Let’s imagine the situation: you are a Master or a navigation officer. It was a fire drill and routine testing of a fire hoses. Routine procedure. Then, during this test, it has been detected, that there is a hole, distance about 6 meters from coupling.

Option 1:
"Cut the hose up to the damaged section, re-connect the coupling, and consider the issue closed."

Option 2:
"Do not cut the hose, as a deck fire hose must be 25 meters long; only full replacement is acceptable."

If a real fire happens

For saving the person from smoked compartment, need to arrange initial removal of fire and fire extinguishers quantity is not enough for sufficient cooling and extinguishing.

You have to use a fire pump with a fire hoses, but the length will be not enough?

Official reference, related to fire-fighting equipment is:

• SOLAS
• FSS Code
• various M.S.C. circulars
• together with Flag Circulars

As minimum of a minimum, the legs are growing from SOLAS.

SOLAS reference from Chapter II-2, Rule 10, Reg. 2.3.1.

2.3 Fire hoses and nozzles

2.3.1 General specifications

2.3.1.1
Fire hoses shall be of non-perishable material approved by the Administration and shall be sufficient in length to project a jet of water to any of the spaces in which they may be required to be used.

Fire hoses shall have a length of at least 10 m, but not more than:

• 15 m in machinery spaces;
• 20 m in other spaces and open decks; and
• 25 m for open decks on ships with a maximum breadth in excess of 30 m.

So, length has to be sufficient for fire extinguishing, but in any case:

• not less than 10 meters
• and not more than 15, 20 or 25 meters, depending on:
  • ship’s breadth
  • hose location

So, as a temporary solution, cutting from 25 meters to 19 meters is suitable.

Of course, it is better to order a new fire hose in 1st opportunity, but, however, before vessel’s arrival to the port, cutting and a temporary repair of the hose will be sufficient.

Test Your Knowledge

We invite you to explore how SOLAS knowledge is tested in practice in the GYRO app.

As an example, you can review our SOLAS Safety of Life at Sea test, which demonstrates the structure and approach used in GYRO tests:
https://app.gyro.team/tests/solas-safety-of-life-at-sea-e2767a65/

Use the Start Test button above to go directly to the test and check your knowledge.