The Malaysia Government has published a RECOGNISED ORGANISATION (RO) INSTRUCTION Rev 1.2020, including the special requirements for the installation of portable radio apparatus for fire-fighting parties required by SOLAS II-2 / Reg.10.10.4.

The special requirements specified in the instruction are as follows.

1. A minimum of two unit 2-way UHF radio telephone apparatus of an explosion-proof or intrinsically safe type shall be provided for each fire party. The number of 2-way UHF radiotelephone carried on board shall be determined based on number of fire-party assigned on board which normally stated on ship muster list.

2. An addition, all ships shall carry additional two unit 2-way UHF radio telephone apparatus for the command team.

3. As far as practicable, the fire-fighter radiotelephone shall have a coloured housing to distinguish these radio from other radios use on board either for normal operations and for emergency use such as portable GMDSS VHFs which normally be in yellow or orange.

4. The Certificate of Conformity or equivalent document providing the compliance of the two-way radiotelephone apparatus for the use in potentially explosive atmosphere shall be retained on board for verification by Classification Society or other interested parties.

For the detail, please refer an extract of RO INSTRUCTION.

(To be continued)