Navigation (Additional Fire Appliances and Air-raid Precautions) Regulations (Cth)

STATUTORY RULES.

1942. No. 364.

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REGULATIONS UNDER THE NAVIGATION ACT 1912-1935.*

I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Navigation Act 1912-1935.

Dated this fourteenth day of August, 1942.

(SGD.) GOWRIE.

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

for Minister of State for Commerce.

 

Navigation (Additional Fire Appliances and Air-raid Precautions) Regulations.

Citation.

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Navigation (Additional Fire Appliances and Air Raid Precautions) Regulations.

Definitions.

2. In these Regulations, unless the contrary intention appears—

“approved” means approved by the Director;

“ship of Class A” means a ship of Class A within the meaning of the Navigation (Fire Appliances) Regulations;

“surveyor” means a person appointed as a surveyor under section 190 of the Navigation Act 1912-1935.

Emergency apparatus.

3.—(1.) Every ship of Class A shall be provided with such outfit of emergency fire appliances, in addition to the equipment prescribed by the Navigation (Fire Appliances) Regulations, as the Director considers to be sufficient.

(2.) The outfit shall include at least—

(a) where electric power is available, an approved portable electric drilling machine for giving emergency means of access to fires through decks, casings or bulkheads;

(b) equipment for dealing with incendiary bombs, including, for every 100 feet registered length of the ship, at least one stirrup hand pump of an approved type having at least 25 feet of hose fitted with a dual nozzle which can deliver either a 30 feet distant jet or a fine spray carrying about 15 feet, and two buckets each of about two gallons capacity, painted red and marked “Fire”; and

 

* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on  , 1942

4488.—Price 5d. 35/15.7.1942.

(c) a number (sufficient in the opinion of a surveyor) but at least six of—

(i) metal containers each filled with about one hundredweight of dry sand; and

(ii) long-handled scoops and hoes distributed about upper decks at suitable points.

(3.) The buckets referred to in paragraph (b) of the last preceding sub-regulation shall be reserved for use with the stirrup hand pump and at least half the number required to be provided shall be fitted with lanyards.

(4.) The equipment referred to in paragraph (b) of sub-regulation (2.) of this regulation shall be suitably distributed about the ship above deck and below deck, near such parts of the ship as could, in the opinion of a surveyor, be easily penetrated by incendiary bombs.

Hose conductor fittings for spraying water.

4. In addition to the normal couplings and nozzles prescribed by sub-regulation (3.) of regulation 17 of the Navigation (Fire Appliances) Regulations, there shall be provided, for attachment to the hoses of every ship of Class A, two conductors or conductor fittings for spraying water to deal with incendiary bombs.

Portable emergency pumps.

5.—(1.) Every ship of Class A of 500 tons gross and upwards but not exceeding 4,000 tons gross shall be provided with at least one portable emergency power pump of an approved type with the necessary fittings and, in the case of any such ship exceeding 4,000 tons gross, with at least two such pumps and the necessary fittings.

(2.) Each pump shall be furnished with suction and discharge hoses and conductor fittings for spraying water to deal with incendiary bombs and shall be capable of drawing water directly from the sea when operated from any part of a ship’s deck which does not impose a lift of more than 20 feet.

(3.) The apparatus shall be stowed in reasonably safe places outside the machinery space and, if more than one such pump is required, they shall be stowed in separate places.

Smoke helmet and safety lamp and fireman’s hatchet.

6.—(1.) The breathing apparatus or smoke helmet provided on a ship in pursuance of regulation 20 of the Navigation (Fire Appliances) Regulations shall be equipped with a life and signalling line at least 10 feet longer than the total length of air hose required under this regulation. The life line shall be efficiently attached to a strong leather or canvas harness to be worn by the wearer of the helmet when the latter is in use and shall be made of hemp-covered wire rope of about one and a quarter inches in circumference having a breaking strength of approximately one ton.

(2.) When smoke helmets or masks fitted for air hoses, are provided, the length of the hose supplied shall be sufficient to enable the wearer to go into any part of the holds or machinery spaces from a position on the open deck well clear of a hatch or doorway, so as to avoid smoke being conveyed to the wearer.

(3.) The safety lamp provided on a ship in pursuance of regulation 20 of the Navigation (Fire Appliances) Regulations shall have a minimum burning period of three hours. In the case of a tanker constructed for the carriage of oil fuel, the safety lamp shall be of an approved electric battery type.

(4.) A fireman’s hatchet of an approved type shall be provided and kept with each smoke helmet equipment.

Smothering gas or steam, &c., for cargo spaces and boiler rooms.

7.—(1.) The provisions of this regulation shall have effect not-withstanding the provisions of regulations 22 and 23 of the Navigation (Fire Appliances) Regulations.

(2.) Every ship of Class A of 2,000 tons gross tonnage and upwards shall be provided with apparatus whereby smothering gas sufficient to give a minimum volume of free gas equal to 30 per centum of the gross volume of the largest hold in the ship can be promptly conveyed by a permanent piping system into any compartment in which cargo may be carried:

Provided that in steamships and in motor-ships which have available a boiler or boilers having an evaporation of not less than one pound of steam per hour for each 12 cubic feet of the gross volume of the largest hold in the ship, steam may be provided as an alternative to gas.

(3.) Every motor-ship and every steamship in which oil only is used as fuel for main or auxiliary boilers, shall be provided in the boiler and machinery spaces with—

(a) a fire hose, complete with couplings and conductor, together with an additional conductor for attachment to the fire hose for spraying water on oil without undue disturbance of the surface;

(b) a receptacle containing at least 10 cubic feet of sand, sawdust impregnated with soda, or other suitable dry material in each firing space, and scoops for distributing the material;

(c) in each boiler room, and in each machinery space in which a part of the boiler oil fuel installation is situated, two approved portable extinguishers of a type discharging froth or other approved medium suitable for quenching oil fires;

(d) for each firing space in any boiler room or machinery space in which there is more than one boiler, in addition to the extinguishers required by paragraph (c) of this sub-regulation, an extinguisher or extinguishers, also of a type discharging froth or other approved medium suitable for quenching oil fires, with a total capacity, if extinguishers discharging froth are supplied, of two gallons for each burner:

Provided that the total capacity of the additional extinguisher or extinguishers so supplied for each such firing space need not exceed 10 gallons; and

(e) means for admission and distribution of froth rapidly over the whole area of the boiler room to a depth of six inches or smothering gas or steam in sufficient quantity in the boiler space or spaces with control from an easily accessible position or positions which will not be readily cut off by an outbreak of fire.

(4.) Every steamship in which oil and coal are used simultaneously as fuel for the main or auxiliary boilers shall be provided in the boiler and machinery spaces with appliances in accordance with paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of the last preceding sub-regulation.

(5.) If the tank top is effectually subdivided by vertical longitudinal and transverse plates at each boiler to prevent spread of oil, and does not exceed 1,000 square feet in total area, one approved 30 gallon extinguisher discharging froth (or its equivalent if other approved medium, is used), fitted with hose for distributing the medium, or, if the area of the tank top exceeds 1,000 square feet, two such extinguishers so fitted. In each case means shall be provided for the admission of steam to the boiler room.

(6.) If the tank top is not so subdivided, there shall be provided in substitution for steam, means for admission and distribution of froth rapidly over the whole area of the boiler room to a depth of six inches or smothering gas in sufficient quantity in the boiler space or spaces with control from an easily accessible position or positions which will not be readily cut off by an outbreak of fire.

(7.) In addition to the extinguishers provided in pursuance of paragraphs (c) and (d) of sub-regulation (3.) of this regulation, every motor-ship of Class A shall be provided in the machinery spaces with at least two approved portable extinguishers of a type discharging froth or other approved medium suitable for quenching oil fires. If the engines of the ship are of power exceeding 500 brake horse-power but not exceeding 1,000 brake horse-power one additional extinguisher of the same type and of capacity at least equivalent to a two gallon froth extinguisher shall be provided, and an additional extinguisher of the same type and capacity shall be provided for each further 1,000 brake horse-power up to a maximum number of six extinguishers.

Portable fire extinguishers.

8.—(1.) Portable fire extinguishers, except when of approved types supplied as an alternative to extinguishers discharging froth for use on oil fires as required by paragraph (c) of sub-regulation (3.) of the last preceding regulation shall be of an approved fluid type. The capacity of the extinguishers shall be not more than three imperial gallons and shall be not less than two imperial gallons.

(2.) The portable fire extinguishers provided (other than those supplied in boiler rooms and other spaces for use in connexion with oil fuel fires) shall not be of more than two types.

(3.) At least one spare charge shall be provided for each portable fire extinguisher.

(4.) After the use of an extinguisher in which the extinguishing medium is carbon tetrachloride, methyl bromide or other toxic medium, all spaces in which the medium has been employed shall be sufficiently ventilated before being entered.

(5.) Extinguishers in which the medium is stored under pressure shall not be provided for use in spaces occupied by passengers or crew.

(6.) Fluid extinguishers discharging froth shall be kept in as cool a place as possible.

Provisions for gas or steam for cargo spaces and boiler rooms.

9.—(1.) Where under regulation 7 of these Regulations provision is made for the injection of smothering gas or steam into the cargo spaces or boiler rooms for fire extinguishing purposes, the necessary pipes for conveying the gas or steam shall be provided with controlling valves or cocks, which shall be readily accessible from the deck in any circumstances and so marked as to indicate clearly the compartments

to which the pipes are respectively led. Suitable provision shall be made for locking the valves or cocks so as to prevent the inadvertent admission of the gas or steam to any compartment if any pipe is led to a space to which passengers may have access, it shall be furnished with an additional stop valve or cock also capable of being locked.

(2.) The piping shall be arranged so as to provide effective distribution of the smothering gas or steam and in large holds where steam is used there shall be two pipes, one at the forward part and one at the after part, led well down in the space. In tankers the arrangements for steaming out cargo tanks shall provide for steam being distributed over the surface of the contents of the tanks.

(3.) When carbon dioxide is supplied as the extinguishing medium in holds, the quantity of gas available shall be sufficient to give a minimum volume of free gas equal to 30 per centum of the gross volume of the largest hold in the ship. When carbon dioxide is supplied as an extinguishing medium for boiler rooms the weight of gas carried shall be sufficient to give a gas saturation of 25 per centum of the gross volume of the largest boiler room measured to the top of the boilers.

(4.) When steam is the extinguishing medium in holds, the boiler or boilers available for supplying steam shall have an evaporation of one pound of steam per hour for each 12 cubic feet of the cubic capacity of the largest cargo compartment in the ship.

(5.) Means shall be provided for closing all doorways, ventilators and other openings to spaces in which smothering gas or steam can be used as a fire extinguishing medium.

Air raid precautions drills.

10.—(1.) In addition to complying with the requirements of the Navigation (Collision, Boat and Fire Drills) Regulations, the master of every ship of Class A to which those Regulations apply shall, at least once weekly while the ship is in commission, arrange for the crew to be mustered, instructed and drilled in—

(a) the manipulation and use of emergency fire appliances required to be provided under these Regulations, including—

(i) the stirrup pumps and buckets;

(ii) the sand scoops and hoes;

(iii) the emergency portable fire pumps;

(iv) the fire hoses fitted with conductor fittings for spraying water; and

(v) any other equipment provided in the ship for dealing with incendiary bombs or fires in the ship liable to result therefrom;

(b) the most effective means for dealing with fire caused by incendiary bombs;

(c) measures for the protection of the crew in the event of enemy air raids;

(d) distinguishing between the different classes of incendiary and poison gas bombs most likely to be used by the enemy, and remedial measures necessary to counteract their effect.

(2.) The provisions of this regulation shall not be deemed to have been complied with unless—

(a) at least one-half of the members of the crew are present at each drill and those not actually taking part may observe and be instructed in the carrying out of the operations; and

(b) every member of the crew has been present at at least one of every two consecutive drills.

(3.) A drill under this regulation may be held either in port or at sea, and, at the option of the master, either on the same day that a boat muster or a collision, boat drill or fire drill required under the Navigation (Collision, Boat and Fire Drills) Regulations is held, or on a separate day.

(4.) The emergency signal for muster at air raid precaution stations shall be the signal prescribed by regulation 7 of the Navigation (Collision, Boat and Fire Drills) Regulations, that is to say, a succession of more than six short blasts followed by one long blast on the whistle or siren.

(5.) At the conclusion of an air raid precautions drill, an entry shall be made in the Official Log Book specifying—

(a) the total number of the crew taking part in or observing the drill; and

(b) particulars of the drill as carried out and equipment tested.

(6.) An entry shall be made in the Official Log on every occasion an air raid precautions drill falls due, but is not held, and the reasons why it was not held shall be specified.

Conduct of drill.

11. An air raid precautions drill under these Regulations shall be conducted as follows:—

(a) For the purposes of the drill, an outbreak of fire shall be assumed to have occurred in a part of the ship (not the engine room) selected by the officer in charge of the drill, and a mock attack on the supposed fire shall be made. On the signal, or other warning being given, the fire pumps, including the portable emergency and stirrup pumps, shall be prepared for operation. The members of the crew forming the fire party, or parties, shall be sent to the seat of the assumed fire, the hose in that neighbourhood shall be laid out and the fire extinguishers (if any) unshipped.

(b) Water shall be played through a portion of the fire hose selected by the officer in charge of the drill and the hydrants and spraying devices shall be tested under pressure. The portable emergency and stirrup pumps shall also be tested. Men shall be exercised in the closing of any openings in the vicinity of the space affected by the supposed fire, so as to reduce the supply of air to the fire and isolate it, so far as practicable, from other parts of the ship. The fire party shall be instructed in the procedure to be followed in dealing with incendiary bombs and, where smoke helmets or other breathing apparatus are carried, they shall be exercised in their use and shall also be instructed in the use of any other description of fire fighting appliances in the ship.

(c) At each drill a responsible officer shall examine all the fire appliances in the ship to ensure that they are in good working order and readily available for use.

Allotment of air raid precaution duties.

12. The master of every ship shall allot to selected members of the crew special duties in connexion with air raid precautions. A list of those members and of the special duties allotted to them shall be prepared by the master and be conspicuously posted in the officers’ and crew’s quarters.

Director’s discretionary power.

13. The Director may, subject to such conditions as he thinks fit to impose, exempt any ship, for the period of any voyage or voyages, from compliance with any requirement of these Regulations, if he is satisfied that the requirement is either impracticable or unreasonable having regard to all the circumstances of the case.

Alternative appliances.

14. When any special appliance, apparatus or arrangement is referred to in these Regulations, the Director may approve any alternative apparatus or arrangement if he is satisfied that it is not less effective than that so referred to.

 

By Authority: L.F. Johnston, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra.