Most ships hold a fire drill every month, but far fewer hold one that would hold up in a real fire. Inspectors can tell the difference quickly: the same galley scenario every month, hoses that never run, and log entries that read identically. This guide covers how to plan a SOLAS fire drill, run it minute by minute, debrief it and record it so the record shows a real drill. Book a demo to see digital fire drill records.
Ship fire drill planning, execution and records that stand up to inspection
SOLAS fire drill requirements in brief
SOLAS Chapter III, Regulation 19 sets the frequency and content of fire drills, and Chapter II-2, Regulation 15 requires them to be conducted and recorded to that standard. For the wider drill calendar, see our SOLAS emergency drill requirements guide.
From SOLAS III/19, III/30 and II-2/15 as summarised by The Nautical Institute. Check your flag’s requirements.
What each SOLAS fire drill must include
SOLAS lists what every fire drill must cover. Treat each item as a box that the drill and the record must both tick.
Equipment used in a drill must be brought straight back to full working order, and any faults fixed as soon as possible.
Fire drill planning: choose a realistic scenario
SOLAS expects drills to give regular practice in the emergencies that could happen on that type of ship and cargo. Rotate the location, the time of day and who is “unavailable”. The scenarios below are examples.
Fuel spray on a hot surface
Fuel shut-offs, space evacuation, headcount before fixed system release (simulated), boundary coolingDeep fat fryer fire
Fire blanket, wet chemical extinguisher, galley ventilation shut-down, power isolationCabin fire with casualty
BA search in smoke, casualty recovery, fire doors closed, stairway controlFire at manifold or pump room
Stop cargo operations, inform terminal, foam or fixed system, gas readingsFlammable store fire
Fixed system for the store, boundary cooling, keeping water away from the wrong productsFire with half the crew ashore
Reduced teams, shore fire service, international shore connectionRunning the drill: a minute-by-minute flow
A good drill follows the order of a real response. Times below are illustrative targets for planning, not requirements.
Plan every drill from the same screen
Rotate scenarios, assign teams, record times and attendance, and log equipment faults as they are found.
Fire team roles and muster: command, control, communication
Barbados Maritime Ship Registry tells its inspectors to judge a drill on command, control and communication, and to look at timing, teamwork and whether each team has enough people.
Fire drill debrief: turn the drill into learning
The debrief is where a drill becomes training. Keep it short and specific, and record what will change.
Example debrief, illustrative.
Fire drill records: what inspectors scrutinise
SOLAS requires drill dates to be recorded in the log book the flag prescribes. If a full drill is not held, the entry must state the circumstances and what was done. In the 2023 Paris and Tokyo MoU fire safety campaign, the question on witnessed fire drills had a non-compliance rate of 9.2%.
- “Fire drill carried out, all OK” every month
- Same scenario and location repeatedly
- Same start and finish times each drill
- No names, no equipment used, no faults ever found
- Attendance that does not match crew changes
- Scenario, space and time of day noted
- Pump, jets, BA and doors actually used, with times
- Named participants who sign
- Faults found and jobs raised
- Debrief points and actions recorded
Fire drill frequency and scenario rotation
Twelve monthly drills can cover every high-risk space at least once. The plan below is illustrative; adjust it to your ship type.
Fire drill checklist
Use this for each fire drill.
How Marine Inspection supports fire drill records
Marine Inspection schedules drills, tracks who attended, records the scenario, times and equipment used, and turns faults into maintenance jobs. Our crew safety inspection module covers drills alongside lifesaving equipment. The record below is illustrative.
Ship fire drill FAQs
How often are fire drills required under SOLAS?
Each crew member must take part in at least one fire drill a month. Passenger ships hold one weekly, and a drill is needed within 24 hours of sailing if over 25% of crew missed last month’s drills.
What must a fire drill include?
Reporting to stations, starting a fire pump with two jets, checking firemen’s outfits, communications, doors and dampers, and arrangements for abandoning ship.
What do inspectors look for in fire drill records?
Specific entries: scenario, times, named participants, equipment used, faults found and actions. Repeated identical entries suggest drills are not real.
Should fire drills use real equipment?
Yes. Pumps, jets, breathing apparatus and doors should actually be used where safe, then restored to full working order straight away.
Why hold a debrief?
It records what went well, what was slow and what failed, and turns those points into actions for the next drill.
Can Marine Inspection record fire drills?
Yes. Book a demo to see drill scheduling, attendance and records.
Drill it like it’s real
Varied scenarios, real equipment, honest debriefs and specific records make a crew ready and an inspection easy.
