The use of lightweight materials is limited due to safety requirements in current regulations, which have not been developed for this type of vessel but rather for larger ocean-going ships. More appropriate regulations could result in lower costs and increased safety for crew, passengers, and cargo on board.

The purpose of the Bmob project is to leverage existing knowledge and regulations in this area to develop improved guidelines for the small vessel segment, with the aim of promoting safer and more sustainable transport of goods and passengers, as well as enhanced safety for seafarers on board.

The project held an open kick-off meeting with industry and authorities in the autum 2025. A reference group meeting has since been held and the project group within RISE is working during the first half of 2026 on a literature study and to clearly define the framework for the project. This also includes collecting information, for example through interviews with authorities, operators and industry.

Project goals:

1. Conduct a literature review to synthesize the current state of the art in Sweden, incorporating relevant scientific knowledge and advancements in the field.
2. Perform a comparative analysis of pertinent regulations, guidelines, and standards in Sweden, contrasting them with those of at least one other Nordic country.
3. Conduct at least one series of fire tests using small-scale test specimens composed of atleast two various relevant lightweight construction materials.
4. Formulate concrete proposals for requirement levels and assessment criteria for lightweight and smaller vessels within the context of Swedish national traffic regulations.

Refrigerated cargo units (reefers) are an integral part of sea-borne transport, but at the same time, reefer electrical faults are also a common cause of fires. Fires on ro-ro ships pose significant dangers and extinguishing them may often be difficult. Consequently, monitoring ship connected reefers could be an effective approach to fire prevention. MoRe will develop a solution for reefer monitoring, including both hardware and a proposed human-machine interface for the engine control room. This work is a continuation of studies performed in the LASH FIRE project. The finished solution will be installed and evaluated for performance on the Stena Scandinavica. The project group brings together a mix of expertise in engineering, human-centered design and ship/cargo operations, catering for end-results with a high level of practical applicability. These results will be communicated in ways that maximize the chances for industry uptake.

Green hydrogen is seen as crucial element for the sustainable energy transition in the maritime industry. However, hydrogen's high energy density per weight-unit and poor energy density per volume-unit present challenges for operational range, bunkering, and onboard storage. These limitations constitute a problem when it comes to large scale applications of hydrogen. Especially seen to the bunkering for larger ships which both have a demand for large volumes and swift filling times (for example a passenger ferry with a fixed schedule). If hydrogen is filled at high flowrate, the temperate within the storage-tanks increases to an extent that threaten compromise cylinder material and cause a rupture.

To overcome this, a concept has been developed by KTH in a previous project where cooling takes place onboard using seawater in a heat-exchanging system inside the cylinder/storage tanks, preventing temperature rise beyond the allowed limit. If proven viable, this unique cylinder design could revolutionize maritime hydrogen applications by enabling fast-filling of large volumes.

The project aims to validate and analyse this new cylinder design by manufacturing prototypes equipped with heat exchangers and conducting performance tests. The goal is to reach a maturity level of TRL 4 (Technology Readiness Level 4) by the project's end, demonstrating the technology's ability to allow desired filling flow rates without critical temperature levels and explosion risks. This project has the potential to significantly contribute to the safe and efficient large-scale hydrogen filling in the maritime industry.

The project is financed via the Swedish Transport Administration.

What does fire protection mean? 

Fire protection means preventing fire, limiting its spread and ensuring that people can evacuate safely in case of fire. The term includes technical solutions, such as installing fire alarm and sprinkler systems, to design buildings with fireproof materials, organisational practices and human behaviour. 

Our research in fire protection

RISE research in fire protection focuses on developing new technologies, methods, and materials to prevent and fight fires. The research covers assessing different fire risks, developing more efficient sprinkler systems, preventing forest fires to creating new types of fireproof materials. 

Our services in fire protection

RISE has broad and deep knowledge in fire protection. We offer services such as fire investigation, counselling, training, testing, certification, and research. In our advanced laboratories and test facilities we perform fire experiments on different scales. For instance, we can simulate different fire scenarios, test building products and function test sprinkler heads.

This is included in fire protection:

•  Industrial safety: we have expertise in fire risks associated with industrial applications, such as fire spread and protection of warehouses, fire protection of cisterns, storage of self-heating materials, dust explosions, sprinklers and extinguishing agents. 

•  Fire resistance: we can evaluate and improve the fire resistance of different materials, structures and products. This includes doors, windows, walls, ceilings, furniture, and electronics.

•  Fire development and fire spread: To analyse and model how a fire starts, grows, and spreads in different settings, such as buildings, vehicles, tunnels, and forests is one of our common services. Various scenarios are then built up as needed, either in our labs or as a computer model.

•  Firefighting and rescue: From time to time, we assist the fire and rescue services. We then support fire and rescue professionals in developing methods to prevent, manage and extinguish different types of fires. The fires can be residential-, forest-, ground-, or underground fires. 

•  Fire, health and environment: We have extensive experience in measuring and analysing the substances that arise when fires occur in different materials and under varying conditions, and how these substances disperse. To investigate and assess the damage and consequences of fire, such as personal injury, material damage, environmental impact, and social disruption is one of our available services.

•  Fire and damage investigations: At the request of companies, insurance companies, police, and other authorities, we carry out independent fire investigations. In some cases, we investigate the condition of structures and the need for action after a fire.