7.5 Fuel and other flammable fluid tanks and systems
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - International Codes - HSC 2000 Code - International Code of Safety for High-Speed Craft, 2000 – Resolution MSC.97(73) - Chapter 7 - Fire safety - PART A - GENERAL - 7.5 Fuel and other flammable fluid tanks and systems

7.5 Fuel and other flammable fluid tanks and systems

  7.5.1 Tanks containing fuel and other flammable fluids shall be separated from passenger, crew, and baggage compartments by vapour-proof enclosures or cofferdams which are suitably ventilated and drained.

  7.5.2 Fuel oil tanks shall not be located in, be formed by any part of the structural boundary of, areas of major fire hazard. However, flammable fluids of a flashpoint not less than 60°C may be located within such areas provided the tanks are made of steel or other equivalent material. The use of aluminium in lubricating oil sump tanks for engines, or in lubricating oil filter housings fitted integral with the engines, is accepted.

  7.5.3 Every fuel oil pipe which, if damaged, would allow oil to escape from a storage, settling or daily service tank shall be fitted with a cock or valve directly on the tank capable of being closed from a position outside the space concerned in the event of a fire occurring in the space in which such tanks are situated.

  7.5.4 Pipes, valves and couplings conveying flammable fluids shall be of steel or such alternative material satisfactory to a standard,footnotein respect of strength and fire integrity having regard to the service pressure and the spaces in which they are installed. Wherever practicable, the use of flexible pipes shall be avoided.

  7.5.5 Pipes, valves and couplings conveying flammable fluids shall be arranged as far from hot surfaces or air intakes of engine installations, electrical appliances and other potential sources of ignition as is practicable and be located or shielded so that the likelihood of fluid leakage coming into contact with such sources of ignition is kept to a minimum.

  7.5.6 Fuel with a flash point below 35° shall not be used. In every craft in which fuel with a flashpoint below 43°C is used, the arrangements for the storage, distribution and utilization of the fuel shall be such that, having regard to the hazard of fire and explosion which the use of such fuel may entail, the safety of the craft and of persons on board is preserved. The arrangements shall comply, in addition to the requirements of 7.5.1 to 7.5.5, with the following provisions:

  • .1 tanks for the storage of such fuel shall be located outside any machinery space and at a distance of not less than 760 mm inboard from the shell side and bottom plating, and from decks and bulkheads;

  • .2 arrangements shall be made to prevent overpressure in any fuel tank or in any part of the oil fuel system, including the filling pipes. Any relief valves and air or overflow pipes shall discharge to a position which, in the opinion of the Administration, is safe;

  • .3 the spaces in which fuel tanks are located shall be mechanically ventilated, using exhaust fans providing not less than six air changes per hour. The fans shall be such as to avoid the possibility of ignition of flammable gas-air mixtures. Suitable wire mesh guards shall be fitted over inlet and outlet ventilation openings. The outlets for such exhausts shall discharge to a position which, in the opinion of the Administration, is safe. 'No Smoking' signs shall be posted at the entrance to such spaces;

  • .4 earthed electrical distribution systems shall not be used, with the exception of earthed intrinsically safe circuits;

  • .5 suitable certified safe typefootnote electrical equipment be used in all spaces where fuel leakage could occur, including the ventilation system. Only electrical equipment and fittings essential for operational purposes shall be fitted in such spaces;

  • .6 a fixed vapour-detection system shall be installed in each space through which fuel lines pass, with alarms provided at the continuously manned control station;

  • .7 every fuel tank shall, where necessary, be provided with "savealls" or gutters which would catch any fuel which may leak from such tank;

  • .8 safe and efficient means of ascertaining the amount of fuel contained in any tank shall be provided. Sounding pipes shall not terminate in any space where the risk of ignition of spillage from the sounding pipe might arise. In particular, they shall not terminate in passenger or crew spaces. The use of cylindrical gauge glasses is prohibited, except for cargo craft where the use of oil-level gauges with flat glasses and self-closing valves between the gauges and fuel tanks may be permitted by the Administration. Other means of ascertaining the amount of fuel contained in any tank may be permitted if such means do not require penetration below the top of the tank, and providing their failure or overfilling of the tank will not permit the release of fuel;

  • .9 during bunkering operations, no passenger shall be on board the craft or in the vicinity of the bunkering station, and adequate 'No Smoking' and 'No Naked Lights' signs shall be posted. Vessel-to-shore fuel connections shall be of closed type and suitably grounded during bunkering operations;

  • .10 the provision of fire detection and extinguishing systems in spaces where non-integral fuel tanks are located shall be in accordance with requirements of 7.7.1 to 7.7.3; and

  • .11 refuelling of the craft shall be done at the approved refuelling facilities, detailed in the route operational manual, at which the following fire appliances are provided:

    • .11.1 a suitable foam applicator system consisting of monitors and foam-making branch pipes capable of delivering foam solution at a rate of not less than 500 ⋉/min for not less than 10 minutes;

    • .11.2 dry powder extinguishers of total capacity not less than 50 kg; and

    • .11.3 carbon dioxide extinguishers of total capacity not less than 16 kg.

Parent topic: PART A - GENERAL
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