According to amendments to SOLAS regulation II-2/1 and II-2/10 as well as the draft MSC Circular guidelines for the design, performance, testing and approval of mobile water monitors used for the protection of on deck cargo areas of ships designed and constructed to carry five or more tiers of containers on or above the weather deck. The following points were agreed:
- All new ships (constructed on or after 1 January 2016) that are designed to carry containers on or above the weather deck shall be fitted with at least one water mist lance, in addition to all other fire protection arrangements that should be provided onboard as per existing regulations.
- All new ships (constructed on or after 1 January 2016) that are designed to carry five or more tiers of containers on or above the weather deck shall also be provided with mobile water monitors, in addition to the water mist lance and all other fire protection arrangements that should be provided onboard as per existing regulations. Ships with breadth up to 30 m should be provided with at least two mobile water monitors and those ships with breadth exceeding 30 m or more should be provided with at least four mobile water monitors.
Note:
The on-deck fire fighting requirements for containerships, even mega containerships, were in need of update. Therefore, it was proposed to increase fire main and fire pumps capacity, pressure at hydrants and number of hydrants on deck to increase fire fighting capabilities to allow the use of additional fire fighting equipments such as portable water cannon on a voluntary basis.
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