GUIDANCE ON EFFICIENT FIRE DRILLS ON BOARD

Published: 8 September 2025

Fire drills are a fundamental part of maritime safety, ensuring that crews are well-prepared to respond to on board emergencies. A poorly executed fire drill can lead to confusion, delayed response to emergencies, and can result in a ship’s detention during a Port State Control (PSC) inspection. This guidance outlines practical steps to enhance fire drills, making them more realistic, effective, and compliant with international standards, particularly those outlined in the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention.

SOLAS REQUIREMENTS FOR FIRE DRILLS

Fire drills should be conducted as if there were an actual emergency¹, to the extent practicable, to ensure crew preparedness. Every crew member should participate in at least one fire drill every month. If more than 25% of a ship’s crew has not participated in a fire drill within the last month, regulations require a fire drill to be conducted within 24 hours of the ship leaving port to ensure all new crew members are familiar with emergency procedures.

Passenger ships are required to have weekly fire drills, but this need not involve the entire crew. Fire drills on passenger vessels must consider the notification of passengers and their movement to assembly stations and embarkation decks. Furthermore, passenger safety briefings should be given, which include instructions on emergency procedures, though this is more general and not specific to fire drills alone.

Whenever such drills are conducted, they must be documented as per SOLAS regulations chapter III/19.5. This documentation helps in tracking compliance with SOLAS requirements and in identifying areas for improvement.

WHY FIRE DRILLS MATTER

Fire drills are not just regulatory requirements; they are essential for developing muscle memory, sharpening decision making skills and improving team coordination in emergency situations. This includes ensuring that all necessary firefighting equipment is functioning correctly and that crew members know how to use it effectively.

Fires at sea present unique challenges, as external assistance is often limited, making a well-trained crew both the first and last line of defense. Common shortfalls observed during fire drill inspections include unclear roles, poor communication, and ineffective execution. Issues such as delayed response times, unfamiliarity with fire-fighting or life-saving equipment, and lack of post-drill evaluation can weaken emergency preparedness. By addressing these deficiencies, crews can strengthen the safety culture on board and improve overall drill performance.

PLANNING EFFECTIVE FIRE DRILLS

A successful fire drill begins with careful planning, clear objectives, and realistic scenarios. By setting specific goals, each drill becomes more of a meaningful training exercise rather than a mere procedural formality.

PRE-DRILL PREPARATION

Before conducting a fire drill, it is crucial to establish clear objectives in consultation between the ship’s leadership team² and the master. These objectives may include evaluating the crew’s ability to swiftly locate and operate firefighting equipment, assessing communication between team leaders and crew members, and measuring response times for mustering and fire containment.

The muster list plays a critical role in identifying the responsibilities of team leaders and individual crew’s roles, ensuring that every crew member understands their specific duties, whether as fire team leaders, hose operators, designated SCBA wearer or those responsible for mustering and casualty management. The muster list must be prepared before the ship proceeds to sea, and we recommend that it is kept updated at all times. SOLAS Chapter III, Regulation 37 details the information that must be contained in the muster list.

To maximise preparedness, drills should vary in their scope and complexity. A well-planned drill should simulate different fire emergencies, such as fires in the engine room, galley, cargo hold, or accommodation. Realism can be added to the fire drill scenario by introducing elements such as making a key person unavailable, simulating blocked escape routes, equipment malfunctions, or limited visibility to significantly improve training value. Additionally, varying the timing and day of drills can help ensure the crew remains prepared to respond effectively under different conditions, while still supporting structured learning with real world emergency response.

FIRE DRILL PROCESS OVERVIEW

ALARM ACTIVATION

The drill begins with the activation of the fire alarm, signaling an emergency response is required. This ensures that all crew members immediately recognise the urgency of the emergency SITUATION AND TRANSITION FROM ROUTINE OPERATIONS TO FIRE RESPONSE MODE.

MUSTER AND EQUIPMENT DEPLOYMENT

Upon hearing the alarm, the crew must proceed to their designated muster stations. Firefighting teams should equip themselves with appropriate gears, including fire man’s outfit, SBCA and extinguishers. Head count should be conducted and clear roles and responsibilities should be established by the team leader to ensure a swift and organised response.

FIREFIGHTING OPERATIONS

The firefighting team engages in simulated fire suppression drills. Each fire drill should include the starting of a fire pump and using at least two jets of water (such as from charged fire hoses) to confirm that the system is working properly. Proper emphasis and instruction in prevention of fire spread shall be practiced, such as stopping ventilation and closing of fire dampers/doors and boundary cooling as necessary.

The goal is to practice access to the location of the fire, locating the fire source, and operation of fire extinguishing media and coordinating efforts under time constraints. It is important to consider electrical isolation of spaces and the need to check for the presence of dangerous goods etc.

Correct handling and choice of suitable portable fire extinguishers should be demonstrated, and some flag states (e.g. the United Kingdom) recommend that at least one rechargeable extinguisher is operated by a different fire party member at each drill.

These exercises help build confidence and proficiency in handling real life fire emergencies, especially when it comes to cargo space or engine room fires and activating the fixed fire fighting systems for these spaces.

CASUALTY HANDLING AND EVACUATION

In real emergencies, smoke and fire can trap or injure crew members. Hence, drills should incorporate search and rescue procedures, including the evacuation of casualties using stretchers and first-aid administration.

Ultimately, a fire drill should conclude with all personnel preparing to abandon ship.

COMMAND AND COORDINATION

Throughout the drill, a designated officer, usually the master, should oversee the operations. They gather information from various team leaders, such as emergency teams, firefighting teams, first aid teams etc, and ensure all crew members follow procedures correctly. Effective coordination between these response teams and the control station is crucial in managing the situation effectively.

Communication with shore is often overlooked as a part of an emergency drill, and it is encouraged that this element is practiced during emergency exercises also.

POST-DRILL DEBRIEF

Immediately after the drill, a structured debriefing session should be conducted. Crew members should discuss what went well and identify areas of improvement, including equipment failures or operational or procedural issues encountered during the drill should be highlighted. Any identified areas of improvement or update of the Training Manual required by SOLAS Chapter II-2, Regulation 15, should be assessed at this time. Such fire drill records must also be maintained as per SOLAS requirements and made available during PSC inspections. These records serve as evidence of compliance and provide valuable insights for fine-tuning future drills and enhancing onboard safety culture.

EVALUATION & IMPROVEMENT

A detailed performance review should be carried out using a structured checklist or similar tool, allowing observers and senior officers to record key metrics such as crew response times, equipment handling, and procedural adherence. Action items should be tracked through to completion. Incorporating these assessments into the Company’s audit framework, with a contingency evaluation checklist aligned to the Safety Management System (SMS), enables consistent measurement in areas like communication effectiveness and correct use of firefighting equipment.

QUICK REFERENCE FIRE DRILL CHECKLIST

See below a concise checklist, providing some prompts that may help guide fire drills effectively:

Before the Drill	Checklist Items	Checked by Officer-in-charge
	Assign roles and distribute briefing materials.
	Verify that all firefighting equipment is operational.
	Define clear drill objectives and expected outcomes.
During the Drill	Activate alarm using standard signals.
	Monitor response times and crew actions, including donning of fireman outfit and SCBA (typically timed by USCG or many port state control inspector).
	Ensure clear communication and coordination.
	Evaluate proper use of firefighting equipment.
After the Drill	Conduct an immediate debrief session.
	All firefighting equipment and systems returned to fully operable condition.
	Use the contingency evaluation checklist as per the ship’s SMS to ensure consistency.
	Document lessons learned and implement corrective measures.

CONCLUSION

Fire drills are not just a compliance requirement; they are a critical component of ship safety and emergency preparedness. The SOLAS convention requires regular, well-structured fire drills to ensure that crew members are fully prepared to handle real-life emergencies. By planning effectively, conducting drills with practical scenarios and continuously improving procedures, ship operators can significantly mitigate fire risks, boost crew competence and ensure regulatory compliance.

¹ SOLAS Ch.III/19.3

² The senior leadership team (Chief Officer, Chief Engineer, Safety Officer and sometimes department heads) usually propose the specific drill objectives.

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