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Fire Fighting Equipment on Ships: What SOLAS Requires & What Marinetech Supplies

Every fire fighting equipment item on a SOLAS vessel exists because of a regulation written in response to a real casualty. The number of portable extinguishers, the specification of SCBA cylinders, the contents of a fireman's outfit — none of it is arbitrary. It reflects decades of accumulated lessons about what a crew actually needs when a fire breaks out at sea, far from any shore-based fire service.

For ship owners and procurement managers, the practical challenge is translating SOLAS requirements into an actual purchasing list — knowing exactly what equipment is mandatory, in what quantity, to what specification, and where to source it from a supplier whose products will pass a class society survey and a PSC inspection without question.

This guide sets out what SOLAS Chapter II-2 and the Fire Safety Systems (FSS) Code require in terms of fire fighting equipment on ships, and what Marinetech supplies to vessels across India to meet those requirements.

The Regulatory Basis: SOLAS Chapter II-2 and the FSS Code

SOLAS Chapter II-2 sets out the overarching fire safety requirements for vessel construction, fire protection, detection, and extinction. The detailed technical specifications for individual fire fighting systems and equipment are contained in the International Code for Fire Safety Systems — the FSS Code — which is given mandatory force through SOLAS.

Together, these instruments specify exactly what fire fighting equipment a vessel must carry based on its type, size, and the spaces it contains. A general cargo ship, a container vessel, a tanker, and a passenger ship each have different equipment requirements reflecting their different fire risk profiles. The vessel's Safety Equipment Certificate, and its attached Record of Equipment, lists the specific items and quantities that vessel is required to carry.

Portable Fire Extinguishers: SOLAS Requirements

Portable fire extinguishers are the first line of defence against any fire and are distributed throughout the accommodation, machinery spaces, and working areas of the vessel. SOLAS specifies minimum numbers based on vessel type and the size of machinery spaces, but the general principle is that extinguishers must be positioned so that no point on the vessel is more than a specified distance from an extinguisher appropriate to the fire risk in that location.

Different fire classes require different extinguisher types. Water and foam extinguishers are used for Class A fires involving ordinary combustibles. CO2 and dry powder extinguishers are used in machinery spaces and electrical areas where Class B and C fire risks predominate. Galley areas require wet chemical extinguishers suited to cooking oil and fat fires.

Marinetech supplies the full range of SOLAS-approved portable fire extinguishers — water, foam, CO2, dry powder, and wet chemical types — manufactured to recognised type-approval standards and accepted by all major classification societies. We also supply replacement charges, recharge services, and the inspection tags required to evidence annual servicing. Read our complete guide to fire fighting appliances inspection and service in India.

Fireman's Outfits: SOLAS Requirements

SOLAS requires a minimum of two complete fireman's outfits on cargo ships, with additional outfits required on passenger ships and vessels carrying hazardous cargoes. Each outfit must comprise a protective suit resistant to heat and water penetration, boots and gloves with electrically non-conducting properties, a rigid helmet providing effective head protection, a self-contained breathing apparatus set, an electric safety lamp providing at least three hours of continuous operation, and a fire axe.

The protective suit must be constructed and tested to recognised standards covering thermal protection, flame resistance, and physical durability. Marinetech supplies complete fireman's outfits meeting SOLAS specifications, sourced from manufacturers whose products carry current type-approval certification accepted by Indian and international classification societies.

Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)

SCBA sets are the most safety-critical individual component of the fireman's outfit. SOLAS requires each set to have a cylinder containing sufficient air to provide at least 30 minutes of use, plus spare charged cylinders carried in sufficient quantity for the vessel type. The cylinder, regulator, mask, and harness must all meet recognised type-approval standards, and the set must be regularly tested and serviced to remain compliant.

Marinetech supplies complete SCBA sets and spare cylinders, along with cylinder recharging and hydrostatic testing services, ensuring vessels maintain the required number of fully charged, serviceable sets at all times. View our supply of life saving and fire fighting equipment for ships.

Fire Hoses, Nozzles, and Hydrants

Every fire main hydrant on board must be fitted with a hose of sufficient length to reach any part of the space it protects, along with a compatible nozzle capable of producing both a jet and a spray pattern. SOLAS specifies the number of hydrants and hoses required based on vessel size and the number of fire pumps fitted.

Hoses must be constructed of materials resistant to deterioration and must be regularly tested to confirm they hold pressure without leakage. Marinetech supplies fire hoses, nozzles, couplings, and hydrant valves manufactured to SOLAS specifications, along with the international shore connection required on every vessel to allow shore-based fire services to connect to the ship's fire main in port.

Fixed Fire Suppression Systems

Beyond portable equipment, SOLAS requires fixed fire suppression systems protecting the machinery spaces and other high-risk areas of the vessel. The most common system on cargo vessels is a CO2 total flooding system protecting the engine room, calculated to deliver sufficient gas to achieve the extinguishing concentration required for the volume of the protected space. Alternative systems include high-expansion foam, water mist, and clean agent systems such as Novec 1230, increasingly specified on newer vessels and where CO2's asphyxiation risk to crew is a particular concern.

Marinetech supplies and services fixed fire suppression systems, including CO2 cylinder banks, release mechanisms, piping, and nozzles, along with the annual inspection and cylinder weighing services required to keep these systems certified. Read our guide to fixed fire fighting equipment requirements for ships.

Fire Detection and Alarm Systems

SOLAS requires fixed fire detection systems in machinery spaces, accommodation areas, and cargo spaces depending on vessel type. Detectors must be positioned to provide early warning, connected to a central control panel, and linked to an audible alarm system covering the entire vessel. The system must be regularly tested and any faults or isolations must be documented and resolved promptly.

Marinetech supplies smoke detectors, heat detectors, flame detectors, and the control panels and alarm systems that tie them together, sourced from manufacturers whose products are accepted by major classification societies for new installation and replacement on existing vessels.

What Marinetech Supplies: Full Equipment Range

Marinetech Safety & Shipping Corporation supplies the complete range of SOLAS-compliant fire fighting equipment to vessels across India. This includes portable fire extinguishers in all classes and capacities, complete fireman's outfits with protective suits, boots, gloves, helmets, and SCBA sets, spare SCBA cylinders and recharging services, fire hoses, nozzles, couplings, and hydrant valves, fixed fire suppression system components including CO2 cylinders and release mechanisms, fire detection and alarm system equipment, and fire blankets and other auxiliary fire fighting items.

Every item we supply meets SOLAS and FSS Code specifications and carries type-approval documentation accepted by ABS, DNV GL, Bureau Veritas, Lloyd's Register, IRS, NKK, RINA, CCS, and Korean Register. View our our class society approvals and certifications.

How Marinetech Delivers Across India

We supply fire fighting equipment to vessels calling at all major Indian ports — Mumbai, JNPT, Kandla, Mundra, Hazira, Dahej, Cochin, Goa, Chennai, Vizag, Kolkata, Haldia, and Paradip. Orders are coordinated with your vessel's agent to ensure equipment is delivered to the berth before departure, and our supply team works alongside our service engineers so that any deficiency identified during an FFA inspection can be rectified with equipment from our own stock during the same port call. Contact us to place an order or request a quotation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fire extinguisher types does SOLAS require on a typical cargo ship?
A typical cargo ship requires a combination of water or foam extinguishers in accommodation areas, CO2 or dry powder extinguishers in machinery spaces, and wet chemical extinguishers in the galley. The exact number and distribution depends on the vessel's size and layout as specified in its Safety Equipment Certificate.

How many fireman's outfits must a cargo ship carry?
SOLAS requires a minimum of two complete fireman's outfits on cargo ships. Passenger ships and vessels with special category spaces require additional outfits based on their size and configuration.

Can Marinetech supply equipment to match what's already specified on our Safety Equipment Certificate?
Yes. Provide us with your vessel's Record of Equipment and we will supply matching items to ensure full consistency with your existing certification, avoiding any discrepancy that could be flagged during a PSC inspection or class survey.

Does Marinetech also service the equipment it supplies?
Yes. Marinetech provides both supply and service under one roof. We supply SOLAS-compliant fire fighting equipment and also conduct the annual inspections, CO2 cylinder recharging, and SCBA servicing required to keep that equipment compliant year after year.

How quickly can equipment be delivered to a vessel in India?
For common items held in stock, delivery to the berth can typically be arranged within 24 to 48 hours at major ports. For specialised items or larger orders, we will provide a specific delivery timeline at the time of quotation.

Does Marinetech supply equipment for tankers and chemical carriers with elevated fire risk?
Yes. We supply the additional and specialised fire fighting equipment required for tankers, chemical carriers, and gas carriers, including foam systems suited to hydrocarbon fires and equipment compliant with the specific FSS Code requirements for these vessel types.

Order SOLAS-Compliant Fire Fighting Equipment for Your Vessel

Contact Marinetech Safety & Shipping Corporation to order fire fighting equipment for your vessel, or to request a quotation matched against your Safety Equipment Certificate. We deliver to all major Indian ports.

Supplies email: supply@marinetechss.com
Phone: +91-8866475732 | +91-72270 38216

View Our Fire Fighting Equipment & Appliances Supply

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