Procedure
on outbreak
of fire on vessels.
Require- menta relating
to spaces
in which dangerous fumes are present,
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152. (1) The master of any vessel carrying any dangerous goods, on an outbreak of fire anywhere in the vessel, shall immediately-
(a) bring into action all available fire appliances;
(b) make the appropriate port fire alarm signal by flag, sound signals or coloured lights as prescribed in regula- tion 148:
(c) communicate all relevant information to a Marine Depart- ment signal station by telephone or, where no telephone is available, by flashing;
(d) follow such orders as may be given by the Director, the Commissioner of Police, or the Chief Officer of the Fire Brigade;
(e) bring the vessel's engines (if any) to a state of readiness and be prepared to single up the moorings of the vessel forward and aft; and
(/) take all practical steps to get all passengers on board to
a place of safety.
(z) No vessel upon which any fire or explosion has occurred shall leave the Colony except with the permission of the Director.
153. (1) When any work or inspection is to be carried out on any vessel at or in any confined space in which dangerous fumes of any nature are liable to be present to such an extent as to involve the risk of any person being overcome or that an explosion may be occasioned thereby
(a) all practicable steps shall be taken to remove such fumes;
and
(b) no person shall enter such confined space unless he is wearing a suitable breathing apparatus or a belt to which is securely attached a rope of which the free end is held by a person outside such confined space.
(2) No welding, cutting or rivetting entailing the use of any fire, flame or electrical or oxy-acetylene beating apparatus shall be carried out on any vessel in such confined space which contains liquid having a flash point below 600" Fahrenheit or which has contained such liquid at any time unless a gas free certificate has since that time been issued in respect of Such space.
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(3) On any vessel every confined space in which dangerous fumes are liable to be present shall, unless there is other adequate means of egress, be provided with a man-hole, which shall be rectangular, oval or circular in shape and not less than eighteen inches long and sixteen inches wide, or (if circular) not less than eighteen inches in diameter.
(4) Suitable breathing and reviving apparatus, and suitable belts and ropes, shall be provided and maintained in good con- dition at all dockyards so as to be readily accessible; sufficient number of the persons employed at the dockyard shall be trained and practised in the use of such apparatus, and in the method of restoring respiration.
(5) The Director may exempt any vessel, dockyard or person, subject to such conditions as he may see fit to impose, from compliance with any of the requirements of this regulation where he is satisfied that compliance with such requirements is un- necessary or impracticable.
of wharf
of fire.
154. When a fire which may give rise to an explosion breaks Duty of out on any vessel alongside any wharf, the manager of the wharf snager shall take all necessary steps to inform the Director and the on outbreak master or officer-in-charge of any other adjacent vessel that there is a risk of explosion.
155. On any vessel carrying, loading or discharging any Require dangerous goods-
menta relating
(a) all fire fighting appliances shall be rigged and ready for carrying.
instant use;
(b) all cargo handling equipment used shall be in good
condition;
(c) a fire watchman shall be present in every cargo space containing any dangerous goods other than those of port class D), and every such fire watchman shall have near at hand a suitable foam or gas-water two gallon fire extinguisher; and
(d) notices in English and Chinese prohibiting smoking, with letters at least two inches in height, shall be pro- minently displayed at all gangways and at each open cargo space.
to vessela
loading or dis- charging dangerous gooda.