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LIFE SAVING AND FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPLIANCES

196. The Commander must make himself conversant with the statutory requirements as regards Life Saving and Fire Extinguishing Appliances. He will ensure that the ship is supplied with the necessary equipment which must be maintained in good condition and ready for immediate use.

197. All Officers and senior Ratings must he conversant with the ship's Damage Control and Fire Plans and with the controls of the main Fire Extinguisher System, the C0₂ System and the various controls and compartments which they serve. It is the duty of the Commander and the Chief Engineer Officer to satisfy themselves that the new Officers have familiarised themselves with these details within a reasonably short period of joining the ship.

198. Where C0₂ is fitted to compartments in which men may be working, such as the Engineroom, care must be taken to ensure that the audible alarm is working and that sufficient time is allowed for evacuation of these compartments prior to gas flooding. Engineer Officers and staff must he familiar with the tone of the C0₂ Alarm Klaxon and be warned that, immediately the alarm sounds, the spaces must be evacuated with all speed.

199. Particular attention must he given to periodic examinations of the C0₂ storage bottles to ensure that these are kept fully charged. The key to the Controls will be kept in a conspicuous place, and he secured in a box with a glass front.

200. The following Books with details carefully recorded will be maintained and kept up-to-date :- 
(a) Fire Fighting Installation Particulars
(b) Fire Fighting Installation Maintenance Report.
The Books are to be available for inspection by the Company's Superintendents at all times.

201. The ship's Lifeboats - whether steel, fibreglass or aluminium - will be frequently examined and all steps taken to ensure that they are in good serviceable condition.

202. Care will be taken to maintain Lifeboat hoisting winches, gear, and boatfalls in good and serviceable condition.
Greasing of the various parts necessary will be done at regular intervals and frequent inspections carried out

203. One of the forward boats on either side of the ship is always to be maintained in readiness for lowering at a moment's notice. A lantern is to be kept burning in it between sunset and sunrise. The Emergency Boat's crew is to be mustered every night and no change in its personnel will be made without the consent of the Commander.

204. To ensure that Lifeboats and manipulating gear are in good condition and to familiarise Officers and Crew with Lifeboat drill, every opportunity is to be taken to lower Lifeboats into water and exercise Crews when a ship is in harbour.

205. In motor Lifeboats, the engines will be turned daily at sea and in port, and run once a week. It is essential for all Officers to be fully conversant with the operation of motor Lifeboats and instructions in starting and operating the engine must be given to a new Officer joining the ship.

206. Lifeboat stores are to be kept fresh by exchanging them periodically with Saloon stores. Nothing is to be put into the Lifeboats which does not form part of their equipment.
To avoid theft all valuable items of Lifeboat stores and First Aid Kits must be removed from Lifeboats and locked away in safe custody whilst a ship is in port ; they are to be put back into the Lifeboats and inspected before proceeding to sea.

207. All Officers must be capable of using the breathing apparatus on board, at least one set of which should be allotted to the Engineroom Department.

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