The diploma thesis entitled »Fire Safety on Ro-Ro Ships« presents a comprehensive study focusing on an important area of maritime safety. Roll-on/Roll-off (hereinafter Ro-Ro) ships are particularly exposed to fire risks due to the nature of the cargo they carry, such as vehicles with lithium-ion batteries. The aim of the thesis was to investigate and analyze various aspects of fire safety on Ro-Ro ships, as well as to identify key factors influencing fires, and to propose measures to prevent fires on Ro-Ro ships.
The theoretical part presents the basic definition of fire safety on ships and Ro-Ro ships, as well as types of fire risks, and legal regulation on ship fire safety. The practical part of the thesis includes an analysis of a fire case on the Felicity Ace, where a fire broke out in 2022 while the ship was transporting vehicles across the Atlantic Ocean. It was found that the cause of the fire on the Ro-Ro ship Felicity Ace most likely originated from the ignition of a lithium-ion battery in an electric Porsche car. Furthermore, findings indicated that the cause of the fire was not only the ignition of the mentioned battery but also the lack of adequate systems for extinguishing such battery fires on the ship. Despite the rapid response of the crew and rescue teams, the fire lasted several days, making it difficult to control the situation and increasing the damage to the ship and its cargo.
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