Onboard Fire Management Course
This course gives you the essential knowledge to prevent, detect and fight fires on board and to organize the response when one breaks out. You will learn how fire behaves in confined, compartmented spaces, which areas of a vessel carry the greatest risk, how detection, alarm, portable, fixed and passive protection systems work, which attack techniques suit engine rooms, galleys, electrical and accommodation fires, and how to manage smoke, evacuation, rescue and communication during the emergency.
Prior knowledge check
These are the skills this program gives you. Tick the ones you already master and we will tell you which part of the syllabus is for you.
You are starting from scratch in this subject. The program is designed precisely for that.
What is the Onboard Fire Management Course?
This short course covers fire on board from the chemistry of combustion to the coordination of the whole response. You will study the fire triangle and tetrahedron, ignition and heat transfer in confined spaces, classes of fire and the fuels found on board, why compartmentation, limited ventilation and ducts make shipboard fires different, high-risk spaces, detection and alarm systems, extinguishers and other first-response equipment, CO2, foam, water mist, sprinklers and clean agents, passive protection, initial attack procedures, safe use of extinguishers and hoses, engine-room, electrical, galley and accommodation fires, tactical ventilation and smoke control, internal evacuation, search and rescue in smoke and heat, breathing apparatus and operational communication.
What sets this course apart: it combines fire science with the realities of a vessel, where the crew must fight the fire with what is on board while protecting stability and escape routes; it treats each high-risk space with its own tactics; and it closes with an applied final project in which you design the tactical response, evacuation and rescue plan for a specific fire scenario, simulate it and evaluate how well the emergency system performs.
Program highlights
- Fire behavior: fire triangle and tetrahedron, ignition, heat transfer and confined spaces.
- High-risk spaces: engine room, galley, switchboards, garages, stores and cargo areas.
- Detection and protection: detectors, alarms, extinguishers, fixed systems and passive barriers.
- Attack techniques: isolation, ventilation control, choice of agent and re-ignition control.
- Emergency management: smoke control, internal evacuation, rescue and breathing apparatus.
- Applied project: tactical fire response plan with simulation and performance review.
Syllabus of the Onboard Fire Management Course
5 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Fundamentals of fire on board, specific risks of the naval environment and initial organization of the fire emergency response
- 1.1. Physical and chemical nature of fire: fire triangle and tetrahedron, ignition mechanisms, heat transfer and behavior of combustion in confined maritime spaces
- 1.2. Classes of fire and combustible materials on board: liquid, solid, electrical and gaseous fuels, oils, paints, cables, insulation and special cargoes
- 1.3. Distinctive risks of fire on vessels: compartmentation, limited ventilation, spread through ducts, smoke build-up and difficult evacuation
- 1.4. Critical fire-risk areas on board: engine room, galley, electrical switchboards, garages, stores, cargo areas and accommodation
- 1.5. Initial organization of the response: detection, alarm, chain of command, allocation of roles and activation of the fire emergency plan
Integrated fire detection, alarm, extinguishing and protection systems on ships and boats
- 2.1. Fire detection systems: heat, smoke and flame detectors, addressable systems and coverage criteria by compartment
- 2.2. Alarm and emergency notification systems: control panels, audible and visual signals, alarm zones and internal communication protocols
- 2.3. Portable first-response equipment: extinguishers, fire blankets, wheeled units and selection criteria by type of fire and affected space
- 2.4. Fixed extinguishing systems: CO2, foam, water mist, sprinklers and clean agents, and their specific use in engine rooms, galleys and technical spaces
- 2.5. Passive fire protection: fire doors, bulkheads, seals, fire-resistant insulation and control of structural fire spread
Operational intervention techniques, fire control and extinguishing maneuvers in spaces on board
- 3.1. Initial fire attack procedures: reconnaissance, isolation of the area, power isolation, ventilation control and tactical choice of extinguishing agent
- 3.2. Safe and effective use of extinguishers and hoses: approach, sweeping, operating distance, protection of the responder and control of re-ignition
- 3.3. Intervention maneuvers in the engine room: closing ventilation, stopping systems, isolating fuel and using fixed extinguishing systems
- 3.4. Intervention in electrical, galley and accommodation fires: procedures differentiated by source of ignition and risk of re-energization
- 3.5. Control of smoke and the internal atmosphere: tactical ventilation, containment, cooling and preservation of safe access and escape routes
Emergency management, evacuation, rescue and coordination of the fire response on the vessel
- 4.1. Activation of the general emergency plan and coordination between the bridge, the engine room and response teams during the incident
- 4.2. Internal evacuation procedures and control of personnel: headcount, safe routes, muster points and management of passengers or non-responding crew
- 4.3. Rescue techniques in smoke and heat: primary search, extraction of casualties and safe transfer through compromised compartments
- 4.4. Use of self-contained breathing apparatus and advanced personal protection: donning, operating limits, air consumption and safety of the team working in pairs
- 4.5. Operational communication during the emergency: structured reports, transfer of critical information and liaison with external support when necessary
Final project: onboard fire management with response design, operational simulation and evaluation of the emergency system
- 5.1. Definition of the case study: type of vessel, affected area, operating conditions, risks present and intervention objectives
- 5.2. Preparation of the tactical response plan: detection, alarm, mobilization, sectorisation, extinguishing agents and coordination between teams
- 5.3. Design of the evacuation and rescue plan: routes, muster points, control of people, extraction of casualties and protection of critical areas
- 5.4. Simulation of the fire scenario: sequence of events, decision-making, use of extinguishing equipment and management of escalation
- 5.5. Evaluation of the performance of the response system: times, tactical effectiveness, safety of personnel, communication and opportunities for improvement
Duration and format of the Onboard Fire Management Course
It is 300 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.
This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.
Academic leadership and faculty
The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.
Dr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Eng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Eng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Eng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Eng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration CoordinatorObjectives of the Onboard Fire Management Course
Career opportunities after the Onboard Fire Management Course
Questions about the Onboard Fire Management Course
Raise the alarm so that the whole crew and the bridge are informed, then, if it is safe, attempt an initial attack with the nearest suitable equipment while the emergency organization is activated.
It depends on the space. Portable extinguishers on board are typically foam, dry powder and CO2, while engine rooms and other high-risk spaces are usually protected by fixed CO2, foam, water mist or clean agent systems. The course explains how to choose the right agent for each class of fire.
Because spaces are confined and compartmented, ventilation is limited, smoke and heat spread through ducts and passageways, help from outside may be far away and escape routes are few. The crew must control the fire with the resources on board.
No. Navalis Institute teaches the subject online and in depth, but mandatory STCW firefighting certificates are issued by the competent maritime authorities and require practical training at approved centers. This course complements that training.
You define a fire scenario on a specific vessel, prepare the tactical response, evacuation and rescue plan, simulate the sequence of events and decisions and evaluate the performance of the emergency system.
Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7, with simulated scenarios, case studies and tutorials with the teaching staff.
The course comprises 300 hours of study across 5 modules of about 60 hours each and ends with an applied project. You can progress at your own pace within the schedule set when you enroll.
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Admission process
No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.
- Profile: aimed at merchant seafarers and crew of any rank, ship security and safety officers, supervisors of loading and unloading operations, maintenance and repair staff on board, and shipping and ship management companies; basic training in fire prevention and firefighting or proven experience in emergencies on board is recommended, and seagoing experience is helpful but not essential.
- Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
- Technical resources: a computer, tablet or mobile device with a stable internet connection and an up-to-date browser to follow the classes, simulated scenarios and materials.
- Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
- 01ApplicationYour details, background and documents.
- 02Instant reviewWe check that everything is complete and in order.
- 03EnrollmentChoose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.
Ask us before you enroll
Leave your details and admissions will write to you to answer any questions. If you are already sure, you can apply and pay in the same session.