Vessel fires remain one of the industry’s most persistent and costly risks, and they are rising. Allianz’s 2025 Safety & Shipping Review reported a decade-high number of maritime fires in 2024, with 30% involving container, cargo, or ro-ro vessels. Large vessel fires, particularly on containerships, car carriers, and ro-ros, remain a top concern, driven by bigger ships, increasingly complex machinery spaces, and the operational challenges of firefighting and salvage.
Traditional fire safety frameworks rely heavily on manual roll calls, suppression systems, and fixed muster station assignments. In practice, these measures are vulnerable under stress — poor visibility, mismanaged hatches or ventilation, and limited crew familiarity with suppression protocols can compromise how effective they are in practice. Crews may also assume areas are secured while fires continue to spread unnoticed.
While suppression systems remain essential, ScanReach, a leading provider of wireless maritime technology solutions, argues that hardware alone cannot keep pace with modern operational complexity. The company is advocating a shift toward integrated safety frameworks that combine suppression, detection, and real-time personnel visibility (....)