Firefighting procedures aboard small vessels

USCG Boatswain Manual Ch. 6 §6.1

USCG Boatswain Manual Ch. 6 §6.1 — Firefighting Shipboard fire is classified by fuel: A (combustibles), B (flammable liquids/gas), C (energised electrical), D (combustible metals — rare on small vessels), K (cooking oils — galley fires). Use the correct extinguisher class for the fuel.

USCG Boatswain Manual Ch. 6 §6.2

USCG Boatswain Manual Ch. 6 §6.2 — Firefighting Engine compartment fires are typically Class B (fuel) and C (electrical) — use CO₂ or dry chemical, NEVER water. Most inboard installations have a fixed CO₂ or aerosol fire suppression system that activates automatically.

USCG Boatswain Manual Ch. 6 §6.3

USCG Boatswain Manual Ch. 6 §6.3 — Firefighting The firefighting sequence is: alert the crew, isolate the fire (close hatches, ventilation), shut off fuel and electrical to the affected space, attack with the appropriate extinguisher, confirm extinguished, ventilate carefully to prevent re-ignition.

46 CFR §185.420

§ 185.420 § 185.420 Crew training. (a) The owner, charterer, master or managing operator shall instruct each crew member, upon first being employed and prior to getting underway for the first time on a particular vessel and at least once every three months, as to the duties that the crew member is expected to perform in an emergency including, but not limited to, the emergency instructions listed on the emergency instruction placard required by § 185.510 of this part and, when applicable, the duties listed in the station bill required by § 185.514 of this part. (b) For a vessel described by 46 CFR 175.110(c), the training program in paragraph (a) of this section must address firefighting proficiency and must include, but need not be limited to— (1) Training in the use and location of fi…

46 CFR §185.512

§ 185.512 § 185.512 Recommended emergency instructions format. An emergency instruction placard containing the following information will satisfy the requirements of § 185.510. (a)—(1)(i) Close all watertight and weathertight doors, hatches, and airports to prevent taking water aboard or further flooding in the vessel. (ii) Keep bilges dry to prevent loss of stability due to water in bilges. Use power driven bilge pump, hand pump, and buckets to dewater. (iii) Align fire pumps to use as bilge pump if possible. (iv) Check all intake and discharge lines, which penetrate the hull, for leakage. (v) Passengers must remain seated and evenly distributed. (vi) Passengers must don life jackets if the going becomes very rough, the vessel is about to cross a hazardous bar, or when otherwise in…

46 CFR §199.180

§ 199.180 § 199.180 Training and drills. (a)Training material must be on board each vessel and must consist of a manual of one or more volumes written in easily understood terms and illustrated wherever possible, or of audiovisual training aids, or of both as follows: (1) If a training manual is used, a copy must be in each crew messroom and recreation room or in each crew cabin. If audiovisual training aids are used, they must be incorporated into the onboard training sessions described in paragraph (g) of this section. (2) The training material must explain in detail— (i) The procedure for donning lifejackets, immersion suits, and anti-exposure suits carried on board; (ii) The procedure for mustering at the assigned stations; (iii) The procedure for boarding, launching, and clearin…