| Following a serious fire which claimed the lives of | | | | smoke alarms which would provide a suitable |
| three fishermen in Fraserburgh Harbour, the | | | | warning if a fire were to break out. Automatic |
| Marine Coastguard Agency have investigated the | | | | fire extinguishers are ideal for use on boats. They |
| need for fire safety equipment to be as effective | | | | are particularly effective in unsupervised areas |
| on boats when they are in harbour, as when they | | | | where there may be an increased risk of fire. |
| are at sea. Apparently, many smoke and fire | | | | One such example on a boat, would be the engine |
| alarms do not function as they should, whilst a | | | | room or compartment. |
| boat is docked. | | | | Once the temperature reaches 79 degrees |
| With this in mind, the Marine Coastguard Agency | | | | Celsius and over, the automatic fire extinguisher is |
| have been warning skipper owners that they | | | | activated and will release a powder to put out the |
| should be more mindful of allowing people to sleep | | | | fire. This type of fire extinguisher would provide |
| on boats, when the fire protection system may | | | | ideal fire protection equipment for a boat. Within |
| not be working as it should be. When the boats | | | | the living quarters on the boat, ordinary fire |
| are at sea, there does not appear to be this | | | | extinguishers should be fitted and fire blankets can |
| problem. The alarms work as they should and do | | | | be just as useful to have handy. |
| warn people of any danger through fire. | | | | Whilst the Marine Coastguard Agency continues to |
| The two Filipinos and one Latvian died in the tragic | | | | investigate this matter, skipper owners will have |
| fire, because the fire protection equipment, which | | | | to ensure that they are far more careful about |
| had been fitted, failed to warn them as the fire | | | | the fire safety protection that would be available |
| swept through their living quarters. The Marine | | | | to anybody that they are allowing to sleep on |
| Coastguard Agency believed that these deaths | | | | their boat. The installation of smoke alarms that |
| may have been avoided if the men had been | | | | will work effectively, whilst the boat is not at sea, |
| warned through the smoke alarm going off. | | | | would seem to be a very sensible suggestion. |
| Clearly, fire protection equipment needs to be | | | | They should also make other fire safety |
| effective whilst a boat is in harbour. The boat | | | | equipment available, like fire extinguishers and fire |
| could be equipped with ordinary, battery operated | | | | blankets, for example. |