The Fishing Vessels (Safety Provisions) Rules 1975

Requirements for vessels of 24.4 metres in length and over but less than 45 metres in length

103.—(1) In every vessel of 24.4 metres in length and over but less than 45 metres in length to which these Rules apply a fixed fire smothering gas installation shall be provided in every vessel, the hull of which is constructed of wood or glass reinforced plastic, for the protection of the machinery space. Such installation shall comply with the requirements of Rule 113 of these Rules except that the quantity of free fire smothering gas provided shall be equivalent to at least 60 per cent of the gross volume of the machinery space, or in the case of any such vessel where the machinery space is bounded by steel bulkheads the quantity of fire smothering gas shall be equivalent to at least 40 per cent of the gross volume of that space.

(2) In every such vessel fire appliances shall be provided whereby at least one of the jets of water required by this Rule can reach any part of the vessel normally accessible to the crew while the vessel is being navigated and any store room and any part of any hold space when empty.

(3) In every such vessel at least one fire pump operated by power shall be provided which shall be capable of delivering at least one jet of water from any fire hydrant, hose and nozzle provided in the vessel and which shall comply with the requirements of Rule 107 of these Rules.

(4) In every such vessel if the pump required by paragraph (3) above and its source of power and sea connection are not situated outside spaces containing oil-fired boilers or internal combustion type propelling machinery, there shall be provided in a position outside such spaces an additional fire pump and its source of power and sea connection. If this pump is operated by power it shall comply with the requirements of paragraph (3) above and if it is manually operated it shall be provided with a hose and a 9.5 millimetre diameter nozzle through which it shall be capable of producing a jet of water having a throw of not less than 6 metres which can be directed on to any part of the vessel.

(5) In every such vessel a fire main, water service pipes and hydrants shall be provided, which shall comply with the requirements of Rule 108 of these Rules, and at least two fire hoses and one spare fire hose.

(6) A spray nozzle suitable for use with the fire hoses required by paragraph (5) above shall be provided in every such vessel fitted with oil-fired boilers or internal combustion type propelling machinery.

(7) In every such vessel a sufficient number of portable fire extinguishers shall be provided to ensure that at least one such extinguisher will be readily available for use in any part of the accommodation or service spaces. Not less than three extinguishers shall be provided of which one extinguisher suitable for extinguishing oil fires shall be provided adjacent to any oil-fired central heating appliance which may be fitted. The extinguishing medium provided in any extinguisher placed in an area of fire risk shall be suitable for the type of fire risk involved.

(8) In every such vessel at least one of the following fixed fire extinguishing installations shall be provided for the protection of any space containing any oil-fired boiler, oil fuel settling tank or oil fuel unit in vessels other than those which comply with paragraph (1) above:—

(a) a pressure water spraying system complying with the requirements of Rule 112 of these Rules;

(b) a fire smothering gas or steam installation complying with the requirements of Rule 113 of these Rules;

(c) a foam fire extinguishing installation complying with the requirements of Rule 114 of these Rules.

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 room and boiler room shall, for the purpose of this paragraph of this Rule, be regarded as a single space.

(9) In every such vessel in addition to the requirements of paragraph (8) above there shall be provided:—

(a) in each boiler room and in each space which contains any part of any oil fuel installation, at least two portable fire extinguishers suitable for extinguishing oil fires;

(b) in each firing space a receptacle containing at least 0.15 cubic metres of sand or other dry material suitable for quenching oil fires together with a scoop for its distribution, or alternatively an additional portable fire extinguisher suitable for extinguishing oil fires.

(10) In every such vessel one portable fire extinguisher suitable for extinguishing oil fires for each 100 bhp or part thereof of such machinery shall be provided in any space containing internal combustion type machinery, except that no more than seven such fire extinguishers shall be required in any one space and that alternatively there may be provided two such extinguishers together with either:—

(a) one foam fire extinguisher of at least 45 litres capacity; or

(b) one carbon dioxide fire extinguisher of at least 16 kilogrammes capacity.

(11) In every such vessel at least one fireman's outfit shall be provided.

(12) In every such vessel a water spray system, independent of any system fitted in the machinery space and which may be connected to the fire main, shall be fitted in the net store and be operable from outside the space.