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

Deck foam systems

(8) Every Category A tanker of Class VII(T) of 100,000 tons deadweight or over and every Category A combination carrier of Class VII(T) of 50,000 tons deadweight or over shall be provided with a fixed deck foam system complying with Schedule 7 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1666.

(9) Every tanker referred to in paragraph (1), constructed before 25th May 1980—

(a)for which the building contract was placed after 1st June 1979; or

(b)in the absence of a building contract, constructed after 1st January 1980; or

(c)which was delivered after 1st June 1982; or

(d)which undergoes an alteration or modification of a major character—

(i)for which a contract was placed after 1st June 1979; or

(ii)in the absence of a contract, the construction work of which was begun after 1st January 1980; or

(iii)which was completed after 1st June 1982;

shall be fitted with a fixed deck foam system complying with Schedule 7 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1666.

(10) Every tanker of Class VII(T) of 2,000 tons or over not fitted with an inert gas system complying with the standard requirements contained in Schedule 9 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1666 shall be provided with a fixed foam fire-extinguishing installation complying with paragraph (11) or with a fixed smothering gas or steam installation complying with Schedule 4 in Merchant Shipping Notice M 1666, providing protection for all cargo spaces.

(11) Every fixed foam fire-extinguishing installation fitted to meet the requirements of paragraph (10) shall be capable of distributing on the decks over such tanks through fixed discharge outlets in not more than 15 minutes a quantity of foam sufficient to cover to a depth of at least 50 millimetres the whole of the tank deck area. Such an installation shall be capable of generating foam suitable for extinguishing oil fires and shall include means for the effective distribution of the foam through a permanent system of piping and control valves or cocks to discharge outlets. There shall be sufficient mobile foam sprayers capable of being connected to the installation whereby foam can be directed into any tank. For the purpose of this paragraph “tank deck area” means an area equivalent to the extreme length of the cargo tanks multiplied by the breadth of the ship.

(12) Every tanker of Class VII(T) of 2,000 tons or over not fitted with a fixed deck foam system complying with Schedule 7 in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1666, or a fixed foam fire-extinguishing installation complying with paragraph (11) shall be provided with a mobile foam fire-fighting unit having a capacity of at least 100 litres of foam concentrate or alternatively two portable foam-applicators each having not less than 50 litres of foam concentrate readily available. Such units or appliances, when connected to the appropriate deck fire hydrants, shall be capable by a simple and a rapid means of operation of discharging foam on to the area of the cargo piping manifold.

(13) Every tanker of Class VII(T) of under 2,000 tons not provided with any of the deck foam arrangements of foam appliances referred to in paragraph (12) shall be provided with at least one mobile foam appliance whereby foam is immediately available, by a simple and a rapid means of operation, for discharge in the area of the cargo piping manifolds.