b'from the Steamship Authority and the local departmentstionswithmaritimeschoolsandthereforeknowrelevantfirechief.Falveynotedthatthecrewwouldbethefirstline marineterminology.Henotedthatoperatorsmayhavetoof defense, and the fire department would take directioneducateland-basedfiredepartmentsontheiroperations from the Steamship Authority. and how their crew fight marine fires, as well as what equip-menttheyhaveavailableassomefiredepartmentsmaynotTheyalsodiscussedwheretotakeavesselifitisonfire. be familiar with what an operator has or is capable of. While the master and senior management would make the decision,thetoppriorityissavinglives,andtheysaidthe He also recommended sharing the National Fire Protection vesselwouldmostlikelybetakentothenearestporttoget Associations 1405 guide with local fire departments. This people off. If a fire would cause a loss of propulsion, theywasdevelopedincollaborationwiththeCoastGuardtomayabandonshiptomakesureeveryoneissafeandthen prepare land-based firefighters for fighting marine fires. It go from there.identifieselementsofacomprehensivemarinefirefightingprogram and offers instruction on how to safely extinguish The Steamship Authority hasnt done a lot of drills withafireonavessel.local fire departments, in part due to scheduling challeng-es.However,theyhavedonealotofdrillswiththeU.S. For operators planning to reach out to their local fire de-CoastGuardincludingactiveshooterdrillsandemergency partment,Falveysuggeststhatbeforemeetingwithade-boarding practice. They held a drill with the Coast Guardpartment, an operators should get your ducks in a row. this spring and were able to include the SWAT team. TheA first step in preparing to meet with a department is to outside agencies practiced coming alongside a ferry andhavebothyourvesselsgeneralarrangementandyourfireboarding unassisted.safetyandcontrolplansavailable.Thenitcomesdowntoscheduling.Invitethefiredepartmenttoyourlocationtosee the layout of the terminal as that will likely be where theywillberespondingtointheeventofavesselfire.Healsorecommendsdoinggeneralwalkthroughsofthevessel.A first step in preparing toHavetheportcaptain,themasterofthevesselshowthemyour capabilities, he said. Because I think some of it, like meet with a department isPaul said for some of the young firefighters that came on to have both your vesselsthe boat, its eye opening.Duringwalkthroughswithonedepartment,Hennessy general arrangement andFalveysaidquestionswereraisedaboutsomeoftheconnections, though it ultimately worked out. Visiting the and your fire safety andvesselandtheterminalallowedthelocalfiredepartmenttosee things like the connections firsthand, as well as hoses control plans available.availableonsiteandonthevesselandthehydrantslocatedon the slip. These are opportunities for asking questions andfindingsolutionswhenthingsarecalminsteadof amid an emergency.FalveyhasbeenworkingwithaPVASafetyandSecurity Once all the MOUs are complete, the team at the Steam-Committee working group to compile a checklist that willship Authority will continue working with their local fire be shared with fellow PVA members once complete. It willdepartments to maintain the connections and relationships coversuchitemsasidentifyingtheappropriatefiredepart- theyvebuilt.Theyllinvitethegroupstovisitthevessels,mentsforeachportofservice,determiningadepartments the terminals, and the repair facility to keep teams familiar existing equipment, and understanding their training andwiththeships,locations,andcrew.Overtime,boththeop-experience in marine firefighting. His team has been luckyerator and the local fire departments will see staff changes thatoneofthefirechiefsandonedeputychiefhaveconnec- and its crucial to keep all parties informed and engaged. 11 AUGUST 2025'