Does my ship comply with today's SOP procedure?

What was once a solid standard can now offer false safety. Many SOP procedures are still based on traditional fire scenarios involving solids, while the reality on board has changed dramatically. Think electric vehicles, hazardous cargoes and alternative fuels. Fires develop faster, ships are larger and immediate deployment is not always justified. Time to take a critical look: does my procedure still match today's practice?

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SOP in shipping: standard procedures with impact

SOP in shipping, or standard operating procedure, plays a key role in fire safety on board. Especially in incidents at sea, a well-developed SOP determines how quickly and effectively a fire team can act. Yet in practice, we see that many procedures lag behind the technological and operational reality of modern ships.

React Academy helps you update these procedures and apply them in practice, so they really contribute to safety and decision-making during an incident.

SOP procedure under pressure: why adjusting is necessary

An SOP procedure is designed to act immediately and unambiguously in the event of a fire. Most ships work with an established SOP process: gather crew, deploy immediately and start extinguishing quickly. This approach is often based on a traditional solids fire curve, which assumes there is about 15 minutes to bring an incipient fire under control.

But modern risks, such as electric vehicles, hazardous materials, alternative fuels and ever larger ships, make this assumption less and less reliable. Fire development is faster, routes are more complex and immediate deployment is sometimes simply not safe.

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Standard Operating Procedure example: containment before action

A smart example of a Standard Operating Procedure of today? Which focuses not only on extinguishing, but especially on containment:

Risk assessment first, then action
Prevent fire from spreading to other compartments
Exploit existing ship structure (thermal zones, pressure distribution)
Smart use of extinguishing systems instead of direct attack
Prioritise team self-protection

This requires adaptation of SOPs and training of your crew, so they do not automatically act according to old scenarios, but on the basis of current risks and ship configuration.

React Academy helps review SOP in shipping

At React Academy, we combine maritime fire expertise with training. Our teams are active in marine incidents worldwide and know exactly what does and does not work on board. That's why we help shipping companies and crews:

Assessing existing SOPs
Adapting to modern ship types and cargoes
Training crews in decision-making and containment strategies
conducting scenario exercises based on their own ship

So we make sure your SOPs are not only compliant, but also practical and safe.

Why choose training at React Academy?

Our approach is based on realistic risks, not theory from behind a desk. With us, you will learn:

How fire really develops on board
How to adjust SOPs without causing confusion
How to make your fire team work together under time pressure
Which choices are or are not wise in the case of hazardous materials or enclosed spaces

For keeping SOPs up-to-date in shipping, React Academy offers a complete approach: from advice and inspection to practical training, tailored to the reality on board. Your crew will learn not only what is written on paper, but also why the procedure is structured the way it is and how it is applied in their own working environment. Whether you opt for e-learning, training with the Trainer Tool, customisation on board or guidance through an inspection programme; each form contributes to strengthening safety and preparedness according to modern standards.

Increase your firefighting capacity with better SOPs

Standard operating procedure on paper is the starting point, but application on board makes all the difference. Let React Academy help you renew, train and test your SOP shipping. Safety starts with preparation. Contact us today for a tailor-made intake or training programme.

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