VZCZCXRO4774
RR RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD
DE RUEHLO #0276/01 0300948
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 300948Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY LONDON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7188
INFO RUWDQAC/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-ACO-I/CG-094/CG-5//
RUWDQAC/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-52/CG-521/CG-522//
RUWDQAC/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-523/CG-544/CG-62/
RUWDQAC/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-7M/CG-534//
RHEFHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC
RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 LONDON 000276 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PLEASE PASS TO IO/IOC FOR M. MORRISSEY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: IMO AORC ASEC UK
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION (IMO): 
REPORT OF THE 52ND SESSION OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE (S/C) ON 
FIRE PROTECTION (FP), LONDON, 14-18 JANUARY 2008. 
 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY:  The 52nd session of the IMO FP S/C met at 
Central Hall Westminster in London 14-18 January 2008, 
chaired by Mr. Juan Carlos Cubisino (Argentina).  The 
session was attended by delegations from 58 member 
states, one associate member, one state not a member, two 
intergovernmental organizations, and observers from 17 
non-governmental organizations in consultative status. 
All significant U.S. objectives were achieved. 
Significant accomplishments, all to be forwarded to MSC 
84 in May for approval, were completion of guidelines for 
cabin balcony sprinkler systems; completion of guidelines 
for evaluation of fire risk of external areas on 
passenger ships; completion of a unified interpretation 
on number and arrangement of portable fire extinguishers; 
completion of Revised Guidelines for the approval of 
fixed aerosol fire-extinguishing systems equivalent to 
fixed gas fire-extinguishing systems; completion of 
amendments to the Revised Guidelines for sprinkler 
systems equivalent to that referred to in SOLAS 
regulation II-2/12 (water mist systems); completion of 
Guidelines for high expansion foam using inside air for 
the protection of machinery spaces and cargo pump-rooms; 
completion of Guidelines for approval of fixed water- 
based fire-fighting systems for ro-ro spaces and special 
category spaces equivalent to that referred to in 
resolution A.123(V); completion of draft amendments to 
SOLAS concerning recharging requirements and spare 
charges for breathing apparatus on passenger ships 
carrying more than 36 passengers, material of ventilation 
ducts, fire dampers on galley ventilation ducts for ships 
carrying 36 or fewer passengers, and installation of fire 
doors with 3-sided frames; and completion of amendments 
to the Revised Guidelines for the approval of equivalent 
fixed gas fire-extinguishing systems, consistent with a 
U.S. submission on the subject.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  Performance testing and approval standards for fire 
safety systems.  Following on to work at earlier sessions 
and by an intersessional correspondence group (CG) under 
coordination of the U.S., a working group (WG) chaired by 
the U.S. on performance testing and approval standards 
for fire safety systems completed development, for 
submission to MSC 84 for approval, of guidelines for 
approval of cabin balcony sprinkler systems pursuant to 
the 2006 STAR PRINCESS fire; Revised Guidelines for the 
approval of fixed aerosol fire-extinguishing systems 
equivalent to fixed gas fire-extinguishing systems; 
amendments to the Revised Guidelines for sprinkler 
systems equivalent to that referred to in SOLAS 
regulation II-2/12 (Res. A.800(19)); Guidelines for high 
expansion foam using inside air for the protection of 
machinery spaces and cargo pump-rooms; Guidelines for 
approval of fixed water-based fire-fighting systems for 
ro-ro spaces and special category spaces equivalent to 
that referred to in resolution A.123(V); and amendments 
to the Revised Guidelines for the approval of equivalent 
fixed gas fire-extinguishing systems (MSC/Circ. 848), 
consistent with a U.S. submission on the subject (Italy 
reserved its position and is expected to vigorously 
pursue the matter at MSC 84).  The U.S. will coordinate a 
re-established CG to continue progress intersessionally 
on outstanding items in the updated WG work plan for 
consideration at FP 53. 
 
¶3.  Comprehensive review of the Fire Test Procedures 
(FTP) Code.  Following on to work at FP 51, and taking 
into account the report of an intersessional CG, a WG on 
comprehensive review of the FTP Code developed numerous 
editorial and technical improvements to the Code.  Japan 
will coordinate a re-established CG to continue progress 
intersessionally with a view to completion of the work at 
FP 53. 
 
¶4.  Review of the fire safety of external areas on 
passenger ships.  This item stems from a UK proposal at 
MSC 81, pursuant to the 2006 STAR PRINCESS fire, to 
address fire safety of external areas other than 
passenger cabin balconies.  A new WG was formed at this 
session to complete work begun by an intersessional CG 
under coordination of Italy.  The S/C agreed to new 
guidelines for evaluation of fire risks of external 
areas, including a simplified risk assessment method for 
the crew's use in considering impacts of seasonal or 
 
LONDON 00000276  002 OF 003 
 
 
theme-based changes to external area configurations, for 
submission to MSC 84 for approval, and invited the MSC to 
delete this item from the S/C work program. 
 
¶5.  Measures to prevent fires in engine rooms and cargo 
pump rooms.  Taking into account the work of an 
intersessional CG, the S/C continued development of a 
draft MSC Circular to provide guidance on, inter alia, 
isolating potential oil leakage points from hot surfaces 
and other potential sources of ignition in machinery 
spaces.  A drafting group, taking into account a plenary 
decision limiting the scope of the work, prepared an 
updated working draft for further consideration by an 
intersessional CG with a view to finalization at FP 53. 
 
¶6.  Fire resistance of ventilation ducts.  MSC 83 
instructed the S/C to expand the scope of the work to 
address all ventilation system requirements.  The S/C 
considered one proposal by Denmark concerning fire 
dampers on small passenger ships, and editorial 
refinements to the original proposal to MSC 81 by the UK, 
and developed suitable draft SOLAS amendments for 
submission to MSC 84 for approval.  The S/C invited 
submission of further comments and proposals on the 
subject to FP 53. 
 
¶7.  Unified interpretation on the number and arrangement 
of portable extinguishers in accommodation spaces, 
service spaces, control stations, etc.  At FP 51, the S/C 
prepared a consolidated draft guideline, consistent with 
a risk-based U.S. proposal, for further consideration and 
finalization at this session.  Several proposals for 
significant increases in the number of extinguishers were 
not accepted by the S/C after a U.S. intervention 
questioning their justification.  With some minor 
amendments, the interpretation was forwarded to MSC 84 
for approval under cover of a suitable MSC Circular. 
 
¶8.  Development of provisions for gas fuelled ships.  The 
S/C considered technical comments submitted by the U.S. 
on the draft guidelines for the use of LNG fuel on ships 
other than LNG carriers developed by the S/C on Carriage 
of Bulk Liquids and Gases (BLG).  The S/C established an 
intersessional CG under coordination of Norway to further 
develop the draft guidelines taking into account the U.S. 
comments. 
 
¶9.  Consideration of IACS unified interpretations.  The 
S/C considered eight unified interpretations submitted by 
IACS, and prepared a draft MSC Circular containing agreed 
interpretations of SOLAS Chapter II-2 relating to 
arrangements of gaseous fuel for domestic purposes, 
separation of galley exhaust ducts from spaces, and fixed 
deck foam fire extinguishing systems for pipe trunks in 
the cargo tank deck area for submission to MSC 84 for 
approval. 
 
¶10.  Fixed hydrocarbon detection systems on double-hull 
tankers.  The S/C agreed in principle with the proposal 
by a coalition of EU members at MSC 82 for fixed gas 
detection on double-hull tankers in addition to portable 
detection, to ensure more rapid detection of cargo 
leakage into double bottom spaces, and established an 
intersessional CG coordinated by INTERTANKO to develop 
suitable amendments to SOLAS and a new Chapter 16 of the 
Fire Safety Systems Code for further consideration at FP 
¶53. 
 
¶11.  Clarification of SOLAS chapter II-2 requirements 
regarding interrelation between central control station 
and safety centre.  This is a new work item jointly 
proposed by Argentina and the Cruise Lines International 
Association (CLIA) to clarify the new regulation II-2/23 
requirements for control and monitoring of vital safety 
systems from the onboard safety centre required pursuant 
to the recent passenger ship safety initiative.  After 
preliminary consideration by a WG, the S/C established an 
intersessional CG under coordination of CLIA to further 
progress the work and report to FP 53. 
 
¶12.  Recommendation on evacuation analysis for new and 
existing passenger ships.  At FP 51, a WG on the interim 
recommendation on evacuation analysis for new and 
 
LONDON 00000276  003 OF 003 
 
 
existing passenger ships completed a revision of the 
guidance with regard to computer simulation of evacuation 
times, criteria for passenger awareness times and 
response time distributions.  Pursuant to a proposal by 
Germany, the target completion date was extended to allow 
further consideration of two new evacuation scenarios 
stemming from new safe area and safe return to port 
requirements.  The S/C decided that additional data on 
the issue is needed before considering an additional 
German proposal for mandatory application of evacuation 
analysis to all new passenger ships.  Despite strong 
German objections, an envisioned correspondence group was 
not established due to the large number of other 
correspondence groups proposed at this session. 
 
¶13.  Measures to prevent explosions on oil and chemical 
tankers transporting low-flash point cargoes.  This is a 
new work item to consider the merits of installing inert 
gas systems on oil and chemical tankers of less than 
20,000 DWT, based on the report to MSC 81 of an Inter- 
Industry Working Group (IIWG).  While noting the views of 
several delegations and observers that IGS would reduce 
the risk of explosion and should be required, the S/C 
also noted the value of operational measures, taking into 
account that the most significant contributory factor to 
the casualties studied by the IIWG was a failure to 
follow or understand cargo operation guidelines and 
procedures.  After vigorous debate, the S/C decided to 
tentatively establish a WG on the matter at FP 53, and 
urged members to submit essential data to FP 53 to enable 
thorough consideration of the risks, benefits, and 
alternatives. 
 
¶14.  Election of chairman/date of next meeting.  The S/C 
unanimously elected Mr. J. C. Cubisino as Chairman, and 
Mr. C. Abbate (Italy) as Vice-Chairman for 2008.  The 
53rd session of the S/C is tentatively scheduled for 19- 
23 January 2009 in London. 
 
TUTTLE