Development and test-retest reliability of a laboratory-based shipboard firefighting simulation for controlled performance testing

Understanding shipboard firefighting performance is critical for improving crew safety and vessel preservation during damage control events. While prior research has been conducted in naval spaces, controlled simulations that assess performance without requiring naval vessels, personnel or specialised equipment are lacking. This study was designed to both develop and test a laboratory-based shipboard firefighting simulation. Consistent with shipboard firefighting activities, the simulation included walking, stair climbing, hose dragging, simulated boundary cooling, extinguisher carrying and casualty dragging tasks, completed within 8 min. Twenty-seven participants (22 males, 5 females) performed the simulation twice, with good test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.78; SEM = 17.6 s). Compared to Session 1, time-to-completion was 2.6% faster, RPE was 12.2% higher, HR was 5% lower, and core temperature estimate was 0.8% lower in Session 2 (all p < 0.05). This simulation provides a practical, low-cost solution for conducting shipboard firefighting research using minimal space, equipment, and untrained subjects.