Shipboard Fire Control & Command: Managing Fire, Risk and Decision-Making at Sea

Fire at sea is not a single event.
It is a developing situation—shaped by time, decisions, and control.

Shipboard Fire Control & Command is a professional reference work focused on the operational reality of firefighting in maritime environments.

This book goes beyond basic procedures and standard training. It examines how fires develop onboard ships—and how control is established, maintained, and sometimes lost.

What this book delivers

• A clear understanding of fire behaviour in complex ship environments
• Practical approaches to containment, control, and escalation
• Leadership and decision-making under pressure
• Insight into modern risks, including lithium batteries, vehicle fires, and new cargo challenges
• Lessons drawn from real incidents and operational experience

More than firefighting

This is not just a technical manual.

It is a book about command—about recognising critical moments, maintaining control, and acting decisively when situations evolve beyond procedures.

Who this book is for

• Ship officers and commanders
• Fire teams and safety personnel
• Maritime instructors and training centres
• Shipping companies and operational organisations

Part of the Maritime Operational Fire Series

• Basic Maritime Firefighting
• Advanced Maritime Firefighting
• Shipboard Fire Control & Command

Aligned with, but not limited to

• STCW Basic Firefighting
• STCW Advanced Firefighting
• IMO Model Courses

This book is designed to support training—and to go beyond compliance.

About the Author

Rolf Karlsson is a Captain and Maritime Safety Instructor with decades of operational experience at sea, including real-world firefighting and crisis management situations.

His work focuses on leadership, decision-making, and training that reflects real operational conditions—not just procedures.

Final line

Because when control is at risk—decisions define the outcome.