Resolution MSC.338 (91) and Resolution MSC.339 (91) were adopted at the ninety-first session of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 91) held on November 2012, and it was notified by the ClassNK Technical Information (No.:TEC-0990, Date: 24 June 2014) as for the amendments of the SOLAS Chapter II-2 Reg.10, Reg.15 and International Code for Fire Safety Systems (FSS Code) Chapter 3 about the additional requirements for relevant equipment of fire-fighter's outfit.
Since the MSC Circular on the interpretation for the number of spare cylinders to replace those used during the drill was newly approved at the ninety-seven session of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 97) held on November 2016, please be informed of the application of additional requirements including the new information as follows.

This ClassNK Technical Information supersedes the previous ClassNK Technical Information No.TEC-0990.

1. Means of recharging breathing apparatus cylinders used during drills and spare cylinders to replace those used for fire-fighters
(1) In addition to the spare cylinders required by SOLAS Chapter II-2 Reg.10 and Reg.18, it is required to provide an onboard means of recharging breathing apparatus cylinders used during drills or a suitable number of spare cylinders to replace those used. (This requirement has already been applied from 1 July 2014.)
(2) According to the new interpretation for the number of "a suitable number of spare cylinders", in case where an onboard means of recharging breathing apparatus cylinders is not provided, at least one set of spare cylinders for fire drills shall be provided for each mandatory breathing apparatus required by SOLAS Chapter II-2 Reg.10 and Reg.18. "Set of cylinders" means the number of cylinders which are required to operate the breathing apparatus.
(3) As for the sets of spare cylinders for each fire-fighter's breathing apparatus required by the regulations, please refer to the following Table 1. If spare cylinders are required more than the number in Table 1 by the shipboard safety management system (SMS), the number of spare cylinders carried on board shall be in accordance with the SMS.
No additional cylinders are required for fire drills for breathing apparatus sets required by SOLAS Chapter II-2 Reg.19, IGC Code, IBC Code, and IMSBC Code.

(To be continued)