The Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator, issued a marine notice to inform about fire extinguishing requirements for paint and flammable liquid lockers, per SOLAS II-2/10.6.3.
This MN applies to all ships and mobile offshore units with a keel laid, or at a similar stage of construction, before 1 January 2009.
Suitable Fixed Extinguishing System means a system designed to a recognized standard as required by SOLAS, Regulation II-2/10.6.3.1 as follows:
Requirements
- Vessels with keel laid before 1 February 1992:
- Lockers of 10m2 (i.e., 5m x 2m) or less in deck area – one portable fire extinguisher located outside the entrance to the space.
- Lockers greater than 10m2 , but less than 20m2 in deck area – two portable fire extinguishers located outside the entrance to the space.
- Lockers greater than 20m2 in deck area – a suitable fixed fire extinguishing system as defined below.
- Vessels with a keel laid after 1 February 1992 and before 1 February 1998:
- Lockers of 10m2 (i.e. 5m x 2m) or less in deck area – one portable fire extinguisher located outside the entrance to the space.
- Lockers greater than 10m2 in deck area – a suitable fixed fire extinguishing system.
- Vessels with keel laid after 1 February 1998 and before 1 July 2002:
- Lockers of 4m2 (i.e., 2m x 2m) or less in deck area – one portable fire extinguisher located outside the entrance to the space.
- Lockers greater than 4m2 in deck area – a suitable fixed fire extinguishing system.
- Vessels with keel laid after 1 July 2002 and before 1 January 2009:
- Lockers and storerooms (having a deck area of 4m2 or more), mail and baggage rooms, specie rooms, workshops (not part of machinery spaces, galleys) – one portable fire extinguisher placed outside or near the entrance to that space may also be considered as part of the requirement for the space in which it is located.
- For other spaces in which flammable liquids are stowed the minimum number of extinguishers must be in accordance with SOLAS regulation II-2/10.6.3.