IFSMA Monthly Logs

During February 2007 IFSMA attended the 51st meeting of the Sub-Committee on Fire Protection (FP) and the 11^th session of the on Radio communications and Search and Rescue (COMSAR)

The Secretary General also attended the Annual Great Gale Service at Prior Church, Bridlington, and expressed the Shipmaster’s appreciation to those who volunteer to operate the lifeboats around the coast of the United Kingdom. 

Sub-Committee on Fire Protection (FP), 51st session: 5-9 February 2007. 

The key points discussed were as follows:

Passenger ships

Guidelines for fixed water spraying, fire detection and fire alarm systems for cabin balconies

Following the adoption by MSC 82, in December 2006, of amendments to SOLAS chapter II-2 related to the fire safety of cabin balconies, which were prepared following the fire on board the Star Princess in March 2006, the Sub-Committee finalized its work on the fire safety of cabin balconies on passenger ships. The SOLAS amendments are expected to enter into force on 1 July 2008.

Having considered draft standards, the Sub-Committee agreed draft Guidelines for the approval of fixed pressure water-spraying and water-based fire-extinguishing systems for cabin balconies, and draft Guidelines for the approval of fixed fire detection and fire alarm systems for cabin balconies, for submission to MSC 83 for approval. The Guidelines provide a detailed test method intended for evaluating the effectiveness of fixed pressure water spraying and water-based fire extinguishing systems for cabin balconies, developed for ceiling or sidewall mounted nozzles located to protect external cabin balconies that are open to the atmosphere with natural wind conditions.

The Sub-Committee agreed that the approval of such systems on passenger ships installed before 1 July 2008 should be left to the satisfaction of the Administration.

Revised recommendation on evacuation analyses for new and existing passenger ships

The Sub-Committee finalized draft Revised Guidelines for evacuation analyses for new and existing passenger ships for submission to MSC 83 for approval. The purpose of the guidelines is to present the methodology for conducting a simplified evacuation analysis and, in particular, to:

• identify and eliminate, as far as practicable, congestion which may develop during an abandonment, due to normal movement of passengers and crew along escape routes, taking into account the possibility that crew may need to move along these routes in a direction opposite to the movement of passengers; and
• demonstrate that escape arrangements are sufficiently flexible to provide for the possibility that certain escape routes, assembly stations, embarkation stations or survival craft may be unavailable as a result of a casualty.

The guidelines offer the possibility of using one of two distinct methods:

(1) a simplified evacuation analysis; or

(2) an advanced evacuation analysis,

with the guidelines noting that the assumptions inherent within the simplified method are, by their nature, limiting.

As the complexity of the vessel increases (through the mix of passenger types, accommodation types, number of decks and number of stairways), use of the advanced method would be preferred. However, in early design iterations of the vessel, the simplified method has merit due to its relative ease of use and its ability to provide an approximation to expected evacuation performance.

Measures to prevent fires in engine rooms and cargo pump rooms

The Sub-committee reviewed draft Guidelines for measures to prevent fires in engine rooms and cargo pump rooms developed by a Correspondence Group and agreed that further work was needed. The group was asked to further develop the draft guidelines, while also being tasked with giving preliminary consideration to matters related to fixed hydrocarbon gas detection systems on double hull oil tankers.

Safety of CO2 fire-extinguishing systems installed before 1 October 1994

The Sub-Committee agreed to draft amendments to SOLAS regulation II-2/10, to require all carbon dioxide systems to have two separate releasing controls. The draft amendments will be submitted to MSC 83 for approval and subsequent adoption, on the basis that existing ships would have to comply by completion of the first scheduled dry-docking after 1 July 2009.

Fire safety - performance testing and approval standards agreed

Revised performance testing and approval standards for fire safety systems were agreed by the Sub-Committee and the revised standards will be forwarded to the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) for approval at its 83rd session in October, as proposed draft amendments to the International Code for Fire Safety Systems (FSS Code).

The Sub-Committee has been carrying out a comprehensive review of the performance testing and approval standards for fire safety systems in order to harmonize all of the relevant standards so far adopted by the Organization, as referred to in the revised SOLAS chapter II 2, the FSS Code and the Fire Test Procedures Code.

The revised standards include amendments to the Revised Guidelines for approval of sprinkler systems equivalent to that referred to in SOLAS regulation II-2/12 (resolution A.800(19)) , for submission to the MSC 83 for approval.

The Sub-Committee also agreed to draft amendments to the Revised Guidelines for the approval of equivalent water-based fire-extinguishing systems for machinery spaces and cargo pump-rooms (MSC/Circ.1165), also for submission to MSC 83 for approval. The draft amendments to figures 1, 2 and 3 in MSC/Circ.1165 have been revised to clearly show the specified recommended fire test configurations and spray fire locations.

The work on standards related to the maintenance and inspections of fixed carbon dioxide fire-extinguishing systems and aerosol fixed fire-extinguishing systems were also agreed, in principle, for inclusion on the revised FSS Code, to be completed in 2009.

Sub-Committee on Radiocommunications and Search and Rescue (COMSAR), 11th session: 19^th – 23rd February 2007.  

The key points discussed were as follows:

Development of an E-Navigation Strategy

Having considered the working group’s report on the development of an e-navigation strategy, the Sub-committee agreed that the user requirements should be clearly defined by the Navigation Sub-committee before any technical improvements could be studied if the GMDSS equipment was to utilised as a data communication network for e-navigation,  also it was agreed that the development of e-navigation should be user driven and not technology driven.

Importantly, the Sub committee agreed that there should be standardisation of performance standards including a standard mode of operation for shipboard equipment, and the software provided for the operating systems should follow a formal change control process to ensure that all elements of the e-navigation system would operate efficiently.

Long Range Identification and tracking of Ships (LRIT)

The Sub-committee adopted the SOLAS amendments on LRIT bearing in mind that  at this stage the purpose of the proposed SOLAS amendments on LRIT was to contribute to the enhancement of security and to aid Search and Rescue services.

Establishment of new NAVAREAs in Arctic waters

The Sub committee endorsed the arrangements to extend the recommendations to extend the NAVARES in the arctic water. These new boundaries will be promulgated later and should be operational by 24^th July 2007. In principle all new areas to extend to up to 90⁰ N.

Other Points

Rodger MacDonald
Secretary General