FIRE & SAFETY
must be to ensure the safety of the crew and others on
board, extinguish the fi re and minimize the damage to the
vessel and the cargo. However, steps that are taken after
safety is assured are also vital, and often mishandled.
A crucial decision to be made as soon as the incident has
been stabilized is to decide which experts will be needed on
the ground. The correct selection is essential in order to de-
termine the chronology of events at the earliest possible stage
in the investigation. If this is established correctly, then the
investigation will set off on the right path. During this initial
response, a properly equipped, trained and experienced in-
vestigator or team of investigators with a keen eye for detail
should be mobilized. They should correctly identify, evaluate,
collect, process and analyze evidence in a timely manner, as
well as managing the scene and all individuals in attendance.
Fires and explosions are not simple matters; they can occur
within very complex systems on board a vessel. Investigators
working to determine the cause of an incident can benefi t
signifi cantly from the support of a highly skilled and quali-
fi ed multi-disciplinary team. Ship fi res and explosions may
require the expertise of, for example, marine engineers, met-
allurgists, fuel chemists, naval architects and cargo scientists,A void within a stow of containers
in a hold as the result of structural
failure of a unit lower in the stack.