FIXED FIRE DETECTIONS & CARBON DIOXIDE SYSTEM

Release line distribution valve Fan motor unit

Co2 control room

3 way valve Smoke detector

Co2 start bottle

Protected spaces

Cargo space

Open the

Co2 locker Engine room

Switch time delay

audible warning

audible alarm

Co2 bottles

This system of smoke detection, alarm and carbon dioxide flooding is usually used for
the fire protection of cargo hold spaces and engine room in addition to other fire
fighting appliances.
Sampling pipes are led from the protected space to a cabinet situated on the bridge.
Air sample is drawn through these pipes to the detection cabinet by a small fan.
The present of smoke will set off an audible and visual alarm.
The location of fire can be identified in the cabinet and the distribution valve of the
protected space is operated. This valve shuts off the sampling pipe from the cabinet
and opens it to the carbon dioxide main leading from the cylinder battery. A chart will
indicate the number of cylinders of gas to be released into the space.
Opening the cabinet sounds an alarm to warn personnel of the imminent discharge of
the gas. The discharge valve is opened and an operating lever pulled.
The operating lever opens an operating bottle of carbon dioxide which pressurize a
gang release cylinder that, in turn, moves an operating cable to open all the bottles in
the battery. (for machinery space, it is required that the carbon dioxide is to be filled
in with 85% of the required quantity in 2 minutes.)
Sometimes, numbers of cylinders of carbon dioxide are discharged in sequence at
interval of between 1/2 hour and 6 hours depending on conditions in order to maintain
the inert atmosphere.
MAINTENANCE :
1. EVERY 6 MONTHS CHECK ALL VALVES ARE IN NORMAL SET POSITIONS
2. EVERY YEAR, WEIGH OR X-RAY ALL CYLINDERS TO CHECK THE LEVEL IN
CYLINDERS, INSPECT SAFETY OUTLET AT ENDS OF MANIFOLD TO MAKE CERTAIN
DISC IS INTACT, ENSURE ALL DISTRIBUTING VALVES WORK FREELY AND ARE IN
THEIR NORMAL POSITION.
3. EVERY TWO YEARS ALL PIPE LINES MUST BE BLOWN THROUGH.

SPRINKLER SYSTEM

This system may be used in accommodation areas. The accommodation areas are
fitted with sprinkler heads which both detect and extinguish fires. The sprinkler heads
is closed by quartzoid bulb which contains a liquid that expands considerably on
heating. When excessively heated the liquid expansions, shatters the bulb and water
will issue from the sprinkler head. A deflector plate on the sprinkler head causes the
water to spray out over the protected area. Once the tank pressure falls, as a sprinkler
issues water, a salt water pump cuts in automatically to maintain the water supply as
long as is necessary.
The system should be regularly checked by creating fault conditions at the various
section control valves by opening a test valve, and checking for audible and visible
alarms.(spare bulbs shall be carried out on board.)
FOAM INDUCTION SYSTEM

Foam induction systems are designed to protect both on deck and in the machinery
spaces.
Mechanical foam is drawn from a sealed foam compound tank via the linked air and
foam valve by the fire pump.
The automatic induction unit ensures the correct mixing of water and foam compound
which is then pumped as a foam making solution to the hydrant for use.

Maintenance and inspection of fire protection systems and appliances

Weekly testing and inspections :

1. all public address systems and general alarm systems;
2. breathing apparatus.

Monthly testing and inspections :

1. all firemans outfits, fire extinguishers, fire hydrants, hose and nozzles
2. all fixed fire-fighting installation including stop valves;
3. sprinkler system including the pressure tank, the dry pipe and the pumps;
4. all fire pumps;
Quarterly testing and inspections :
1. test all automatic alarms for the sprinkler systems;
2. the international shore connection;
3. the inventory and condition of the fire fighting equipments in storage positions;
4. test all fire doors and fire dampers;
5. all CO2 bottle connections for cable operating system clips should be checked for
tightness on fixed fire-extinguishing installations.

Annual testing and inspection :

1. Check all fire extinguishers;
2. Test fire detection systems;
3. Test all fire doors and dampers for remote operation;
4. Test all foam-water and water spray fixed fire-fighting systems;
5. Inspect all accessible components of fixed fire-fighting system;
6. Pressure and flow test all fire pumps, including sprinkler system pumps;
7. Test all hydrants;
8. Sprinkler system connections from the ships fire main are tested for operation;
9. Test all fire hoses;
10. Check the air quality of breathing apparatus air recharging systems;
11. Inspect control valves of fixed fire-fighting systems;
12. Air should be blown through the piping of extinguishing gas systems.

Five year service :

1. hydrostatic testing SCBAs cylinders;
2. control valves of fixed fire-fighting systems should be internally inspected.
MUSTER LIST
THE MUSTER LIST MUST BE PREPARED BY THE MASTER BEFORE THE SHIP SAILS AND
MAINTAINED BY THE MASTER THEREAFTER.
THE MUSTER LIST MUST BE EXHIBITED IN CONSPICUOUS PLACES THROUGHOUT THE
SHIP INCLUDING THE BRIDGE, THE ENGINE ROOM AND CREW ACCOMMODATION.
THE MASTER MUST ENSURE THAT CLEAR EMERGENCY INSTRUCTIONS ARE PROVIDED
FOR EVERY PERSON ON BOARD.
IN PASSENGER SHIP THIS INSTRUCTIONS SHALL BE POSTED IN PASSENGER CABINS
AND CONSPICUOUSLY DISPLAYED AT MUSTER STATIONS AND OTHER PASSENGER
SPACES TO INFORM PASSENGERS OF THEIR MUSTER STATIONS;THE ESSENTIAL
EMERGENCY ACTIONS; AND THE METHOD OF DONNING THE LIFEJACKETS PROVIDED.

THE MUSTER LIST MUST SPECIFY :

1. THE GENERAL EMERGENCY ALARM SIGNAL;
2. ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY CREW AND PASSENGERS WHEN HEARING THE SIGNAL;
3. HOW THE ABANDON SHIP ORDER WILL BE GIVEN;
4. OTHER EMERGENCY SIGNALS AND THE ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE CREW ON
HEARING THEM;
5. ON PASSENGER SHIPS, THE LOCATION OF PASSENGER MUSTER STATIONS;

THE DUTIES ASSIGNED TO THE CREW MUST INCLUDE :-

1. THE CLOSING OF W/T DOORS, FIRE DOORS, VALVES, SCUPPERS, SIDE-SCUTTLES,
PORTHOLES AND OTHER SIMILAR OPENINGS;
2. THE EQUIPPING OF SURVIVAL CRAFT AND OTHER LSA;
3. THE PREPARATION AND LAUNCHING OF SURVIVAL CRAFT & OTHER LSA;
4. THE MUSTER OF PASSENGERS (IF ANY);
5. THE USE OF COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT;
6. THE MANNING OF FIRE PARTIES ; AND ANY SPECIAL DUTIES ASSIGNED IN
CONNECTION WITH FIRE-FIGHTING EQUIPMENT AND INSTALLATIONS;

DUTIES ASSIGNNED TO CREW IN CONNECTION WITH PASSENGERS :-

1. WARNING THE PASSENGERS & SEEING THAT THEY ARE SUITABLE CLAD AND HAVE
DONNED THEIR LIFEJACKETS CORRECTLY;
2. ASSEMBLING THE PASSENGERS AT MUSTER STATIONS;
3. KEEPING ORDER IN PASSEGEWAYS AND ON STAIRWAYS AND GENERALLY
CONTROLLING THE MOVEMENTS OF PASSENGERS;
4. ENSURING THAT BLANKETS ARE TAKEN TO SURVIVAL CRAFT.
DRILLS
Cargo ship -- One abandon ship drill and one fire drill every month and within 24
hours of the ship leaving a port if more than 25% of the crew have not
participated these drills in the previous month.

Passenger ship One abandon ship drill and one fire drill every week and within 24
hours after embarkation of passengers. (On a ship engaged on a short
international voyage, if a must of the passengers is not held on
departure, the attention of the passengers shall be drawn to the
emergency instructions.

Abandon ship drill :

Muster 1. Summoning of passengers and crew to muster stations with the alarm
that are made aware in the muster list.
2. Reporting to stations and preparing for the duties described in the
muster list.
3. Checking that lifejackets are correctly donned.
4. Preparing lifeboat / life raft for launching.
5. Starting and operating the lifeboat engine.
6. Operation of davits used for launching life rafts.
7. Testing the emergency radio communication equipments.
8. Testing the emergency lighting for mustering and abandonment.

Abandon ship 1. After hearing the prescribed abandon ship signal, put on warm
clothes and life jacket and then go to their mustering station and
carry out the duty allocated to them in the muster list.
2. Within 5 minutes the life boat shall be prepared for embarkation
and launching by 2 crew.
3. Item 5 to item 8 above.
(Every lifeboat shall be launched with its assigned operating crew aboard &
manoeuvre in the water at least once every 3 months during an abandon ship drill
(for rescue boat at least every month).

Fire Drill : 1. On hearing the fire alarm signal ,all crew should go to the assigned
muster station and carry out the duty allocated to them in the muster
list
2. Start the fire pump (there should be water supply within 5 minutes)
3. Inspection the fireman outfit, communication equipments,
 firefighting equipments, & the operation of watertight door, fire
doors ventilation system & ready the abandon ship equipments.

Records & review : The date when musters are held, details of abandon ship drills
and fire drills, drills of other life-saving appliances and on-board training shall be
recorded. If a full muster, drill or training session is not held at the appointed time, an
entry shall be made stating the circumstances and the extent of the muster, drill or
training session held. A review shall be made to the drill and equipments after the
drill.
Shipping Casualty Action
Action to carried when fire :
1. Inform the bridge & sound the fire alarm (notified the Fire Brigade & Port
Authority, if in port).
2. Use appropriate fire fighting appliances to extinguishing the fire.
3. After hearing the fire alarm, all crew should proceed to the assigned muster
station.
4. Chief officer / Chief engineer in charge the scene to find out the fire source and
the materials and characteristic of the fire.
5. Close down ventilation fan, all doors, including watertight doors and sky light and
switch off the electrical supply to the fire area and prevent the spread of fire.
6. Con of the vessel so as to make fire region on the down wind.
7. Exhibit appropriate lights & shapes.
8. Notify engine room to standby the engine.
9. Prepare to launch lifeboat and life raft.
10. Precaution to be taken to avoid the fire ignites again.

Abandon ship action:

1. After hearing the abandon ship order, put on warm clothes and lifejacket & go to
the muster station to complete the abandon ship preparation.
2. On the way to the muster station, shout fire and hit the cabin doors, close the and
the doors and scuttles.
3. Before boarding the survival craft, The master should instructs following :
(a) The distress position.
(b) Whether the distress signal has been acknowledged or not.
(c) The estimated place and time of rescue.
(d) The course and distance from the nearest land.
(e) The communication channel between survival crafts.
4. Try to gather together after leaving the ship.

Collision:
1. If the collision involves penetration of the hull, make sure both vessels are safe to
pull out before pulling out. (e.g. if it is danger to pull out, rescue persons first
before pull out.)
2. Assess the condition of the ship
(a) the damage condition;
(b) whether the ships pump can cope with the initial inrush;
(c) whether plugging, listing can reduce the inflow;
 (d) whether bulkhead is liable to be collapsed.
3. Check & record the damage condition of the other vessel.
4. Exchange information: (a) name of ship
(b) port of registry
(c) Where from & bound to
(d) Shape, size of the bow & draft
(e) Particulars of contact with the ship owner / master.
5. Send the distress signal.

Stranding/grounding :
1. Stop engine & sound the emergency alarm of summon the crew;
2. call master & inform engine room;
3. Assess the position and damage of the hull;
4. Sound all bilges & tanks;
5. Check ships position & find out the local currents & tides, particularly details of
the rise & full of the tide;
6. Sound around ship & determine which way deep water lines, & the nature of the
seabed;
7. Exhibit lights, shapes & sound appropriate signal;
8. If necessary change to high suction;
9. Inspect the main / auxiliary engine for damage;
10. Send urgent / distress signal, inform the company, coastal/port authority and
warning ships in the vicinity;
11. If self re-float is impossible, call for assistance, try to fix the ships position (e.g.
use of anchor / ballast the water for securing the ship).
12. If there is oil leakage, follow the procedure stated in the SOPEP;
13. If there is flooding, following the flooding procedure mentioned in Identity
Emergency Plan.

Flooding :
1. Sound the general emergency alarm to summon the crew;
2. Stop the engine / reduce speed of the engine;
3. Identity the location of incoming water;
4. Close the watertight doors around the damage portion & strength the bulkhead if
needed;
5. Put the damage portion to the downwind side to stop/limit the incoming water &
pump out the water; (Shore up to stem water flow.)
6. Maintain the floatability and stability;
7. Estimate the development & the damage stability;
8. Prepare to launch the lifeboat and life raft
9. Sent urgency / distress signal if needed & report to the company and the
coastal/port authority in the vicinity;

MAINTENANCE OF FIRE-PROTECTION & FIRE-FIGHTING SYSTEMS

AND APPLIANCES
1. Regulation II-2/14.2.2 of the 2000 SOLAS Amendments has included a
section on the maintenance, testing and inspections requirements of the fire-protection
and fire-fighting systems and appliances.
2. This circular aims to consolidate the pertinent features of the requirements. All
ISClass surveyors are to be familiar with the requirements and exercise due diligence
during surveys and audits.

MAINTENANCE PLAN
4. The maintenance plan should include, but not limited to, the following fire
protection and fire-fighting systems and appliances, if available:
a. Fire mains, fire pumps and hydrants including hoses, nozzles and international
shore connections
b. Fixed fired detection and fire alarm systems
c. Fixed fire-extinguishing systems and other fire extinguishing appliances
d. Automatic sprinkler, fire detection and fire alarm systems
e. Ventilation systems including fire and smoke dampers, fans and their controls
f. Emergency shut down of fuel supply
g. Fire doors including their controls
h. General emergency alarm systems
i. Emergency escape breathing devices
j. Portable fire extinguishers including spare charges
k. Firemans outfit
4. Passenger ships are also required to develop a maintenance plan for lowlocation
lighting and public address systems, in addition to listed items in para 3.
5. In addition to the items listed in para 3, tankers are also required to develop
maintenance plan for:
a. Inert gas systems
b. Deck foam systems
c. Fire safety arrangements in cargo pump rooms
d. Flammable gas detectors
PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
6. Portable fire extinguishers are to be examined by a competent person annually.
7. Each portable fire extinguisher is to be provided with a label indicating that it
has been examined and the date of the examination, or the date of next examination.
8. Containers of permanently pressurized portable fire extinguishers and
propellant bottles / containers of non-pressurized portable fire extinguishers shall be
hydraulically pressure tested as follows:
a. Powder extinguishers every 10 years
b. CO2 extinguishers every 10 years
c. Other extinguishers every 10 years

FIXED HIGH PRESSURE CO2 FIRE EXTINGUISHING INSTALLATION

9. CO2 bottles of fixed CO2 fire extinguishing installation shall be hydraulically
tested 20 years after the date on which the bottles were put into use, and every 5 years
thereafter.
10. The quantity of the medium in the CO2 bottles should be checked once every 4
years. This may be carried out in batches of 25% of the CO2 bottles annually, or 50%
of the CO2 bottles biennially or in accordance with the ships maintenance so long as
every CO2 bottle is checked once every 4 years.
11. All stop valves should be checked monthly to ensure that they are in their
proper open or closed position.
12. The installation should be checked monthly for leakage.
13. All CO2 bottle connections for cable operating clips should be checked for
tightness every 3 months.
14. All control valves should be inspected annually, and internally inspected every
5 years.
15. Air should be blown through the piping of the installation annually.

LOW PRESSURE FIXED CO2 AND HALON FIRE EXTINGUISHING

INSTALLATION
16. The tanks, together with fittings, shall be inspected externally every 5 years.
17. At the external inspection, insulation material of the tank at points showing
signs of possible corrosion / deterioration of the tank beneath shall be removed to
facilitate the external inspection.
18. Pipes and valves at transitional points between insulated and non-insulated
areas (cold-conductors) as well as tank supports, flange sockets and valves shall be
included in the 5-yearly external inspection.
19. At least once a year, a thorough external inspection of the tank supports,
flange sockets and valves shall be carried out.
20. No internal inspection is necessary unless the external inspection reveals
corrosion or other defects which warrant an internal inspection.
21. An internal inspection is necessary after every discharge of the contents.
22. Hydrostatic testing of the pipes and tanks may be required at the discretion of
the attending surveyor, in cases where the corrosion / deterioration of the external or
internal of the pipes and tanks proves prudent to do so.
23. In any case, hydrostatic testing of the pipes and tanks shall be carried out after
repairs to the tanks or pipes in cases of cracks or holes.

DRY FIXED POWDER FIRE EXTINGUISHING INSTALLATIONS

24. The system shall be inspected annually, and the dry powder charge should be
agitated with nitrogen, using bubbling connections where provided.
25. In addition to the regular shipboard inspections, the system shall be inspected
by an acceptable service agent at least once every 2 years:
a. Blow-through with air to ensure associated pipes and nozzles are clear.
b. Operational test of local and remote controls and section valves.
c. Contents verification of propellant gas cylinders containing nitrogen
(including remote operating stations)
d. Testing of the dry powder charge for moisture absorption.
e. Replenishment and test regime for high pressure nitrogen cylinders.

FIXED PRESSURE WATER SPRAY FIRE EXTINGUISING

INSTALLATIONS
26. There is no specific inspection or test regime for these systems outside of
normal shipboard testing. Servicing and maintenance shall comply with
manufacturers instructions.
Exercises
1. Describe a fire detecting and extinguishing system which uses a single pipe to each
cargo compartment.
(a) State how its fire alarm is triggered and how the officer on watch can ascertain the
location of the fire.
(b) Describe the precautions required prior to smothering the fire.
(c) Explain how this equipment is used to extinguish a fire.

2. Describe, with the aid of a sketch of a typical inert gas system in an oil tanker.
Show the main safety features of the system, and list the safety features as required
under SOLAS.
(a) Show by a simple diagram a smoke detecting and smothering system which has a
single pipe to each cargo compartment, and explain its operation
(b) State how its fire alarm is triggered and how the officer on watch can ascertain the
location of the fire.

3. (a) Sketch a typical ships inflatable life raft.

(b) Describe the procedures for launching a davit launched life raft.

4. List the steps taken to launch a ships totally enclosed lifeboat.

(a) Describe the procedures for a Man Overboard.
(b) Explain what is meant by a Williamsons turn, you may illustrate your answer
with a suitable diagram.

5. (a) What markings are required on a ships lifeboat?

(b) List the procedures for launching a gravity davit launched totally enclosed
lifeboat. Include in your answer the process from mustering up to when the boat
is safely away from the ships side.

6. State the procedures for launching a Freefall Lifeboat.

Include in your answer the process from mustering up to when the boat is safely
away from the vessel.