Wilhelmsen Technical Solutions (WTS) and Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) have launched the Unitor XFlow mobile water monitor and the Unitor XFlow water mist lance to tackle fires on ships carrying containers on or above the weather deck, the company said in its press release.
Both products have been developed to meet regulatory requirements. The mobile monitor is tested and approved to meet the SOLAS regulations IMO MSC.1/ Circ. 1472, and both are type approved according to IMO regulations under SOLAS II-2/10.7.3.
Stein Lovskar, Commercial Development Manager, Wilhelmsen Technical Solutions, said:
“Containership fires have been identified as a serious hazard by the insurance community and owners need to be equipped to tackle them whatever the size and configuration of their vessel. The Unitor XFlow mobile water products have proved themselves highly effective in varied applications and are a natural choice for ships carrying containers on deck.”
With nominal water pressure of 4 bar at the nozzle, the monitor can protect up to 10 tiers of containers, and even more at higher pressure. It is highly portable and can be quickly assembled and operated by a single crew member if required. It features a single waterway connection, saving time when rolling out the hose, and hose and hydrant adaptors can be supplied to fit customer demands.
The monitor has a dual purpose nozzle for spray and jet functionality combined with an easy elevation feature to ensure precise and efficient fire fighting. Based on the proven XFlow technology, the low pressure system has been developed with large bores to avoid clogging. In addition, there are no moving parts in the nozzle, making the monitor reliable and easy to maintain.
For fast fire response, the lance kit is equipped with a battery-operated drill to penetrate the container wall quickly and safely. This is not required by the regulations, but makes fire fighting safe and fast, even during rolling and pitching at sea. The water mist lance and drill are fitted with an extension to protect the operator from hot surfaces. A special holder enables the water mist lance to be left unattended while in operation, allowing crew to focus on other tasks.