Carriage, Handling and Storage of Dangerous Goods along

Institutional and Capacity Building
VESSELS 97
The requirements for ships firefighting equipment should be laid down by the regulations of the
particular country in which the tanker is registered.
Fire hoses and extinguishers should be checked on regular intervals, like every two years, and a
certificate issued to prove the condition.
The personnel onboard inland waterway barges should be familiar with the theory and principles
of firefighting and should have instructions on the use of firefighting and all other emergency
equipment, and this should be certified. Practices and drills should be arranged at intervals to ensure
that personnel keep their familiarity with the use and limits of the equipment. These exercises should
be recorded.
All crewmembers must be able to read and understand the fire control plan.
For education of the crew a Fire Training Manual should be onboard that provides all members of
the crew with general and ship specific information and instructions concerning fire safety practice
and precautions, instruction in firefighting procedures, meaning of the ship’s alarms, operation and
use of firefighting systems and equipment and the operation and use of fire-doors and dampers. (See
Second edition Fire Training Manual published by I.C.Brindle & Co 2011)
3.4.2 Lifesaving Equipment
RECOMMENDATION
Member Countries should determine minimum requirements for lifesaving equipment onboard
vessels including lifebuoys and life jackets.
CHALLENGE
The lifesaving equipment onboard an inland waterway barge should include lifebuoys, life jackets, a
lifeboat and an emergency alarm system. On a number of visits it was found that lifebuoys were missing
and often in very bad state, also lifejackets were not available although no ship’s railing was available,
making work on deck dangerous.
References
• SOLAS LSA Code;
• Legislation 2006/137/EC; and
• Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 amending
Directive 2006/87/EC laying down technical requirements for inland waterway vessels.
ACTIONS
Technical and Management
Every crewmember should have his own automatically inflatable life jacket, to be used in case of
emergency as well when working near the ship’s side like in mooring operations or on deck if the ship
is not provided with a railing at the side. In case of a ferry or passenger vessel, sufficient life jackets
should be provided for the maximum number of people that is allowed onboard.
A sufficient number of lifebuoys should be onboard (at least three), of which one is equipped with a
self- igniting battery-powered light. The lifebuoys should be ready for use and attached to the deck
at appropriate points without being attached to their mounting. Additional lifebuoys are required in
case of passenger vessels or ferries.