Technical Articles
Deep dives on sensor networks, EtherCAT topology, anomaly detection, and the design choices behind the RoRoSAFE platform.
What Does Min Jiang Kou Mean for LNG PCTCs?
Min Jiang Kou is the first serious fire on an LNG dual-fuel PCTC. The IGF Code's gas safeguards assume a crew and power, and she lost both for weeks.
The BMS Handshake: Pre-Fire Shutdown
In battery storage, off-gas sensors tell the BMS to shut a failing stack down within 2–30 minutes. On a car deck the ship can't reach the vehicle's BMS.
The Four Stages of Li-Ion Thermal Runaway
Li-ion runaway moves from SEI breakdown near 80–120 °C through venting to fire. Useful detection works in the venting window, before smoke and flame.
How Are Thermal Hotspots Detected?
Measuring temperature on a cargo deck is easy; deciding which rise is real is not. Relative thresholds and neighbour checks separate faults from noise.
SOLAS II-2/7: Fixed Detection vs IR
Draft SOLAS II-2/7.11 would put two portable IR imagers on container ships. On a packed vehicle deck a hand-held imager can't reach most of the cargo.
Integrating Water-Mist Lances With Detection
SOLAS has required a container-piercing water mist lance since 2016. On a vehicle deck, a lance works only if detection gets crews to the right car early.
The Loose Terminal a Breaker Cannot See
A loose joint changes resistance, not current — so overcurrent protection is blind by construction. MAIB 24/2011: 25 A through a 32 A breaker, and a fire.
At What %LEL Should a Car-Deck Gas Alarm Trip?
Not at %LEL for early warning. Vent gas has an LFL near 10% vol, so a 10% LEL trip is ~1% gas, thousands of ppm: an explosion setpoint, not detection.
Does a Just-Driven Car Look Like a Runaway?
For a few minutes, yes. A just-parked car's exhaust can top 400 °C and its bonnet warms for ~5 min; slope, not temperature, tells it from a runaway.