extinguish. The fire may also reignite just a few hours or even days after the initial fire
• Stranded energy: following the suppression of an EV fire, there is often still residual energy in the battery. This energy can present further risk of reignition, so it is vital that the vehicle is handled carefully and monitored regularly using a thermal imaging camera to check temperature
• Toxic emissions: toxic gases and liquids are released when a lithium-ion battery burns. Fire fighters and emergency services personnel can therefore be exposed to these highly toxic emissions that are hazardous to human health and can also damage the environment and marine life

Explains Matt Butcher, sales & marketing manager for Prosol UK: “Any thermal runaway event is dangerous, but such events are even more dangerous when at sea as an immediate response from professional firefighters is impossible. As such, any suspected EV fire must be supressed and contained whilst specialist support is mustered.

“This is where the Fire Cloak™ comes into its own for ferry operators since it can be quickly and easily be deployed, by the fire team on the ferry, in full PPE and breathing apparatus, to supress and contain a potential EV fire on board.”