The Vehicle Carrier Safety Forum  publishes its second industry good practice guidelines entitled ‘Fire Response – High Level Guidelines’. The VCSF recognises that responding to vehicle fires onboard PCCs, PCTCs, RoRo and Ro-Pax vessels is both dangerous and challenging. These guidelines have been designed to reduce the risk to the safety of crews, passengers, the environment, the vessel and the cargo. The guideline’s sole aim is to assist vessel operators and crews to be better prepared to meet the challenges presented by vehicle fires.

The Vehicle Carrier Safety Forum is a consortium of vessel operators, insurers and other industry experts, whose role is to promote safety on vessels designed to carry vehicles. The guidance is supported by industry bodies the International Group of P&I Clubs, the International Chamber of Shipping and the TT Club.

The guidelines are intended to be used by vessel operators when considering their own fire response policies and procedures with a particular emphasis on using existing fixed firefighting systems to control vehicle fires early in their development.

Geir Jorgensen, Chair of the IG P&I Ships’ Technical Committee, is a strong supporter of the guidelines; “These guidelines are the result of industry collaboration focused on safety. We all share a common goal of making life at sea safer, and these guidelines should be viewed as a valuable tool for operators to develop their own instructions as part of their safety management system.”

Philip Bacon, Vice President Commercial Operations of Siem Shipping, who is part of the VCSF Steering Committee says “the guidance reflects a range of views and best practices which we are seeing develop in the sector and offer a framework within which operators can take steps to manage the risk within their own ecosystem. Vessel operators are concerned about fire response where a fire involves lithium-ion batteries and the guidelines are designed to incorporate response to fires involving lithium ion batteries.”

Mike Yarwood, Managing Director Loss Prevention, at TT Club comments; ”Our Members with port terminal operations have welcomed the opportunity, via the VCSF to contribute to guidelines that will provide the foundations for a safer response to fires in port. The guidance to carry out port drills involving port operators and fire fighters is of particular relevance to TT club members. Fire response is more complex during port operations and it is important that the ship and shore side develop a sharded plan for fire response in port.

Lional Sharon, Senior Marine Adviser at International Chamber of Shipping, commented; “ICS appreciates the work done by VCSF and recognises this guidance has a significant role to play in improving fire safety of ships carrying vehicles. In February 2025, the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Ship Systems and Equipment (SSE) Sub-Committee has established an action plan to enhance fire safety measures for ships carrying new energy vehicles, including Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), through improved fire detection, prevention, and extinguishing systems. The contents of this guidance align with the proposals by the industry and can supplement the work flow at IMO.