Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L01173:body:0:p67
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2018L01173
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 173498–176319

a fire in a timely and effective manner.
Water is generally suitable as a fire-fighting medium for most dangerous goods at sea. However, detailed guidance should be obtained from the relevant schedules contained in the EmS Guide.
For certain substances which are highly reactive with water, the use of dry chemical fire extinguishers is recommended. This would not preclude the use of suitable powdered inert material if available in sufficient quantity. The other alternative is the use of copious quantities of water, which will have a cooling effect on the fire, although reacting with the substance.
Where possible, packages should be removed from the vicinity of the fire. There is a possibility that the heat will cause a chemical or physical change in the substance, or effect the integrity of a package, leading to rupture and dispersal of the contents. Keeping the packages cool may prevent this from occurring. Care should be exercised with those substances liable to polymerise, as this reaction can continue long after the removal of external heat.
Since some substances that catch fire may emit poisonous fumes, protective clothing and sets of self-contained breathing apparatus should be readily available.
For incidents under deck, the best course of fire-fighting may be to batten down the hatch, shut down all ventilation and operate the fixed fire-fighting installation. Self-contained breathing apparatus should be used when battening down the hatches or if there is any need to enter the space (for example, after the fire is extinguished).
Where the EmS Guide advises against the use of foam, this does not preclude the use of special foams.
The general fire-fighting recommendations for a number of dangerous goods suggest that they should be jettisoned if there is a likelihood of their involvement in a fire. Where full or nearly full container loads or other units are concerned, this may be impractical, in which case other measures should be taken to prevent the spread of fire to those containers. If, despite preventive measures, fire seems likely to affect these containers, seafarers should be withdrawn accordingly as the contents may explode.

   15.                        Wire and fibre ropes
Many types of synthetic and natural fibre rope are available, each with different properties and different resistance to contamination by substances which may seriously weaken the rope. The following table is a guide to the resistance of the main rope types but the precise formulation of the material, the amount of contamination the rope receives and the length of time, as well as the temperature at which it is exposed to contamination, all affect the properties of the rope. In some cases, damage may not be apparent even on close visual inspection.

Resistance to chemicals of rope made