Ship fire fighting organisation

1. Ship fire fighting organisation

2. Introduction • Bridge - central control station • Master – full in charge • Fire officer/officers report to bridge and receive instructions

3. Information required by central control station • Time at fire alarm was given • Position and nature of fire • Confirmation that fire parties at their assembly points & fireman’s outfits ready / available • Confirmation - fire main is pressurized • Report – initial attempts to extinguish fire using portable extinguishers • Report – effect of fire on services e.g. lighting • Report - persons present / trapped – head count

4. Information available on bridge • Drawing arrangement in convenient size for ship, engine room & accommodation • Details – access & escapes from different zones • Details - fire-extinguishing equipment (fixed & portable) for entire ship including storage position of refills • Stability information • Details - survival equipment & its location • Stowage plans • Information on dangerous goods

5. Methods of communication available • Telephones • Loud hailers • Direct speech - bridge to MCR • Hand-held radio telephones • Messengers

6. Damage control and fires containment • Bridge - closing watertight & fire doors • Stopping ventilation fans, closing of dampers on funnel and other places • Closing all windows & portholes in accommodation, galley and other spaces • Turning ship to best position relative to wind direction for fire fighting • Bulkhead – boundary cooling • Using fire blankets as necessary • Maintaining fire-watch after fire extinguished

7. Monitoring and controlling ship stability • Calculating changes in GM due to weight of extinguishing water and its free surface effect • Arranging pumping / draining of fire fighting water from affected spaces including cutting holes in ship’s side • Calculating - affect of cargo shifting (for cargo fires) • Assess – damage effect caused by spaces flooded with sea water • Considering / possibilities - moving vessel to shallow water or allowing for grounding

8. Organization of fire parties • Identification of each fire party • Identification of each member of fire party • Safeguards - keeping in contact with each person & their position • Duties of each fire party • Reconnaissance team - equipped with portable extinguishers • Fire hose team • Help, search and first-aid team • Technical team - checking lifts, closing fire dampers, controlling ventilation fans and FO shut off valves, starting emergency generator and fire pump, refilling used extinguishers as required and preparing for gas flooding

9. Training of crew in fire fighting

10. After joining, crew must given instruction on the emergency procedures in use and trained in use of fire appliances and its equipment

11. Location & use of portable extinguishers • Water • Foam • Dry powder • Carbon dioxide • Halon

12. Location & use of mobile extinguishers • Foam • Dry powder • Carbon dioxide

13. Location & use of fixed extinguishing system • Fire hydrants, hoses & nozzles • Water sprinklers • Water sprays • Foam system • Carbon dioxide system • Halon system

14. Location & use of fireman’s outfit • Learn how to don protective clothing quickly • Knowing where it is stowed / comprise • Checking & use of BA set • Checking & use of fireproof lifeline & familiar with signal codes

15. Fire in cargo spaces • Location – in holds, twin deck or containers • Types – involving dangerous goods

16. Training for fire party members • Instruction of duties being assigned • Instruction of duties being allocated • Exercises – increase member’s proficient including first aid