The directive, sent from TFS management to all southern firefighters and seen by The Examiner, outlines key operational deficiencies which were identified after fires at Lindisfarne and Barnes Bay.

It said the service had a number of issues when it came to responding to vessel fires, particularly when that vessel was located at a marina.

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Following a fire at the Seaport, which destroyed a boat worth $70,000, United Firefighters Union Tasmanian secretary Leigh Hills said the situation was a public health risk that could end in catastrophe.

Mr Hills said if the service couldn't get trucks close enough to the marina they had no way to deal with fire.

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"For areas that have large marine through puts ... there is some potential shortfalls in being able to respond to fires of a marine type," Mr Hills said.

TFS Deputy Chief Officer Bruce Byatt said the service maintained a marine firefighting capability with firefighters trained from the third year of their career.

He said Tasmania Police vessels were enlisted to help fight fires on vessels that were still at sea.

The internal directive sent to southern firefighters outlined a list of things that needed to be addressed.

Among the list was ensuring all non-TFS personnel who provided support in fighting vessel fires had the appropriate training and access to protective gear.

The directive also mentioned the need for further training for TFS officers and firefighters.

It said that until a strategy had been put in place personnel without appropriate training were not to undertake firefighting activities.

Calling police for assistance with a vessel was also ruled out unless they had the proper training and protective gear.

Police, Fire and Emergency Services Minister Mark Shelton said TFS management were assessing the level of service delivery across Tasmania to make sure it was appropriate.

United Firefighters Union Tasmanian secretary Leigh Hills said heading into summer something had to be done to address the issue.

"What we would like to see change is that training [to fight marine fires] forms part of the normal training for any other type of fire," Mr Hills said.

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