Of the areas investigated, the high

Of the areas investigated, the highest frequency of a "severe fire" was found to be one initiating in the machinery space (i.e. separator/engine/generator area) of the ferry, the frequency of which was estimated as 3.8 × 10–3 per year. The second highest was a fire initiating on the lorry deck while the ferry was at sea, estimated as 1.7 × 10–3 per year. The overall frequency for a "severe fire" developing on the "Nord Pas-de-Calais", taking account of all scenarios, was estimated to be 7 × 10–3 per year. Assuming fifty flask movements annually, the frequency of such a fire developing while a flask is on board would be less than 2 × 10–4 per year. It should be noted that this frequency is not related to any failure mechanisms of the flask, which are designed to withstand the specific fire criteria laid down by the International Atomic Energy Agency. The severity, in terms of fire temperatures and durations, also needs to be established in order to assess the threat of fire to a package. Further work was put in hand to quantify these.