Fire protection on the high seas:
Minimax products protect eight gas tankers
As a rule, natural gases are transported in their liquid state, either refrigerated or under pressure. These liquid gases are transported with special ships called gas tankers. The complex technology of the gas works, the tanks and the pipe system transforms the ship into a kind of floating chemical factory.
Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, is building eight of these giants, each 155 metres long. Two shipping companies, Solvang ASA in Stavanger, Norway, and Harpain Reederei GmbH & Co. KG, a joint venture of Harpain Shipping GmbH and Hansa Shipping GmbH & Co. KG, in Hamburg, Germany, ordered the ships. Minimax is responsible for planning and installing fire prevention equipment for all of the gas tankers. The second ship has just been completed and the fire extinguishing systems have been installed.
This fire protection was customised for each specific area: powder extinguishing systems for the transfer stations (crossover), a CO2 system for the engine and machine rooms, and an automatic water spay system just for the machines themselves.
The upper deck will be protected by water spray systems, while the kitchen area features a CO2 system for the exhaust duct and a KS 2000 for the deep fat fryer.
These ships present quite a challenge for fire prevention that demands specialised expertise for planning and installation. Ahoy, Minimax!