OVERHEAT – Smarter Fire Prevention and Response for Containerships
The challenge
Containerships are the backbone of global trade, moving over 90% of goods worldwide. Yet, their design has not evolved to match the scale and complexity of modern cargo operations - particularly when it comes to fire safety. Fires on board can lead to catastrophic loss of life, cargo, and vessels. Misunderstandings, poor training, and limited situational awareness often worsen these incidents. The OVERHEAT Project, funded by Horizon Europe, aims to address this critical gap by developing advanced technologies and strategies to prevent, detect, manage, and respond to fires on containerships.
The innovation
OVERHEAT is developing a next-generation Digital Solution (DS) that integrates real-time data from:
- IoT sensors (temperature, gas, smoke, CO/CO₂)
- Thermal imaging cameras
- Sniffer detectors
- Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) equipped with thermal sensors
These technologies will provide a Common Operational Picture (COP) to both onboard crews and shore-based operators, enhancing situational awareness and enabling faster, more effective responses. The project also includes a Safety Culture assessment and the development of best practices and training for fire prevention and management.
How it works
The system collects and processes sensor data through the DS platform, which displays real-time fire risk information. UAVs installed on board provide aerial thermal imaging to pinpoint fire origins and support first responders. The project is being validated through simulations and real-world demonstrations across five European ports: Genoa, Brest, Valencia, Bremen, and Gdynia. Testing is taking place at IMAT (Italy) and ENSM (France), with the goal of reaching Technology Readiness Level 7 by project completion.
Case study
Although still in early stages, initial tests have shown promising results:
- Sensors effectively detect smoke and gas emissions
- UAVs provide clear thermal imaging for fire localisation
- Detection is significantly faster when sensors are placed near container vents
- Wireless signals struggle to transmit from inside closed containers, guiding future design
- Heat transfer within containers takes several minutes—critical for early intervention
These insights are shaping the system’s design and confirming the feasibility of OVERHEAT’s integrated approach.
Potential impacts
OVERHEAT has the potential to redefine fire safety in maritime logistics by:
- Reducing fire-related casualties and cargo loss
- Improving emergency response times and coordination
- Enhancing crew training and safety culture
- Providing scalable, data-driven fire management tools
- Supporting regulatory compliance and insurance risk reduction
- Date
- 22/07/2025
