The International Chamber of Shipping and the Vehicle Carrier Safety Forum (VCSF) recognise that responding to vehicle fires onboard PCCs, PCTCs, Ro-Ro and Ro-Pax vessels is both dangerous and challenging. These guidelines have been designed to reduce the risk to the safety of crews, passengers, the environment and the vessel. The aim is to assist vessel operators and crews to be better prepared to meet the challenges presented by vehicle fires.

These guidelines cover the response measures in vehicle carriers at a high level and provide a framework for vessel operators to use to inform their own more detailed procedures.

These guidelines recognise that fire response is limited by vessel design, current crew training regimes and equipment available onboard. They do not include use of emerging technical solutions.