Fire Protection in the Marine Industry

Brett Staines – Board Member

Stakeholder Forum 2016

• Marine applications for Gaseous Fire Extinguishing Systems include:-

– Engine Rooms

– Machinery Rooms

– Electrical Switch Rooms

• Types of vessels protected:

– Commercial Vessels (mandatory)

– Private (discretionary)

• Consequences of fire is a high risk:-

– Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)

Gaseous Fire Extinguishing Systems

Stakeholder Forum 2016

Fire Extinguishing System Standards for Commercial Vessels

International ocean going vessels:

- IMO (International Maritime Organisation ) and

- Classification Society (e.g. Lloyds, ABS, DNV) requirements

- Use of halon is still permitted

Australian Commercial Vessels :

- National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV) Part C , Section 4 - Fire Safety

- Use of halon is not permitted

Stakeholder Forum 2016

Fire Extinguishing System Requirements for Commercial Vessels

• Fire suppression system must be manually operated

• Clear operating instructions must be provided adjacent to each manual release

• The instructions shall include all prerequisite tasks and possible effects on the safety of personnel

– e.g.

• Operate pre-discharge alarm

• Close ventilation flaps and vents

• Ensure all crew have evacuated the engine compartment

• Operate fire suppression system discharge switch

Stakeholder Forum 2016

Fire Extinguishing System Requirements for Private Vessels

• Installation of a fire system (detection or suppression) is at the owners discretion

• Type of system installed is also at the owners discretion

– Automatically operated suppression systems are allowed

Stakeholder Forum 2016

Maintenance Requirements

• NSCV

– Service in accordance with AS 1851

– AS 1851-2012, section 7 (Special Hazards) covers maintenance of gaseous systems

– Members of the vessel’s crew may undertake servicing functions specified in AS 1851 to the extent that those functions fall within the crewmember’s level of competence

• An EAHL (Extinguishing Agent Handling Licence) is required for any activity that may result in the release of a scheduled agent

• Scheduled agents may only be sourced from a company which holds an EATA (Extinguishing Agent Trading Authorisation

• International vessels requiring halon must source it from an a company with a (HSP) halon Special Permit

Stakeholder Forum 2016

Key Outcomes -Data of Reported Discharges by Cause

221

1278

325

328

550

215

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400

VOLTAGE SURGE

UNKNOWN

HUMAN ERROR SYSTEM NOT ISOLATED

HUMAN ERROR

FIRE

EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTION

Approx. Kg

Data of Reported Discharges by Cause 2005 - 2015

Marine Data of Reported Discharge by Cause

(FM-200, Halon 1211, Halon 1301 & NAF S-III)

Stakeholder Forum 2016

Key Outcomes -Increase Industry Awareness

Stakeholder Forum 2016

Key Outcomes -Increase Industry Awareness

2

1

3

1 1

4

3

4

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

Jan-16 Feb-16 Mar-16 Apr-16 May-16 Jun-16Marine

Jul-16 Aug-16

Am

ou

nt

EAHL by Marine Sector

Thank you