Annex 1 - MCA Alternative Standards for Life Saving Appliances and Fire Fighting Equipment
Published 24 November 2023
© Crown copyright 2023
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mgn-469-m-amendment-1-safety-standards-for-non-passenger-vessels/annex-1-mca-alternative-standards-for-life-saving-appliances-and-fire-fighting-equipment
Note: These alternative standards are not available for Class IX(A)(T) tanker vessels
1. Life Saving Appliances (LSA)
1.1 Lifebuoys, life jackets and liferafts
1.1.2 There shall be at least two lifebuoys on vessels of less than 24m in length and four lifebuoys on vessels of 24m or more in length, at least one of which shall be located by the wheelhouse.
1.1.3 Lifebuoys and holders shall comply with harmonized standards BS EN 14144:2003 ‘Lifebuoys Requirements & tests’ and BS 14145:2003 ‘Holders for Lifebuoys’. For category C and D waters, at least one of the lifebuoys shall be fitted with a buoyant line and one with a battery powered light which will not be extinguished in water.
1.1.4. Quoits or floating rescue strops may be used as an alternative to lifebuoys on category A and B waters and on vessels with restricted space.
1.1.5. In category B, C and D waters there shall be one life jacket per person on board plus one spare; this requirement is recommended for category A waters. These may be inflatable lifejackets providing they are not orally inflatable. Lifejackets shall comply with BS EN ISO 12402-3 and shall be maintained in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions.
1.1.6. Vessels operating in Category D waters shall have an approved liferaft; Open Reversible Inflatable Liferafts (ORIL) type are acceptable. This is also recommended for category C waters.
1.1.7. Liferafts should be stowed and fitted in accordance with the guidance in MGN 343.
1.2 Other equipment
The following shall be on board:
(a) A heaving line;
(b) A radar reflector, for non-metallic hulls on category C and D waters (noting the guidance contained within MGN 349 as amended).
(c) A first aid kit
(d) Two red hand flares and two smoke signals shall be provided for operation on category C & D waters; rocket flares are recommended for category D waters and may be required on the advice of the navigation authority.
2. Fire Fighting Equipment
Fire extinguishers
2.1. There shall be on board at least:
| (a) | In the wheelhouse: | 1 portable fire extinguisher; |
| (b) | Close to each means of access to the deck and accommodation; | 1 portable fire extinguisher; |
| (c) | Close to each means of access to service premises that are not accessible from the accommodation, and which contain heating, cooking or refrigeration equipment using solid or liquid fuels: | 1 portable fire extinguisher; |
| (d) | At each entrance to the engine room and boiler rooms; | 1 portable fire extinguisher; |
| (e) | At suitable points in engine rooms and boiler rooms such that no position in the space is more than 10 metres away from an extinguisher unless this provision is meet by (d). | 1 portable fire extinguisher; |
| (f) | By the galley | 1 fire blanket. |
2.2. Portable fire extinguishers shall meet the following conditions:
(a) Portable fire extinguishers required by section 1 shall be of an approved type meeting the requirements of BS EN3 Series: 1996 and have a rating of at least 13A/113B. For vessels under 6m, a rating of 13A/70B is acceptable.
(b) The extinguishing substance used in the portable fire extinguishers required by section 1 shall be suitable for at least the fire category that is most likely to occur within the area for which the extinguishers are intended. The extinguishing substance on board vessels whose electrical systems have a service voltage of more than 50 V shall also be suitable for fighting electrical fires. The instructions for use shall be clearly set out on each portable extinguisher.
(c) The extinguishing substance may not be halon or contain a product which is likely to release toxic gases during use, such as carbon tetrachloride. Portable fire extinguishers using CO2 may only be used to fight fires at specific locations such as control panels and kitchens; the quantity of CO2 should not constitute a health hazard.
(d) Extinguishers that are sensitive to freezing or to heat shall be installed or protected in such a way that their proper functioning is always guaranteed.
2.3. Fire extinguishers shall be serviced at the manufacturer’s recommended service intervals by an approved service agent.
2.4. If extinguishers are installed in such a way that they are out of sight the panel covering them shall be identified by an appropriate symbol accordance with MSN 556 (as amended).
Fuel Tank Shut offs
2.5 Directly at tank outlets the pipe work for the distribution of liquid fuels shall be fitted with a shutoff device that can be operated from the deck. This requirement shall not apply to tanks mounted directly on the engine.