The Cargo Fire and Loss Initiative led by Safetytech Accelerator is building on the impact of its first year to continue collaborating and testing technology to make our oceans safer.

The Cargo Fire and Loss Innovation initiative Cargo Fire and Loss Innovation Initiative  – Safetytech Accelerator, is a multi-year collaborative technology acceleration programme focused on preventing large-scale maritime cargo fires and cargo loss.

In its first year, CFLII brought together industry leaders, insurers, regulators, and cutting-edge technologies to mitigate risks through collaboration, technology sourcing, and deployment support. The programme conducted five live pilots and seven feasibility studies using novel solutions such us cutting-edge E-noses, IoT air temperature probes, radio wave disruption analysis and fibre optic cables, aimed at early fire detection on vessels.  The initiative aims to give clarity to its members around the capability and performance of novel technologies in response to the cargo fires and loss challenge, enabling them to make informed decisions around the return on future technology investments.

Anchor partners within the programme include Ocean Network Express (ONE), Evergreen, Maersk, Seaspan Corporation, Offenship, and MSC, representing around 50% of the global container capacity, alongside Lloyd’s Register and insurers TT Club and UK P&I Club.

In the year ahead, the CLFII aims to build on its first year’s impact and continue to make big strides into the practical deployment of cutting-edge technologies to enhance the safety, resilience, and sustainability of the entire supply chain.

We are actively seeking new Anchor partners from vessel operations, port terminals and other sectors within the extended supply chain to join our collaborative effort.

Seb Corby, CFLII Programme Director at Safetytech Accelerator, said: “As we enter our second year of the Cargo Fire and Loss Innovation Initiative, we are immensely proud of the progress we have achieved: deploying and testing an array of novel technologies to identify fires as early as possible.  Introducing emerging technology to solve such a complex industrial challenge is a difficult process, and the CFLII demonstrates how collaboration within industry can enable a rapid and comprehensive response at scale. As we move into our second year, we will be testing more technologies, delivering more pilots and addressing further challenges areas related to maritime cargo fires and loss.”