Part E - Operational requirements

Regulation 15. Instructions, onboard training and drills

1    Purpose
The purpose of this regulation is to mitigate the consequences of fire by means of proper instructions for training and drills of persons on board in correct procedures under emergency conditions. For this purpose, the crew shall have the necessary knowledge and skills to handle fire emergency cases, including passenger care.

2    General requirements

2.1    Instructions, duties and organization

2.1.1    Crew members shall receive instruction on fire safety onboard the ship.

2.1.2    Crew members shall receive instructions on their assigned duties.

2.1.3    Parties responsible for fire extinguishing shall be organized. These parties shall have the capability to complete their duties at all times while the ship is in service.

2.2    On-board training and drills

2.2.1    Crew members shall be trained to be familiar with the arrangements of the ship as well as the location and operation of any fire-fighting systems and appliances that they may be called upon to use.

2.2.2    Training in the use of the emergency escape breathing devices shall be considered as part of on-board training.

2.2.3    Performance of crew members assigned fire-fighting duties shall be periodically evaluated by conducting on-board training and drills to identify areas in need of improvement, to ensure competency in fire-fighting skills is maintained, and to ensure the operational readiness of the fire-fighting organization.

2.2.4    On-board training in the use of the ship's fire-extinguishing systems and appliances shall be planned and conducted in accordance with provisions of regulation III/19.4.1.

2.2.5    Fire drills shall be conducted and recorded in accordance with the provisions of regulations III/19.3 and III/19.5.

2.3    Training manuals

2.3.1    A training manual shall be provided in each crew mess room and recreation room or in each crew cabin.

2.3.2    The training manual shall be written in the working language of the ship.

2.3.3    The training manual, which may comprise several volumes, shall contain the instructions and information required in paragraph 2.3.4 in easily understood terms and illustrated wherever possible. Any part of such information may be provided in the form of audio-visual aides in lieu of the manual.

2.3.4    The training manual shall explain the following in detail:

2.3.4.1    general fire safety practice and precautions related to the dangers of smoking, electrical hazards, flammable liquids and similar common shipboard hazards;

2.3.4.2    general instructions on fire-fighting activities and fire-fighting procedures, including procedures for notification of a fire and use of manually operated call points;

2.3.4.3    meanings of the ship's alarms;

2.3.4.4    operation and use of fire-fighting systems and appliances;

2.3.4.5    operation and use of fire doors;

2.3.4.6    operation and use of fire and smoke dampers; and

2.3.4.7    escape systems and appliances.

2.4    Fire control plans*

* Refer to the Graphical symbols for fire control plans, adopted by the Organization by resolution A.654(16) as amplified by MSC/CIRC 1050.

2.4.1    General arrangement plans shall be permanently exhibited for the guidance of the ship's officers, showing clearly for each deck the control stations, the various fire sections enclosed by "A" class divisions, the sections enclosed by "B" class divisions together with particulars of the fire detection and fire alarm systems, the sprinkler installation, the fire-extinguishing appliances, means of access to different compartments, decks, etc., and the ventilating system, including particulars of the fan control positions, the position of dampers and identification numbers of the ventilating fans serving each section. Alternatively, at the discretion of the Administration, the aforementioned details may be set out in a booklet, a copy of which shall be supplied to each officer, and one copy shall at all times be available on board in an accessible position. Plans and booklets shall be kept up to date; any alterations thereto shall be recorded as soon as practicable. Description in such plans and booklets shall be in the language or languages required by the Administration. If the language is neither English nor French, a translation into one of those languages shall be included.

2.4.2    A duplicate set of fire control plans or a booklet containing such plans shall be permanently stored in a prominently marked weathertight enclosure outside the deckhouse for the assistance of shore-side fire-fighting personnel.†

† Refer to the Guidance concerning the location of fire control plans for assistance of shoreside fire-fighting personnel (MSC/Circ.451).

3    Additional requirements for passenger ships

3.1    Fire drills
In addition to the requirement of paragraph 2.2.3, fire drills shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of regulation III/30, having due regard to notification of passengers and movement of passengers to assembly stations and embarkation decks.

3.2    Fire control plans
In ships carrying more than 36 passengers, plans and booklets required by this regulation shall provide information regarding fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction based on the guidelines issued by the Organization.**

** Refer to the Guidelines on the information to be provided with fire control plans and booklets required by SOLAS regulations II-2/20 and 41-2, adopted by the Organization by resolution A.756(18).