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Fire & Evacuation

Why it pays to

i
nspect properly

T

he number of deficiencies in the previous annual service. They also technicians participating in extra courses

fire protection systems onboard
see equipment or parts that should have arranged by equipment manufacturers.”
been replaced.
Since the new regulations were vessels was said to have

doubled in 2012 compared to the two brought in, is more attention now being
“The new guidelines therefore aim
previous years, leading to revised to improve quality standards for paid to the maintenance and operation of

guidelines regarding inspection in 2013.
equipment maintenance, including fire safety systems and appliances?
technician competency.”
At its 90th session in 2012, the An IMO spokesman said: “The

International Maritime Organization’s Member governments had been circular has been recommended since
Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) invited to apply the annexed guidelines 31st May 2013 and it is more

approved new guidelines for the when performing maintenance, testing comprehensive than the one it replaces.”
maintenance and inspection of both and inspections in accordance with However, according to Mr Masden,

fire protection systems and appliances SOLAS and bring them to the attention many operators are waiting for the

with the new msc.1/Circ 1432 coming of ship owners, shipmasters, ships’ classification societies to develop
into force on 31st May 2013.
officers, crew and all other parties guidelines for its interpretation.

concerned.
The new guidelines apply to all “We are not experiencing a major
ships and set more detailed Although the new guidelines were change in the market yet. However, there

requirements for various inspection revised some 18 months ago, Mr are ship owners and operators with the
intervals and outline requirements for Madsen said they had not had a great foresight to take advantage of cost savings

personnel entitled to carry out impact on the industry yet.
by improving and consolidating marine
inspections, maintenance and testing.
“The classification societies now fire service, especially when they look at

Hans-Henrik Madsen, Vice have to implement a uniform risk of costly detention in connection with
President Global Service at Denmark- interpretation to align the member Port State Control.”

headquartered VIKING Life-Saving requirements. However, the largest VIKING is a full scale safety provider,

Equipment said the reason behind manufacturers are already working offering products such as SOLAS fire-
the circular was recognition that toward improving the education of fighting suits and respiratory equipment,

ships were most often detained in port technicians,” he said.
with a global network of certified
due to deficiencies related to the servicing stations that can handle “VIKING takes the situation very

fire equipment.
servicing of all the relevant fixed and seriously as it is also our experience that
portable marine fire equipment such as “Our technicians often come across the quality of marine fire service

personal protective equipment, breathing equipment that does not seem to have needs to be improved. Educational
apparatus, extinguishers and accessories.
been inspected or serviced properly in
programmes include VIKING

30 The SHIP Supplier Issue 60 2014