Port State Control - Indian Ocean, Black Sea and Viña del Mar MOUs - Concentrated Inspection Campaign on Fire Safety Systems

In June 2012 the Club advised that the Paris and Tokyo MOUs on Port State Control (PSC) would be running a joint Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) from 1 September 2012 until 30 November 2012 covering compliance with SOLAS Chapter II-2/Construction – fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction. The Indian Ocean, Black Sea and Viña del Mar MOUs on PSC have since announced they will also be running a CIC covering compliance with the same regulatory requirements during the same period.

Port State Control Officers (PSCOs) conducting routine PSC inspections during the currency of the CIC may refer to an additional checklist of 12 items which is the same as the CIC checklist being used by the Paris and Tokyo MOUs, covering the following areas:

• Fire Control Plan
• Fire detection and alarm systems
• Fire fighting appliances
• Fire suppression systems
• Emergency fire pump and fire main isolation valves
• Escape route lighting
• The planned maintenance system in place in respect of these areas

In addition to the physical inspection and testing of the foregoing areas, the crew may be required to demonstrate their familiarity with the fire fighting systems and appliances and may also be called upon to conduct a fire drill for the benefit of the PSCO.

If deficiencies are found, the action taken will depend on the severity of the findings. Serious deficiencies may result in the vessel being detained, particularly if the PSCO answers “No” to one or more of the six questions on the additional checklist marked with an asterisk.

Members are advised to ensure that their vessels are suitably prepared.