cm. 21,5 x 14, pp. 112, copertina rigida con sovraccoperta, firma e data a penna, in buone condizioni.
In compiling this book, the author hopes to emphasize the absolute necessity for a complete understanding and cooperation between officers and men of the Nautical and Fire Services. Let us examine this subject, which is of vital concern to both services, in the following light: the only nautical officers who can possibly be well-versed in fire experience will be officers of the Marine Salvage Association. To the sea-going officer, a fire is an occurrence that is unusually challenging, and in that regard, they may easily encounter a situation in which they have never had any prior experience in dealing with.
Given that the majority of fires occur in ports, the Port Fire Officer gains a wide range of experience, but they do not operate at sea. Over the course of 25 years, I have been fortunate enough to have attended hundreds of fires on board ships. Many of these have been of a particularly unusual type and hold significant experiential value.
Upon reading this book, you will discern that I am not prescribing specific plans regarding the actions to be taken in the event of a fire. Lacking the experience of a sea-going officer, I can only hope that the described experiences can be adapted to the circumstances that arise on each occasion.
In my perspective, these problems encompass numerous points. These include the condition of stowage, ventilation in mixed cargoes, the nature of cargo in shared stowage, the nature of cargo in adjacent stowage, the effects of water used in firefighting, steam smothering, buoyancy issues, and more. All of these factors influence the approach to tackling the fire. Given this situation, it can only be a well-considered opinion in the context of the fire’s circumstances that can determine the best course of action to take.
The only aspects of opinion from a Port Fire Officer that might hold value for the sea-going officer would be a comparative explanation of what occurs in dock fires, along with the recognized operational inefficiencies in firefighting and suggestions for overcoming them. This is in the hope that, under his supervision, the sea officer may promptly determine whether the methods being employed effectively contribute to controlling the fire.