The Government of the Netherlands has notified us of their requirements for portable fire extinguishers and fire control plans on board the Netherlands flagged ships.

1. Portable fire extinguishers (the thing itself):
IMO Resolution A.951(23) is required to apply in addition to EU Directive. (However, the test pressure applied when manufacturing may be 1.5 times the maximum working pressure.)
Each extinguishers should be clearly marked with the following minimum information:
(I) name of the manufacturer, (ii) types of fire and rating for which the extinguisher is suitable, (iii) type and quantity of extinguishing medium, (iv) approval details, (v) instructions for use and recharge (it is recommended that operating instructions be given in pictorial form, in addition to explanatory text in language understood by the likely user), (vi) year of manufacturer, (vii) temperature range over which the extinguisher will operate satisfactory and (viii) test pressure.

Regarding the periodical inspections and maintenance in the above Resolution, please refer to ClassNK Technical Information No. TEC-0610 issued on 3 December 2004.

2. Fire control plans:
Graphical symbols for Fire control plans onboard ships constructed on and after 1 January 2004 should apply IMO Resolution A.952(23). The symbols should be in colour. The symbols not mentioned in the Resolution A.952(23) are allowed to use the symbols of IMO Resolution A.654(16).
For ships transferred to the Netherlands flag, the existing fire control plan is acceptable.


For any questions about the above, please contact:

NIPPON KAIJI KYOKAI (ClassNK)
Material and Equipment Department, Administration Center, Head Office
Address: 4-7 Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8567, Japan
Tel.: +81-3-5226-2020
Fax: +81-3-5226-2057
E-mail: eqd@classnk.or.jp