The investigation of yacht and superyacht fires can be a complex process, as they contain a large number of different systems and, dependent upon the construction of the superstructure, are often significantly affected following a fire.
Fire Investigation Expert, Dr Nick Carey, delivered his presentation ‘The Investigation of Yacht and Superyacht Fires’ at Marine Insurance Nordics where he shared an overview of some of the causes of fires on yachts. He included a review of the issues associated with modern water sports equipment, such as jet skis and flyboards, which are often stored on board, and highlighted an investigator’s need for a thorough physical examination of the fire-damaged remains to assist insurers in finding the root cause of the fire.
Nick explained that yacht fires often occur when the vessel is either in use or when work is being undertaken. He added that there are often many parties implicated, including different legal jurisdictions, and with the risk that damaged vessels may sink, a further dimension is added in respect of evidence recovery. Each of these factors can cause issues and delays in an investigation. Therefore, an investigator must swiftly gather and evaluate all physical evidence and understand the various electrical systems on board when conducting such investigations.
Nick’s presentation included examples of yacht fires investigated by Hawkins, and the techniques used to determine the contributing factors and draw the right conclusions.
Nick was joined at the conference by Hawkins experts Dr Andrew Moncrieff, Dr Tom Peat and John Gow, who were available to explain how our highly qualified team of scientists and engineers can assist with a wide range of marine incidents.
Nick joined Hawkins in 2012, following a 27-year career in the fire service. As well as investigating yacht fires, he investigates bulk carrier, research vessel and fires on board container ships. He has provided firefighting advice for various types of vessels at sea and in ports and has also provided expert testimony in several legal proceedings.
If you would like Nick to present to your organisation, or have an incident that you would like him to investigate, please do not hesitate to contact us.
