Fire-fighting appliances and equipment; firefighter's outfits; personal equipment
Governing: STCW Table A-VI/1-2; REG Yacht Code Part A, Table 15A.1 and 15A.8; MGN 681 (M) Amendment 1, section 8. Builds on: L3.1.
The water system
For a yacht under 500 GT, REG Yacht Code Table 15A.1 requires:
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Provision of water jet | One, sufficient to reach any part of the vessel |
| Power-driven fire pump | One, engine-driven or independent |
| Additional fire pump | One independent power-driven pump, power source and sea connection, not in the same space as the first |
| Firemain and hydrants | Enough to reach any part with a single length of hose |
| Hoses | Three, with jet/spray nozzles each fitted with a shut-off |
The second pump exists because the first is usually in the engine room, which may be the space on fire.
Hoses and nozzles
| Pattern | Use |
|---|---|
| Jet | Reach; breaking up burning material; hitting a fire from a distance |
| Spray (wide) | Cooling, knocking down flames, protecting the team with a water curtain |
| Spray (narrow) | Compromise between reach and cooling |
Before advancing, charge the hose, bleed air, and check the nozzle works. Lay hoses without kinks, and keep them clear of doors that must close.
CAUTION — Hose reaction A charged hose kicks when opened. Brace, and use two people on the line. Never open a nozzle without warning your number two.
The fireman's outfit
Table 15A.1 requires two fireman's outfits, each including an approved breathing apparatus. A complete outfit comprises:
- protective clothing that protects the skin from heat and is water resistant;
- boots and gloves of non-conductive material;
- a rigid helmet;
- an approved safety lamp;
- an axe;
- the breathing apparatus (L4.1);
- a fire-resistant lifeline with harness or belt.
The Code notes that outfits for helideck crew are to EN 469. For lithium-ion battery fires, MGN 681 recommends suits with level 2 heat protection to BS EN 469:2020, plus approved hoods and full-coverage undergarments.
Table 15A.1 also requires either an onboard means of recharging BA cylinders used in drills, or two spare cylinders for each SCBA set.
Communications
REG Yacht Code 15A.8 requires at least two two-way portable radiotelephones for each fire party, of an explosion-proof or intrinsically safe type. Agree call signs and a spare channel before you need them.
Other equipment
- Fire blanket in the galley (Table 15A.1).
- EEBDs for escape only.
- Thermal imaging camera: many yachts carry one; MGN 681 recommends it for battery risks and it finds hotspots behind panels.
- International shore connection on larger yachts, to connect to shore firefighting water.
Readiness
After every drill or use, equipment is restored immediately and defects are reported (Annex C). Check on rounds that:
- hydrant valves are not seized and hoses are coupled or at hand;
- nozzles are present;
- fire locker seals are intact;
- BA cylinders show full pressure.
TIP — Dress in the dark Practise donning the outfit against the clock, including once with the lights off. On the day, you will be dressing in a corridor that is filling with smoke.