(www.MaritimeCyprus.com) Container Carriers have grown much larger in recent years and the volume of cargo carried has expanded significantly. Fires involving containers, especially with the volume of cargo now being carried, can present a substantial risk to the safety of the crew and the vessel.
The requirements of SOLAS Chapter II-2 Regulation 10 have been revised in accordance with IMO Resolution MSC 365(93) to address the risk and came into effect for ships designed to carry containers on or above the weather deck, constructed on or after 1 January 2016. While the basic SOLAS requirements are incorporated by reference in the ABS Rules for Building and Classing Marine Vessels (Marine Vessel Rules), this Guide has been developed to provide for further enhancement of the fire-fighting and fire protection capabilities for cargo areas of Container Carriers beyond that required by SOLAS.
This Guide replaces the existing Guide for Fire-Fighting Systems for On-Deck Cargo Areas of Container Carriers.
This Guide is for the use of designers, builders, owners and operators in the marine industry and specifies the ABS requirements and criteria for obtaining the following optional notations:
● FOC (Fire-fighting On-deck Container),
● FOC-R (Fire-fighting On-deck Container – Restricted),
● FOC+ (Fire-fighting On-deck Container Plus),
● FOC-R+ (Fire-fighting On-deck Container – Restricted Plus),
● CCH (Container Carrier House/Structures),
● FBC (Fire-protection Below-deck Container),
● CHF (Container Hold Flooding).
The May 2022 edition of the Guide adds requirements for fixed water monitor system and fixed water spray (curtain) system in Sections 1, 2 and 8 as an alternative to mobile water monitor system indicated in Section 2. This Guide becomes effective on the first day of the month of publication.
You can download the guide below:
Source: ABS
