Correction Notice - A guide to Fixed Fire Extinguishing Systems for Commercial Vessels
27 April 2009
The guide to Fixed Fire Extinguishing Systems for Commercial Vessels (printed in November 2008) contains errors about the status of FM200 and NAF S-III in Australia.
The November 2008 edition of the guide contains a table outlining the details of FFE agents that are accepted by the National Marine Safety Committee for use on commercial vessels.
The table contains statements to the effect that the importation of FM200 and NAF S-III into Australia has ceased and therefore systems using FM200 and NAF S-III face obsolescence in the very near future.
This information about the status of FM200 and NAF S-III is not correct. The Fire Protection Industry (ODS & SGG) Board has advised that the importation of FM200 and NAF S-III into Australia has not ceased and there is no impending obsolescence. Further, the Board has advised that there are a number of current authorised importers of FM200 and NAF S-III in Australia and such agents continue to play an important role in the protection of Australian facilities, including marine machinery components.
A corrected version of the guide will be available shortly and will refer the public to the National Marine Safety Committee website for correct and up-to-date information about accepted FFE agents.
For assistance or further information contact Adrian Mnew, 03 9655 8528.
Before any commercial vessel can operate it is required to have a valid certificate of survey, which is only issued when the vessel satisfactorily completes survey in respect of its hull, machinery and equipment and has satisfactory manning (Marine Act 1988, Section 97).
A certificate of survey is issued once an application from the owner has been received and Marine Safety Victoria is satisfied that the vessel complies with the relevant provisions of the Uniform Shipping Laws (USL) Code in respect of :
- Design
- Construction
- Equipment
- Crewing
It is an offence to operate an unsurveyed vessel. If there is no certificate of survey for the vessel in force (in accordance with the regulations) a penalty of $2,000 applies.
If the master of a vessel operates the vessel on State waters, or allows it to be operated and there is no certificate of survey for the vessel in force (in accordance with the regulations) a penalty of $1,000 applies.
Additional survey information is available in the Victorian Commercial Vessel Safety Handbook.