VIKING FIRE VALVES

VIKING Life-Saving Equipment is driving more investment into its marine fire service business. The inauguration of VIKING’s Foam Lab Odense, which specializes in the testing of a vessel’s reserves of firefighting foam, intensifies the company’s focus on marine fire service, a segment earmarked for significant growth in the coming years. Marine Firefighting Equipment “Our ambition is to cover all aspects of marine firefighting equipment, and our new state-of-the-art laboratory puts us on the global map in this segment, too.“ “Our class approvals comply with IMO regulations for testing all foam types, and we expect to receive DANAK accreditation in the course of 2021 as the ultimate stamp of approval for our work,” says Anders Nørgaard Lauridsen, head of VIKING’s activities in and around the Baltic region. Foam Test If a vessel’s foam is over three years old, it is mandatory for the vessel to undergo an annual foam test at a reputable laboratory. VIKING can offer a simple, user-friendly package solution, whereby shipowners purchase a test kit comprising a container for collecting a foam sample, instructions on how to take the sample on board, and a prepaid shipping label. Certification When the foam is received at the lab, it is subjected to a barrage of tests including, degree of expansion, drainage time, pH value, density, and contamination, to ensure, among other things, that the foam will effectively extinguish a fire. A service checklist and data are saved electronically via an iPad, and a certificate is issued to verify the completion of the test. This ensures traceability and enables monitoring of the condition of the foam. Experienced Specialist Foam samples are heat-treated for 24 hours before mixing them with saline solution There are two specialists at the foam lab, both able to perform a variety of tests, including low and high expansion tests, chemical resistance tests, small scale fire tests, and conductivity tests. When foam samples are received, they are heat-treated for 24 hours before being mixed with saline solution and subjected to a meticulous testing program, defined according to current IMO standards. “VIKING’s Marine Fire Service strategy is initially to handle more than 1,000 foam samples a year, which we’ll receive directly from global shipowners and our servicing stations,” says Anders Nørgaard Lauridsen. Heading Foam Lab Ove Andersen joined VIKING in mid-May to head Foam Lab Odense. He is a qualified marine engineer and has extensive experience, gained from 15 years as an operations manager in the district heating sector and subsequently from his three years at the DFL fire testing laboratory in Svendborg, Denmark. He is fully familiar with international test standards and quality management systems, including IMO1312, IMO670, other regulations for foam testing, and requirements for test equipment. Good Quality Foam “The thought of building something from scratch at VIKING appealed to me.” There are relatively few, yet important, standards for this segment, and from my background in the fire sector, I can say that it’s vital for vessels to have good quality foam on board – particularly foam that’s expandable and has adequate drainage time.” “The same applies here as to other VIKING products, human lives are at stake,” says Ove Andersen. Strong Position VIKING has hired Lone Friis, who holds a bachelor’s degree in laboratory, food and process technology, to assist at the foam lab. The new team of two has recently taken delivery of a sophisticated testing device, which optically reads drainage time and ensures a consistent test process. “We’re a global player with the support of a strong network, and our foam lab will strengthen our maritime customers’ perception of us as a competent partner and full-service supplier to the marine fire service segment, too,” says Anders Nørgaard Lauridsen. Agreement Concepts Marine fire service is often sourced as part of VIKING’s multi-annual service contract for maritime operators, the VIKING Shipowner Agreement (SOA), and is also offered to the oil and gas industry as part of our Offshore Service Agreement (OSA). Foam analysis is a natural, integral part of both of these agreement concepts.

VIKING Lifesaving Equipment reaches a global partnership agreement with a renowned foam manufacturer, putting marine fire safety at the center of its one-stop-shop strategy for maritime and offshore safety. VIKING, the foremost marine safety specialist, acquired Drew Marine’s Fire Safety Rescue division in 2019 and absorbed the operation into its marine fire service (MFS) business, consolidated under a management and competency center based in Rotterdam. The new agreement covers distribution by VIKING of the marine-approved foam concentrates offered under the Dr. Sthamer brand. High Expansion Inside Air Foam Systems Established in Hamburg in 1886, the independent manufacturer supplies concentrate on meeting IMO1312 requirements for Deck Foam Systems and IMO670 for High Expansion Inside Air Foam Systems for Engine Rooms and Machinery spaces. Its products also include next-generation high stability 1% IAF Fluorine Free Foams. Agreement Renewal “This agreement renews and builds on the successes of an arrangement between Dr. Sthamer and Drew Marine FSR,” says VIKING’s Global MFS Service Director William Gielen. “Dr. Sthamer’s reputation for quality is unsurpassed in the marine industry, while its R&D lead and environmentally responsible foams keep it well ahead of the pack.” “VIKING has built its reputation on the quality of its life rafts, immersion suits, and other safety equipment, and customers have the same expectations for MFS.” “We are taking the Dr. Sthamer relationship to a new level, supported by a global service organization and sizeable foam inventories at strategic locations. We are also investing in our Odense foam analysis laboratory, so that existing customers have the VIKING assurance that their marine fire safety is safe with us.”   Foam Supplies & Warranty Initially focusing on foam supplies for existing vessels, including foam tank cleaning, disposal and refilling, inspection and sampling, VIKING’s upgraded commitment includes delivering Dr. Sthamer foam stocks from stocks held in Fujairah, Houston, Esbjerg, Rotterdam, and Singapore. Foams are being offered under a five-year warranty, subject to verification of agreed storage conditions. Technical Training & Sampling Service Dr. Sthamer provides technical training for VIKING MFS ambassadors, who offers full product and service support Dr. Sthamer is providing technical training for VIKING MFS ambassadors, who will offer full product and service support on the characteristics, performance, condition, and storage requirements for branded marine foams. In turn, VIKING is offering a pre-paid, express sampling service for foams. The agreement also foresees condition data being fed back to Dr. Sthamer to support R&D. Core Of Development Plans “We are truly excited to pick up our relationship with William and his highly motivated team under new management,” says Jan Knappert, International Sales Director, Dr. Sthamer. “The VIKING MFS business has a clarity of purpose, is investing in its people and in strategically-located inventories; Dr. Sthamer is always delighted when partners make our products core to their development plans.” Foam-Based Marine Firefighting Systems An estimated 50% of vessels in service have foam-based marine firefighting systems. Part of the plan envisages MFS services including foam supply being included for the first time as part of VIKING’s all-embracing Ship Owner Agreements, which see VIKING taking full responsibility for shipboard safety equipment supply and upkeep fleet-wide for a defined period – usually five years. Saving Time & Money “Helping owners make the right decision on foam selection and giving them the technical support to maintain products in service will ultimately protect lives at sea,” comments Belarmino Dubois, VIKING Global Service Manager for Drydocking and Foam. “Including these capabilities in a broader shipowner agreement covering life rafts, lifeboats, PPE, and more will save our clients time and money.”

VIKING, the marine safety specialist, acquired Drew Marine’s Fire Safety Rescue division in 2019 and absorbed the operation into its marine fire service (MFS) business, consolidated under a management and competency center based in Rotterdam. The new agreement covers distribution by VIKING of the marine-approved foam concentrates offered under the Dr. Sthamer brand. Established in Hamburg in 1886, the independent manufacturer supplies concentrates meeting IMO1312 requirements for Deck Foam Systems and IMO670 for high expansion inside air foam systems for engine rooms and machinery spaces. Its products also include next generation high stability 1% IAF fluorine free foams. Marine fire safety “This agreement renews and builds on the successes of an arrangement between Dr. Sthamer and Drew Marine FSR,” says VIKING’s Global MFS Service Director William Gielen. “Dr. Sthamer’s reputation for quality is unsurpassed in the marine industry, while its R&D lead and environmentally responsible foams keeps it well ahead of the pack.” VIKING has built its reputation on the quality of its life rafts, immersion suits and other safety equipment" “VIKING has built its reputation on the quality of its life rafts, immersion suits and other safety equipment, and customers have the same expectations for MFS. We are taking the Dr. Sthamer relationship to a new level, supported by a global service organization and sizeable foam inventories at strategic locations. We are also investing in our Odense foam analysis laboratory, so that existing customers have the VIKING assurance that their marine fire safety is safe with us.”   Providing technical training Initially focusing on foam supplies for existing vessels, including foam tank cleaning, disposal and refilling, inspection and sampling, VIKING’s upgraded commitment includes delivering Dr. Sthamer foam stocks from stocks held in Fujairah, Houston, Esbjerg, Rotterdam and Singapore. Foams are being offered under a five-year warranty, subject to verification of agreed storage conditions. Dr. Sthamer is providing technical training for VIKING MFS ‘ambassadors’, who will offer full product and service support on the characteristics, performance, condition and storage requirements for branded marine foams. In turn, VIKING is offering a pre-paid, express sampling service for foams. The agreement also foresees condition data being fed back to Dr. Sthamer to support R&D. Safety equipment supply An estimated 50% of vessels in service have foam-based marine firefighting systems “We are truly excited to pick up our relationship with William and his highly motivated team under new management,” says Jan Knappert, International Sales Director, Dr. Sthamer. “The VIKING MFS business has clarity of purpose, is investing in its people and in strategically-located inventories; Dr. Sthamer is always delighted when partners make our products core to their development plans.” An estimated 50% of vessels in service have foam-based marine firefighting systems. Part of the plan envisages MFS services including foam supply being included for the first time as part of VIKING’s all-embracing Ship Owner Agreements, which see VIKING taking full responsibility for shipboard safety equipment supply and upkeep fleet-wide for a defined period – usually five years. “Helping owners make the right decision on foam selection and giving them the technical support to maintain products in service will ultimately protect lives at sea,” comments Belarmino Dubois, VIKING Global Service Manager for Drydocking and Foam. “Including these capabilities in a broader shipowner agreement covering liferafts, lifeboats, PPE and more will save our clients time and money.”