The British Tugowners Association (BTA) has introduced a new Firefighting Emergency Action Card to support tug crews when called upon to assist in shipboard fire emergencies.
This quick-reference card sets out essential steps and questions for crews before, during, and after an incident, ensuring interventions are carried out with safety as the top priority. At its core is the Golden Rule – Don’t Rush In – promoting a “Stop & Think” approach to assessment and preparation.
The card also explains the legal and insurance distinction between Rescue (saving life), which is a legal duty, and Salvage (saving property), and provides clear, sequential guidance for each stage of response. While boundary cooling is often the primary tactic, the card warns that uncontrolled water application can significantly affect a vessel’s stability.
Recognising the growing complexity of shipboard fires, the card addresses hazards posed by modern cargoes and fuels, including LNG, LPG, ammonia, methanol, and lithium-ion batteries, helping crews plan safe and effective interventions.
This initiative also builds on BTA’s comprehensive guide, ”Use of Tugs in Firefighting”, published in May 2025, which set out industry-standard practices for emergency preparedness. Commenting when the Guide was released, Stephan Henning, The Secretary of State’s Representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention (SOSREP) described it as a vital resource for improving maritime safety and emergency response. He emphasized that the guide offers comprehensive and practical advice aligned with the commitment to reducing risks and mitigating marine pollution. Henning noted that by equipping tug operators with the necessary knowledge and protocols, the industry can ensure a more effective and coordinated response to shipboard fires, ultimately safeguarding lives, property, and the environment.
Operators are encouraged to incorporate the Action Card, and Guide into their vessel Safety Management Systems and share feedback with BTA to help refine future guidance. Together, we can strengthen emergency preparedness and improve safety standards across the industry.
For more information or to provide feedback to the BTA on this topic or publications, please contact Robert Merrylees.
