Vehicle Carrier Fire Drill Guidelines Released by VCSF

On April 26, 2025, the Vehicle Carrier Safety Forum (VCSF) released its latest industry good practice framework: Fire Drill Guidelines for Vehicle Carrying Vessels. The document gives ship operators a practical, principle-based structure for planning and running fire response drills on vehicle carriers. With growing scrutiny of ro-ro fire safety, the guidance zeroes in on what actually determines whether a small fire stays small: early detection, fast muster, disciplined deployment, and correct use of fixed firefighting systems.

This third VCSF guideline is not another prescriptive checklist. It recognises that no two vehicle carriers are alike. Vessel design, cargo configuration, trade routes, and available equipment vary widely, so a one-size-fits-all drill script would be both impractical and unsafe. Instead, the guidance asks operators to think through their own ship's conditions and build drills around core principles rather than step-by-step instructions. That is a notable shift for a segment of shipping that has historically relied on highly detailed procedures.

What does the framework actually ask crews to rehearse? The most important element is rapid fire confirmation. On a vehicle deck packed with cars, trucks, and heavy equipment, a smouldering fire can be invisible for some time. Crews need to know exactly what to look for, where to look, and how to confirm a fire quickly without exposing anyone unnecessarily. The guidelines then link that confirmation phase directly to muster and deployment: who goes where, what equipment to bring, and how to maintain communication while moving through smoke-filled decks.

Another critical theme is the early use of fixed firefighting systems. Vehicle carriers are increasingly fitted with deluge systems, water mist, or CO2 installations, but a fixed system is only useful if the crew actually uses it at the right moment. Delaying activation while waiting for more information has been a contributing factor in several major incidents. The guidelines make the point that in most cases, early activation is safer than hesitation, and that drills should simulate that decision point under realistic conditions.

The guidelines also serve as a gap analysis tool for operators. Because they are not tied to a specific vessel type, operators can compare their current drill programme against the principles and identify weak spots. For example, a ship with a newly installed water mist system might discover that its muster stations and radio protocols have not been updated to match the new system's activation sequence. That kind of gap is exactly where the framework is designed to help.

From an industry timeline perspective, this release is the third step in a deliberate effort to improve safety on the vehicle carrier segment. The VCSF was established in 2020 with a clear mission: promote safety on vehicle carrying vessels and at the ship/shore interface. Its membership now includes a broad range of vessel operators, insurers, P&I clubs, and industry experts. In March 2024, the Forum issued its first guideline, Common Guidance on Vehicle Loading and Presentation, followed in April 2025 by Guidance on Fire Response Onboard Vehicle Carriers. The new drill guidelines build directly on that fire response guidance, moving from response strategy to crew-level preparation.

For insurers and underwriters, the publication matters beyond simple compliance. Gard, as a marine insurer and a participant in these discussions, has consistently emphasised that human factors are at the heart of most ro-ro fire casualties. A well-conducted drill programme is one of the most effective loss-prevention investments a shipowner can make. In fact, during P&I claims reviews, the quality of crew training and drills often outweighs the presence of hardware when analysts assess risk. That is a strong argument for treating the VCSF drill guidelines not as a voluntary extra but as a benchmark for due diligence.

The downloadable document itself is clear about limits. It does not provide detailed, ship-specific procedures, and it deliberately leaves room for operators to adapt the framework to emerging technology. As ships begin to introduce more electric vehicles, improved thermal imaging, or enhanced detection systems, drill programmes must evolve alongside them. The guidelines, by design, allow that flexibility. That is particularly relevant in 2025, as the industry continues to debate the safest ways to handle EV fires on enclosed decks.

There has also been wider regulatory discussion around ro-ro fire safety. The International Maritime Organization and national administrations have paid close attention to incidents on vehicle carriers, and the VCSF guidelines complement ongoing work by flag states and class societies. While the VCSF cannot issue regulations, its role as an industry body means these documents can move faster than the formal rulemaking process. That rapid, practical approach is one reason the Forum's guidelines are being watched closely by the wider car carrier sector.

For a ship operator, the immediate next step should be a gap assessment. Download the VCSF guidelines, compare them with existing drill procedures, and ask a few basic questions: Can a fire be confirmed and communicated within the first five minutes? Do muster and deployment duties account for the ship-specific configuration of decks and ramps? Is the fixed firefighting system part of every drill, not just an annual demonstration? If the answer is not clear, the guideline gives a useful starting point for closing that gap.

Shipboard officers will likely appreciate that the framework treats drills as decision-making exercises, not choreography. Instead of repeating a scripted sequence until it feels easy, the best drills force crews to think. Simulate a cargo fire behind a row of trailers. Cut off communications for one team. Change the available equipment. The principle-based structure of this guidance encourages exactly that kind of variation, which is far harder to teach than a fixed procedure but far more valuable in a real emergency.

In short, the Vehicle Carrier Safety Forum has provided the ro-ro industry with a modern, adaptable framework for the one thing that often separates a minor incident from a major casualty: readiness. The document is available for direct download, and with third-party endorsements from insurers like Gard and the forum's growing operator membership, it is likely to become a reference point in vetting inspections and risk assessments.

Download the guidelines: VCSF Drills Guidelines – Final (PDF link here)

About the Vehicle Carrier Safety Forum The Vehicle Carrier Safety Forum was initiated in 2020 to promote safety on vehicle carrying vessels and at the ship/shore interface. Membership includes vessel operators, insurers, and industry experts. Its first two guidelines were published in March 2024 and April 2025, respectively.