ClassNK has issued Technical Information No.TEC-0868 dated 14 October 2011 regarding spare charges, additional fire extinguishers and refilling of extinguishers onboard the Panama flag ships. On the other hand, Merchant Marine Circular No.281 was newly issued by Panama Government, and application of additional portable fire extinguishers was modified.
This Technical Information supersedes the previous ClassNK Technical Information No.TEC-0868.

1. Spare charges and Refilling for portable fire extinguishers
(1) Spare charges shall be provided for 100% of the first 10 extinguishers and 50% of the remaining fire extinguishers capable of being recharged onboard. Not more than 60 total spare charges are required. Instructions for recharging should be carried onboard.
(2) For fire extinguishers which can not be recharged onboard, additional portable fire extinguishers of the same quantity, type, capacity and number as determined in above (1) shall be provided.
(3) Periodic refilling of the cylinders should be in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. Only refills approved for the extinguisher may be used for recharging. Partially emptied extinguishers should be recharged.

2. Additional portable fire extinguishers
(1) Ships constructed on or after 1 January 2009 and contracted for construction on or after 15 April 2009 should use the attached table shown in the MSC.1/Circ.1275 as reference for the number and arrangement of portable fire extinguishers in accommodation spaces, service spaces, control stations, machinery spaces of category A, other machinery spaces, cargo spaces, weather deck and other spaces on board ship. As for ships constructed before 1 January 2009, the Administration encourages to implement this unified interpretation.
(2) In the case where that the additional portable fire extinguishers provided onboard in accordance with above (1), the information should be written in fire control plans onboard.

(To be continued)