Ref. T4/4.01 MSC.1/Circ.1187
23 May 2006
1 TheMaritimeSafetyCommittee,atitseighty-firstsession(10to19May2006),takinginto accounttheinformationavailabletodatefromtheongoingcasualtyinvestigationoftheveryserious cabin balcony fire onboard the passenger ship Star Princess, agreed that appropriate recommendationsshouldbedeveloped,onaninterimbasis,forthepassengershipindustryregarding thehazardsposedbycabinbalconieswheretheremaybeapresenceofcombustiblematerialsandan effective fire detection systemor fire suppression systemis not installed.
2 Therefore,inordertocounteranyfirerisksassociatedwiththesebalconies,theCommittee agreedtothefollowingrecommendationsforconsiderationwithaviewtoimplementationbythe passenger ship industry:
.1 increasedvigilancesuchasthedeploymentoflookouts,firepatrolsandtelevision surveillance systems should be enhanced;
.2 onboardtrainingandresponseproceduresforcrewshouldbereviewedtoensurethat theship'sfire-fightingteamsarepreparedtorespondtoafireoccurringinthese balcony areas;
.3 passengersandcrewshouldbeadvisednottoleavetowelsandpersonalbelongings on balconies when they are not in their cabins;
.4 housekeepingstaffshouldbeinstructedtoplacepersonalarticlesleftonbalconiesby cabinoccupantsbackinthecabinduringtheirlastvisitofthedaytotheguestcabin and to observe balconies during other visits to the cabin;
.5 fire safety should be re-emphasized incommunicationstopassengersandcrew, includingthedistributionofappropriateinformationalpamphletsorotheralternative media;
.6 passengersandcrewshouldberemindedofthehazardsassociatedwiththrowingany items over a ship's side frombalconies or other external areas;
.7 passengersandcrewshouldberemindedofthehazardsofnotproperlyextinguishing smokingmaterialswheresmokingisauthorizedandnevertoleavelitorsmoldering smoking materials unattended; and
.8 passengersandcrewshouldberemindedofthehazardsassociatedwiththeuseof unauthorizedheatingelementssuchaselectricalheatingcoilsusedincupsormugs and open flames such as candles.
3 Member Governments and international organizations are invited to bring the above recommendationstotheattentionofpassengershipowners,operatorsandotherpartiesconcerned.