During IMO Sub- Committee on SSE
The IMO’s Sub-Committee on Ship Systems and Equipment held its 2nd Session (SSE2) 23-27 March 2015 in which helicopter facility fire-fighting requirements agreed for submission to MSC 95 for approval and subsequent adoption.
The draft amendment to SOLAS regulation II-2/18 adds a new paragraph 2.3 to require a foam application system complying with the provisions of a new chapter 17 of the Fire Safety Systems (FSS) Code, which was also agreed by the Sub-Committee.
A similar draft amendment to the Code for the construction and equipment of mobile offshore drilling units (MODU Code) was also agreed.
The new draft chapter 17 of the FSS Code details the specifications for foam firefighting appliances for the protection of helicopter facilities, as required by SOLAS chapter II-2.
The requirements are given for helidecks and helicopter landing areas. For a helideck (defined as a purpose-built helicopter landing platform or other deck area including all structure, firefighting appliances and other equipment necessary for the safe operation of helicopters), the foam system is required to contain at least two fixed foam monitors or deck integrated foam nozzles, operating at a specified minimum discharge rate. In addition, at least two hose reels fitted with a foam-making branch pipe and non-collapsible hose sufficient to reach any part of the helideck shall be provided.
For a helicopter landing area (an area on a ship designated for occasional or emergency landing of helicopter and not designed for routine helicopter operations), at least two portable foam applicators or two hose reel foam stations are to be provided, each capable of discharging a minimum foam solution discharge rate, according to the helicopter overall length.
The Sub-Committee also agreed a draft MSC circular onEarly implementation of the new chapter 17 of the FSS Code, which encourages all Parties to implement the draft new chapter 17 of the FSS Code at the earliest possible opportunity.
Related draft amendments to update the amendments to the Recommendation on Helicopter landing areas on ro-ro passenger ships (MSC/Circ.895) were also agreed, to refer to the installation of a foam application system complying with the FSS Code provisions.
Learn what other issues were discussed during the IMO Sub-Committee on SEEby clicking here.
Source: IMO
