42 SAFETY OF LIFE FROM FIRE AT SEA. 



storage compartments, and in deck "H" the crew's quarters. There are two sys- 

 tems, one forward and one aft of the amidships bulkhead for both decks, and they 

 are connected to and are constantly under pressure from the salt water fire main, 

 although the sprinkler piping is normally kept filled with fresh water. There is 

 an alarm valve on each sprinkler riser which operates an alarm electrically con- 

 nected with the ship's fire headquarters. 



There is an automatic fire-alarm system having 450 thermostats placed in the 

 first class cabins forward of the amidships bulkhead, deck "F" ; steerage deck "]" ; 

 baggage and cargo compartments, deck "K"; provision lockers in the bow, fire 

 decks; second class cabins, deck "E"; second and third class cabins, deck "G"; and 

 provision and baggage compartments on decks "]" and "K." In addition there is 

 a manually-operated fire-alarm system of 28 break-glass boxes and an indicating 

 board in fire headquarters. 



Fire mains extend throughout with hose connections and hose so placed that 

 every part of the ship can be reached. The supply is from fire pumps in the en- 

 gine-room. Chemical extinguishers are placed in the corridors. A steam system 

 is connected to the holds and carbonic acid gas from the ship's refrigerating sys- 

 tem can also be used. 



FIRE AND BOAT DRILLS. 



In order to safeguard life from fire at sea it is of the greatest importance 

 that the crew be trained to use the fire-protective appliances and also the life-sav- 

 ing apparatus in an efficient manner in addition to providing these facilities. The 

 crew as a whole should be instructed in the use of hand extinguishers and fire 

 hose. A muster list should be prepared and definite stations and duties assigned to 

 each man to insure prompt and systematic use of the protective appliances and 

 apparatus. Fire and boat drills should be held often at irregular intervals to famil- 

 iarize the men with their stations and duties. 



The International Convention has adopted the following requirements cover- 

 ing these matters: — "Special duties for the event of an emergency shall be allotted 

 to each member of the crew. The muster list shows all these special duties and 

 indicates in particular the station to which each man must go and the duties he has 

 to perform. Musters of the crew at their boat and fire stations followed by boat 

 and fire drills respectively shall be held at least once a fortnight either in port or 

 at sea." 



It is an unfortunate fact that these precautions are usually considered a use- 

 less waste of time and effort, which attitude is probably due to the false feeling 

 of security engendered by the absence of frequent fires on any one vessel, not 

 realizing that the next fire may destroy the vessel; and also, since the owners 

 may not be insistent that the drills be carried out, appreciating that they involve 

 some additional expense in operation of the vessels. 



