The Merchant Shipping (Fire Protection: Large Ships) Regulations 1998

Requirements for ships constructed on or after 1st September 1984

19.—(1) In every ship of Class VII of 500 tons or over there shall be provided in each closed ro-ro cargo space and each cargo space intended for the carriage of motor vehicles with fuel in their tanks for their own propulsion an effective power-ventilation system to provide at least six air changes per hour based on an empty hold. Ventilation fans shall where practicable be run continuously whenever vehicles are on board. Where this is impracticable, they shall be operated for a limited period daily as weather permits and in any case for a reasonable period prior to discharge, after which period such spaces shall be proved gas-free. One or more portable combustible gas detecting instruments shall be carried for this purpose. The system shall be entirely separate from other ventilating systems. Ventilation ducts serving such spaces capable of being effectively sealed shall be separated for each cargo space. The Secretary of State may require the capability to increase the number of air changes when vehiclesare being loaded or unloaded. The system shall be capable of being controlled from a position outside such spaces. In addition—

(a) the ventilation shall be so arranged as to prevent air stratification and the formation of air pockets;

(b) means shall be provided to indicate any loss of the required ventilating capacity on the navigating bridge;

(c) arrangements shall be provided to permit a rapid shut-down and effective closure of the ventilating system in case of fire, taking into account the weather and sea conditions.

Machinery spaces of Category A

20.—(1) (a) In every ship of Class VII of 500 tons or over there shall be provided for the protection of any machinery space of Category A at least one of the following fire-extinguishing installations—

(a) a fixed pressure water-spraying system complying with the requirements of Schedule 2 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1666;

(b) a fixed gas fire-extinguishing system complying with the requirements of Schedule 4 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1666; or

(c) a fixed high-expansion foam system complying with the requirements of Schedule 8 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1666.

(b) If the engine and boiler rooms are not entirely separated from each other by a bulkhead, or if fuel oil can drain from the boiler room into the engine room, the combined engine and boiler rooms shall for the purpose of this paragraph be regarded as a single space.

(2) In addition to the requirements of paragraph (1) above there shall be provided—

(a) in each boiler room one or more foam fire extinguishers each of at least 135 litres capacity or carbon dioxide fire extinguishers of at least 45 kilogrammes capacity. The extinguishers shall be sited so as to be readily accessible in the event of fire and they shall be sufficient in number to enable foam or carbon dioxide to be directed on to any part of the boiler room and spaces containing any part of the oil fuel installation;

(b) in each boiler room at least one portable foam-applicator unit complying with the requirements of Schedule 6 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1665;

(c) in each firing space and in each space which contains any part of any oil fuel installation, at least two portable fire extinguishers suitable for extinguishing oil fires, in addition to any which may be carried in compliance with the preceding sub-paragraph;

(d) in each firing space a receptacle containing 0.3 cubic metre of sand or other dry material suitable for extinguishing oil fires, together with a scoop for its distribution or alternatively an additional portable fire extinguisher suitable for extinguishing oil fires.

(3) In addition to the requirements of paragraph (1) there shall be provided in any such spaces containing internal combustion type machinery—

(a) one or more foam fire extinguishers of at least 45 litres capacity or carbon dioxide fire extinguishers of at least 16 kilogrammes capacity sufficient in number to enable foam or carbon dioxide to be directed on to any part of the fuel and lubricating oil pressure systems, gearing and other areas of high fire risk;

(b) at least one portable foam-applicator unit complying with the requirements of Schedule 6 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1665;

(c) portable fire extinguishers suitable for extinguishing oil fires sufficient in number to ensure that at least one extinguisher is not more than 10 metres walking distance from any position within the space: provided that there shall be not less than two extinguishers.

Machinery spaces containing steam turbines or enclosed steam engines

21.  In every ship of Class VII of 500 tons or over there shall be provided in spaces containing steam turbines or enclosed pressure-lubricated steam engines used either for main propulsion, or having in the aggregate power of not less than 375 kW for auxiliary purposes—

(a) foam fire extinguishers each of at least 45 litres capacity or carbon dioxide fire extinguishers each of at least 16 kilogrammes capacity sufficient in number to enable foam or carbon dioxide to be directed on to any part of the pressure-lubrication system and on to any part of the casings enclosing pressure-lubricated parts of the turbines, engines or associated gearing and any other areas of high fire risk: provided that such extinguishers shall not be required if equivalent protection is provided in such spaces by a fixed fire-extinguishing system fitted in compliance with regulation 20(1);

(b) portable fire extinguishers suitable for extinguishing oil fires sufficient in number to ensure that at least one extinguisher is not more than 10 metres walking distance from any position within the space: provided that there shall be not less than two extinguishers; and