[Spktyr]

The problem with that is that if the CO2 extinguisher can’t put the fire out, it has also done nothing to cool the hull, bulkheads or deck. Radiant heating through those surfaces can cause ignition of substances on the other side without the fire actually getting past it. If you flood the fire with water, you cool those structures even if the fire isn’t extinguished.

[mrsmith]

Sounds terrible for the ship.

But, at least, many sailors are getting first-hand prtactce at fire-fighting.

[CedarDave]

The problem with that is that if the CO2 extinguisher can’t put the fire out, it has also done nothing to cool the hull, bulkheads or deck. Radiant heating through those surfaces can cause ignition of substances on the other side without the fire actually getting past it. If you flood the fire with water, you cool those structures even if the fire isn’t extinguished.

One report on the earlier thread had tires on the pier acting as fenders smoking due to the radiant heat coming through the starboard hull. Even with the fireboats cooling it on the port side (but not continually), the strength of the steel hull has to be compromised. If that is the case, there is no way to repair it from the waterline and above. The decision then is to strip it to the waterline and rebuild, or scrap and recover machinery untouched below the fire impacted decks.

[A Navy Vet]

"Radiant heating through those surfaces can cause ignition of substances on the other side without the fire actually getting past it."

I had to make that point to someone here or another thread who said "how can it spread when the walls are made of steel?"