For over six months, Finnish ferry company Wasaline has co-operated with Finnish fire safety companies, Firesea Equipment and Rescue Team Scandinavia to find new solutions to fight vehicle fires at sea.
Together with other shipping companies, Wasaline has participated in a joint project in order to develop a fire extinguishing system.
As a result, Wasaline has become the first shipping company to order the product, which will be fitted on board the ferry ‘Aurora Botnia’.
In case of a battery fire, the EVFS system can quickly be set up around the vehicle. The fire is then controlled by submerging the batteries, usually placed under the car floor, in cooling liquid.
This system has proved to be effective and easy to handle in field tests in tight spaces on the car deck.
Wasaline has also equipped ‘Aurora Botnia’ with AVD (aqueous vermiculite dispersion) extinguishers, which are currently the most effective method on the market to contain lithium-ion battery fires, the company claimed.
The AVD agent cools down and encapsulates the burning battery.
“Safety at sea is our utmost priority. Wasaline is always willing to participate in innovative safety, technology, or sustainability projects. By supplying ‘Aurora Botnia’ with Firesea Equipment and AVD extinguishers, we are once again ramping up our preparedness, ” said Peter Ståhlberg, Wasaline Managing Director.
“At this time, I would like to express my gratitude to our partners in shipping companies, rescue departments, industry experts, and contractors. The crew of ‘Aurora Botnia’ has taken this opportunity to improve maritime safety with great pride,” he added.
