5.2.9.

Were the Master and officers familiar with the location, purpose and operation of
the water-spray system for cooling, fire prevention and crew protection on deck, and was
the equipment in good working order, regularly inspected, tested and maintained?
Short Question Text
Water-spray system on deck

Vessel Types
LPG, LNG

ROVIQ Sequence
Cargo Control Room, Main Deck

Publications
IMO: ISM Code
IMO: IGC Code
IMO: MSC.1/Circ.1432 Revised guidelines for the maintenance and inspection of fire protection systems and
appliances.

Objective

To ensure that crewmembers can respond effectively to a fire situation in accordance with the shipboard
emergency plan.

Industry Guidance

IMO: MSC.1/Circ.1432 Revised guidelines for the maintenance and inspection of fire protection systems and
appliances

2 Operational readiness

All fire protection systems and appliances should at all times be in good order and readily available for immediate use
while the ship is in service. If a fire protection system is undergoing maintenance, testing or repair, then suitable
arrangements should be made to ensure safety is not diminished through the provision of alternate fixed or portable
fire protection equipment or other measures. The onboard maintenance plan should include provisions for this
purpose.

3 Maintenance and testing

3.1 Onboard maintenance and inspections should be carried out in accordance with the ship's maintenance plan,
which should include the minimum elements listed in sections 4 to 10 of these Guidelines.

3.2 Certain maintenance procedures and inspections may be performed by competent crew members who have
completed an advanced fire-fighting training course, while others should be performed by persons specially trained in
the maintenance of such systems. The onboard maintenance plan should indicate which parts of the recommended
inspections and maintenance are to be completed by trained personnel.

3.3 Inspections should be carried out by the crew to ensure that the indicated weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual, two-
year, five-year and ten-year actions are taken for the specified equipment, if provided. Records of the inspections
should be carried on board the ship or may be computer-based. In cases where the inspections and maintenance are
carried out by trained service technicians other than the ship's crew, inspection reports should be provided at the
completion of the testing.

3.4 In addition to the onboard maintenance and inspections stated in these Guidelines, manufacturer's maintenance
and inspection guidelines should be followed.

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3.5 Where particular arrangements create practical difficulties, alternative testing and maintenance procedures
should be to the satisfaction of the Administration.

(These guidelines set out requirements applicable to fixed water spray or water mist systems for:

• Weekly tests and inspections

• Monthly tests and inspections
• Annual tests and inspections
• Five-year servicing)

TMSA KPI 3.1.4 requires that formal familiarisation procedures are in place for vessel personnel, including
contractors. The documented procedures may include familiarisation with:

• Vessel specific operations and equipment.

IMO: ISM Code

10.1 The Company should establish procedures to ensure that the ship is maintained in conformity with the
provisions of the relevant rules and regulations and with any additional requirements which may be established by the
Company.

10.2 In meeting these requirements the Company should ensure that:

1. inspections are held at appropriate intervals,

2. any non-conformity is reported with its possible cause, if known,
3. appropriate corrective action is taken, and
4. records of these activities are maintained.

IMO: IGC Code

11.3 Water-spray system

11.3.1 On ships carrying flammable and/or toxic products, a water-spray system, for cooling, fire prevention and crew
protection shall be installed to cover:

1. exposed cargo tank domes, any exposed parts of cargo tanks and any part of cargo tank covers that may be
exposed to heat from fires in adjacent equipment containing cargo such as exposed booster
pumps/heaters/re-gasification or re-liquefaction plants, hereafter addressed as gas process units, positioned
on weather decks;
2. exposed on-deck storage vessels for flammable or toxic products.
3. gas process units positioned on deck.
4. cargo liquid and vapour discharge and loading connections, including the presentation flange and the area
where their control valves are situated, which shall be at least equal to the area of the drip trays provided.
5. all exposed emergency shut-down (ESD) valves in the cargo liquid and vapour pipes, including the master
valve for supply to gas consumers.
6. exposed boundaries facing the cargo area, such as bulkheads of superstructures and deckhouses normally
manned, cargo machinery spaces, store-rooms containing high fire-risk items and cargo control rooms.
Exposed horizontal boundaries of these areas do not require protection unless detachable cargo piping
connections are arranged above or below. Boundaries of unmanned forecastle structures not containing
high fire-risk items or equipment do not require water-spray protection.
7. exposed lifeboats, liferafts and muster stations facing the cargo area, regardless of distance to cargo area;
and
8. any semi-enclosed cargo machinery spaces and semi-enclosed cargo motor room.

Ships intended for operation as listed in 1.1.10 (i.e. for periods at a fixed location in a re-gasification and gas
discharge mode or a gas receiving, processing, liquefaction and storage mode) shall be subject to special
consideration (see 11.3.3.2).

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11.3.2.2 On vertical surfaces, spacing of nozzles protecting lower areas may take account of anticipated rundown
from higher areas. Stop valves shall be fitted in the main supply line(s) in the water-spray system, at intervals not
exceeding 40 m, for the purpose of isolating damaged sections. Alternatively, the system may be divided into two or
more sections that may be operated independently, provided the necessary controls are located together in a readily
accessible position outside the cargo area. A section protecting any area included in 11.3.1.1 and .2 shall cover at
least the entire athwartship tank grouping in that area. Any gas process unit(s) included in 11.3.1.3 may be served by
an independent section.

11.3.4 The boundaries of superstructures and deckhouses normally manned, and lifeboats, liferafts and muster areas
facing the cargo area, shall also be capable of being served by one of the fire pumps or the emergency fire pump if a
fire in one compartment could disable both fire pumps.

11.3.5 Water pumps normally used for other services may be arranged to supply the water-spray system main supply
line.

11.3.6 All pipes, valves, nozzles and other fittings in the water-spray system shall be resistant to corrosion by
seawater. Piping, fittings and related components within the cargo area (except gaskets) shall be designed to
withstand 925°C. The water-spray system shall be arranged with in-line filters to prevent blockage of pipes and
nozzles. In addition, means shall be provided to back-flush the system with fresh water.

11.3.7 Remote starting of pumps supplying the water-spray system and remote operation of any normally closed
valves in the system shall be arranged in suitable locations outside the cargo area, adjacent to the accommodation
spaces and readily accessible and operable in the event of fire in the protected areas.

Inspection Guidance

The vessel operator should have developed a maintenance plan for the vessel’s fire protection systems and fire-
fighting systems and appliances which should include the water-spray system for cooling, fire prevention and crew
protection on deck.

Maintenance tasks may include:

• Periodic removal of the installed orifice plates and piping end caps and flushing any debris from the system.
• Cleaning the in-line filters.
• Flushing the system with fresh water.
• Drying the system to prevent internal corrosion.

Suggested Inspector Actions

• Inspect the space(s) containing the remote controls for the water-spray system for cooling, fire prevention
and crew protection on deck.
• Review the operating instructions for the system posted in the space(s) and verify that the system valves
and controls are properly marked and set.
• Review inspection and servicing data available in the space(s).
• Inspect the system piping, particularly on the underside, for external indications of corrosion and for
patching.
• Examine a random sample of nozzles for evidence of clogging by debris.
• Request an accompanying crew member to randomly check the isolating valves and stop valves to verify
they are operating freely.
• If necessary, review the records of inspections, tests and maintenance carried out contained in the
maintenance plan.

• Interview the accompanying officer to verify their familiarity with the purpose and operation of the water
spray system with reference to:
o Starting the pumps.
o The purpose and location of the isolating valves and stop valves.

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 o The purpose and location of the drain point for the deck piping.

Expected Evidence

• The vessel’s maintenance plan for vessel’s fire protection systems and fire-fighting systems and appliances.
• The records of inspections, tests and maintenance carried out on the water-spray system for cooling, fire
prevention and crew protection on deck.

Potential Grounds for a Negative Observation

• The accompanying officer was not familiar with the location, purpose and operation of the vessel’s water-
spray system for cooling, fire prevention and crew protection on deck.
• The accompanying officer was unfamiliar with the maintenance plan for the vessel’s fire protection systems
and fire-fighting systems and appliances.
• The operating instructions for the water-spray system were not posted at the control station.
• Access to the system controls was obstructed.
• The system valves and controls were not properly marked or set.
• Stop valves or isolating valves did not operate freely.
• The stop valves or isolating valves were not clearly marked.
• There was evidence of clogged nozzles.
• There was hard rust, deterioration or temporary repairs to the system pipework.
• There was no maintenance plan for the vessel’s fire protection systems and fire-fighting systems and
appliances available.
• The maintenance plan for the vessel’s fire protection systems and fire-fighting systems and appliances did
not include the vessel’s water-spray system for cooling, fire prevention and crew protection on deck or, all
the required inspections, tests and maintenance.
• Records of inspections, tests and maintenance carried out were incomplete.
• Inspection of the water-spray system for cooling, fire prevention and crew protection on deck indicated that
actions recorded in the maintenance plan had not in fact taken place.
• There was no evidence that orifice plates or piping end caps had been removed and pipework flushed
through to clear debris or scale from the system.
• The water-spray system for cooling, fire prevention and crew protection on deck was defective in any
respect.

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