Having recently been approved by the Marine and Coastguard Agency (MCA), the system uses a combination of high pressure nitrogen and micro-particles of water to rapidly and effectively extinguish fires on board vessels ranging from under 10m to those over 24m. Suitable for spaces ranging between 0 and 50 cubic metres, the product can be used on a range of different blazes, including oil and electrical installations.

The fog 'scrubs' and reduces the smoke, so as to keep damage to a minimum. Its rapid heat absorption and extinguishing features, coupled with the option of electric and/or manual release, means it is completely safe for personnel to use.

Originally created by Swedish firm Ultrafog AB, the product is available from Ocean Engineering (Fire) Ltd, which has been Ultrafog AB's UK agent for the last few years.

Errol Hopkins, one of Ocean Engineering’s partners said, 'When this system was invented by three working firemen in Sweden, it was a massive step towards an eco-friendly and extremely efficient method of putting out fires under all sorts of conditions, such as galley and engine room fires, incidents in the wheelhouse, and even electrical fires.'

Paul Postill, Ocean Engineering’s second partner added, 'Ultrafog is now commonly used in a ship’s galley to tackle flames on deep-fat fryers and will extinguish them in three to five seconds!'

The Ultrafog system is less expensive than other similar systems, and has the added bonus of containing no ozone depleting gases. It has already been installed on board Offshore Marine Solution's vessel Terramar, which has been deployed for the removal of the grounded MSC Napoli and is receiving interest from Ireland's Department of Transport for use on board GRP vessels. The fact that Ultrafog sucks the heat out of a fire would enable GRP craft to be built with less insulation, thus reducing weight.

Paul Postill and Errol Hopkins plan to demonstrate the Ultrafog system on the Seawork quayside two or three times a day, extinguishing a small diesel fire under controlled conditions.