Now, would you please show me your Overhaul Certificate of the Inflatable Life-rafts?Y es, of course. Here you are.I’m afraid this certificate was due six months ago. According to the Convention, the Life-rafts shall be examined once a year, and in any case, I see.The examination will be carried out before the ship’s departure. The examination must not exceed seventeen months.Now, let’s inspect lifebuoys, starting from the ship’ two wings.OK.How many lifebuoys has your ship been provided with?EightAccording to the Safety Equipment Certificate, your ship should be provided with ten lifebuoys, so you’ll replenish another two in this port. Order to ensure each crew member can be provided with 1.5kg of biscuits.We will.How many lifebuoys are there on board with self-igniting lights?Six. They are all attached to the lifebuoys.Good, but these lifebuoys and their lights are in bad condition.Sorry, we’ll make some improvements this afternoon.Look, the smoke signals of the lifebuoys expired three months ago.I’ll buy some new ones in this port.OK. Now, let’s go and check the lifeboat equipment.Y our lifeboat equipment is incomplete. It lacks a portable fire extinguisher. And you should add another 15kg of biscuits on board on I’ll have the lifeboat equipment completed. Any other questions? When did you start the boat motor the last time?Fifteen days ago.And how about its running condition?Not so good. Its motor began to run only after a two-hour try. But it works well after we had it repaired.In my opinion, there is still some other work to do. For example, the drinking water should be regularly renewed.Third Officer, where did you post your fire control plans?On the superstructure.The words on the plans are difficult to recognize. Please make another copy of it.Y es, we will.Are there any other ship’s fire control plans stowed in the weather-tight container?No.Well, you should install a container for the ship’s fire control plans. Thisis required by the 1981 Amendments to the SOLAS Convention.OK.Now, I want to see the emergency fire pump.This way, please.Would you please start it with the emergency power supply?I’d like to. But it won’t produce any water.Please get it repaired. Now, I’d like to take a look at the records of checking and recharging of your portable fire extinguishers.Y es, of course. Here you are.There is no date of recharging. How can you prove the extinguishers have been recharged once a year?I think the original records might have been dated. I want to have a spot check of its condition result. (After the spot check)That’s very good. What is the type of your fixed fire-extinguishing system?It’s the CO2 type.Please show me the weighing records of CO2. (After reading the records) It was due one year ago.It’s time for you to weigh the contents of CO2.All right. But, these two CO2 cylinders are empty. Can we recharge them in this port?Y es. Please ask your agent to arrange it for you. Now, let’s go and checkthe CO2 room.Follow me, please.The CO2 seems to be in good condition.Thank you, sir.How many sets of fireman’s outfits do you have!Three sets.Good. How about the oxygen cylinder?It needs recharging.Is each sets of the fireman’s outfit fitted with a reserve oxy gen cylinder. Y es, it is.What about the smoke helmet and protective clothing?No problem.And the axe?I’m sorry it’s been lost.So the fireman’s outfits are mot so complete. Y ou should have them completed as soon as possible.All right. No problem.Third Officer, have you ever worded out the muster list?Y es, we have.Would you please let me have a look?Here you are.V ery good. When was your last fire and boat drill?Four months ago.Well, that’s a long time. The fire and boat drill should be carried out once a month under normal condition.I suggest the drill be performed on board today.I see. But the performance must be under the command of the Captain. Captain, what’s your opinion?C: I agree. I’ll sound the signal and hoist the exerci sing flag right now. (A moment later) Y ou see,all the crew members are mustering on the boat deck for the boat drill. Can we begin the fire and boat drill?I: Y es, please. (The drill is finished. One long blast sounds, and the crew members are dismissed.)I: Generally speaking, the drill is not bad. But some crew members are slow in reacting and unable to use fire extinguishers. So I hope you’ll carry out future drills in the allotted time and strengthen the training among the crew members.T: Y es, I will.Situation: Inspector James Brown is mow having an inspection of the fire-fighting and life-saving apparatuses.The third officer is introducing to him how the crew on board maintain these apparatuses and showing himthe working condition of these apparatuses from time to time.)A: Where is the original Muster List and Emergency Instructions?B: It’s in the chart room, and some copies are posted in the engine room and the dining room as well.I’d like to have a look. Would you please take me there?Surely. This way, please.(After checking it carefully) Yes, it’s all right. The arrangement in the list is in accordance withthe actual members of crew on board. There’s clear definition of everyone’s responsibility.But the way, the fire extinguishers I saw in the radio room are of dry powder type, are thoseon the bridge of the same type?Oh, no. They are carbon dioxide fire extinguishers. They are just beside the doors.Then the agent mass of this type of extinguishers should be 6.8kg. Please show methe record of the last weight check… Oh,6.7kg.We know, they should be refilled if the liquid weight is 10% less.Y es. Fire extinguishers are attached with the service cards. and periodical checkshould be carried out accordingly. And where is your firemen’s outfit kept?Look. Here it is. There is also the symbol Another set of the outfit is kept in the fire control station.Please open the bag and let me see what are there inside, will you?Of course. Let me zip it open. Look, there are breathing apparatus, personal protective clothing,boots, gloves, helmet, safety lamps, axes and life line. The pressure. Of the air bottle is high enough.Look, the pressure indicator is within the green area and it can maintain at least 30 minutes’ con sumption.And it is the same with the spare one.Do you often have the outfit donning training?Every time we have the fire drills. It usually takes 2 and a half minutes to put on the outfit,but some people only need less than 2 minutes.Oh. it’s not easy.(They’ve come to the accommodation quarters for inspection)A: I see a lot of plans and tables posted in your corridor. The fire control plan is sure to be among them. Am I right?B: Yes. I it’s just over there. The fire control plan is posted in the corridor on every floor. Those for the outer deckof the accommodation area are kept in the weathertight boxes marked with “Fire Control Plan” and located outsideof accommodation area. Besides, the captain, the chief officer and I keep a copy each.It’s good that the markings and symbols requested by IMO are posted correctly. Are the fire extinguishersin the corridor of foam type?They used to be, but were all changed into light water foam type months ago. They can be usedin the same way as the CO2 and dry powder extinguishers without having to be put up-side-down before injection.On many ships I find some back-hold devices made of steel wire or wooden wedge fixed behind the automaticfire doors to hold the doors open. In case of a fire, the door would mot be closed in time, or even could not beclosed at all. I haven’t seen such things on board your ship. Now I’d like to have a magneticattracter close test and see if it’s reliable.There are two ways to close automatically, besides, there is a button beside each door to control its function.I can show you right away.(After the test finishes,) Y es, the door is closed very tightly. And now, are those pipes and valves marked with red paint fire-fighting ones?Y es. Do you want to have a look?(The inspector examines the pipes and valves closely.)The valves are easy to handle with on sign of seizure, or damage or leakage. I don’t think special spanner is needed to open them.Now please tell me where the anti-frozen discharge cock is.It is usually at the lowest part of the ship. that is, in the bottom of the engine room.Oh, yes. Let’s have a look at it when in the engine room. How are things with the fire hoses? Are there signs of deterioration or damage? We check them very often and such things will never occur. Look, aren’t they in very good condition?OK. Are your nozzles of jet/spray dual type?Y es. And we greased them not long ago The conversion is very convenient.Please connect the hose and the nozzle, and have a try on the fire-pump.All right.(The result is quite satisfying.)A: OK. The pressure is surely up to the requirement. Now please tell me if the fixed CO2 extinguishing system is controlled?B: Y es. CO2 is applied to the engine room, cargo holds or other place where fire occurs through the operational valves.Let me have the operation instructions…Oh, when the cover of the operational valve is opened and the oil circulationand ventilation in the engine room is cut by means of fast closing valve, the alarm will sound at the same time. Can you have a try?I’ll have to inform people in the engine room first, or they’ll all run away.Why?Because there is a warning plate with these words “Withdraw Immediately at the Alarm”.Oh, I see. But how can you be sure that there’s no one left in the engine room when you apply CO2 into it?When crew all withdraw onto the poop deck, they should report to the chief officer that the engine room has already been closed.The chief officer will check the number of c rew. After that, he’ll report to the captain, who will give orders to apply CO2 then.Another set of the firemen’s outfit is just kept here. Would you like to have a look?I don’t think it necessary.(The inspector also checks the international shore connections, then the ejectors of CO2 in the engine room and in the cargo holds,the location of the warning plate “No Smoking”, the condition of the skylight, the ventilation trunk and the fire dampersof the engine room. All things have turned out good.)I’ve seen enough of the fire-fighting apparatuses. Now lets go and see the life-saving apparatuses.Situation: After the inspection of the fire-fighting apparatuses on board, the inspector, accompanied bythe third officer goes on to examine the life-saving equipment.)I: Do you carry out the life-saving drills at regular intervals as required? T: Y es. All crew members give their full attention to it. We know it is very important to the safety of life.All people can identify the muster and embarkation stations and emergency escape routes, and can locateand don life jackets and thermal protective aids quicklyWhat’s the content of your training and drills?The donning of the life jackets and the operation of the survival craft equipment.I find IMO symbols are posted near the life-saving equipment on your bridge.Oh, is that a line-throwing apparatus? What type is it?It’s a pistol with four rockets and lines.What’s the expiration date?The rockets will remain valid till January of 2000. I t’s something of next century.What about the pyrotechnical signals?We have 12 parachute red rockets with the same term of validity.How many lifejackets are provided for the crew members on duty on the bridge?Two are required by regulations, but we have got one more, three. They are all kept in the locker.OK. And they are all attached with whistles, lights and retro-reflective tapes. Now show me the lifebuoys on two sides of the bridgeThese two lifebuoys are provided with lifebuoy smoke and light markers. Their fixing is strictly in accordance with the requirement.Y ou can conveniently throw them down by just pulling out the pins. What’s their weight?These two weigh 4kg, while others 2.5kg.(They’ve come to the boat deck now.)Do you lower and recover the life boats in your drills every time?Y es. People on board are quite familiar with the method of lowering and recovering the life oats.Can you lower one of the life boats for inspection. Third Officer?Of course. Which one?The one on the outboard. Just lower it to the embarkation deck, of course, including the engine start and the clutch test.All right(During the process of lowering and lifting the life boat, the inspector watches very carefully, making record and murmuring at the same time) The exterior appearance is good, name, port of registry, boat number, size and marking are clearly indicated retro-reflective tapes are posted according to IMO regulations. Bilge righting rails and righting lines connection are correct. Becket lines and connection rings are in good condition.life boat davits and their foundations. The moving parts such as blocks. Sheaves. falls and winch capstans, are all well maintainedThe falls had been used nearly two and half a year before our last repair of the ship. We changed their ends. They will be replaced in another two and half a yearThe structures in the way of back of sheaves, wire end, eyeplates and other tension parts are often neglected when people are doing maintenance work.I’d like to know how you did it…(After having a look himself) Y es, nothing seems wrong. OK. The boat is about in position now. Let’s come into the boat and have a look, Third Officer.Look, biscuits, fresh water, first-aid kits and the smoke signal are all remain valid.Are other lifeboat equipment and fittings complete?… En, not bad. Bythe way, how many immersion suits have you got?3 for each lifeboatOK. Let’s go down. I’d like to examine the embarkation ladder now Let me unfasten the canvas cover for youSteps and side ropes all in good condition. No sign of deterioration and damage, obviously of enough strengthThere is a liferaft for 20 people on each side and the one on the forecastle is for 10. They underwent inspection last OctoberWas the hydrostatic release tested too then?Surely.Let’s look at the connection of the weak line now. One end to the painter of the liferaft, the other to the frames hard point through the hydrostatic release. That’s OK.And no other lashing or blockage obstructing the liferaft throw-overboard.Don’t you want to have a random check of the life jacket and thermal protective aids? We can check the lifebuoys on the way back to the saloon.(The inspection is all over.)Congratulations, Third Of ficer. Y ou’ve done a good jib. It’s not with the fire-fighting and life-saving equipment occupy more than two thirds of the total that have been inspected.Those that are rarely used are likely to be neglected. So we lay special emphasis on them, just as one Chinese old saying goes: “Maintain an army for a thousand days to use it for an hour”Well said!What is responsibility for you. Third mate?According to documentation from our shipowner. I will serve the following duties. Watching duty, taking care of life saving appliances and fire fighting equipment.Taking care of all flags and signaling equipment, checking all equipment in the bridge before departure, assisting master in the bridge on arrival or before departure,assisting chief mate on cargo watch, opening lectures on fire-fighting and life saving knowledge periodically, and so on.Correct muster list is displayed where necessary XuyaodedifangyizhangtieyingbianbusubiaoIMO symbols of operation instructions are posted an adjacent position of the life-saving apparatuses.Each crew cabin is provided with a lifejacket and a TPA including pilot cabin, and in good conditionFire Control Plan is posted properly and the numbers and arrangement of appliances shown are the same as that provided on boardThe number and type of the fire extinguishers is arranged according to theFire Control Plan, and Service Card attached to every extinguisherThe operation instruction symbol is posted according to IMO resolution in adjacent to storage and operation position of life-saving appliances such as lifejackets,liferafts,lifebuoys and muster stations etcLifeboat equipment is checked and remains valid. Sufficient spare parts for boat engine and necessary repair kit are provided in boat Attachments of lifebuoys, such as self-igniting lights, smoking signals and safe lines are correctly connected and ready for immediate use System piping, co2 cylinders and manifold connection foam piping and valves are in good condition, operation instruction is displayed in places Nozzles and hoses are stored inside the box or in rack nuzzles are of jet/spray dual typeHydrants open/close is tested satisfactorily. No seizure or damage or leakageStart and operation of the emergency fire pump is tested and its water discharge and pressure satisfactory。
