The Hong Kong Government has issued "Some Frequently Asked Technical Information / Requirements for Hong Kong Registered Cargo Ships", addresses technical issues involving maintenance, inspection and test of Life Saving, Fire-Protection System and Appliances on board the Hong Kong-registered ships.

This Technical Information provides with the information on Life Saving, Fire-Protection Systems and Appliances.
As necessary, please refer to the original text of the Guideline which is available on Hong Kong Government Internet Homepage (http//www.mardep.gov.hk).

This ClassNK Technical Information supersedes the previous ClassNK Technical Information No. TEC-0602 dated 30 September 2004.

1. Applicable due date
The due date for the requirements newly required by this information is as follows.
2(6), 5(1), 8, 9 : at first safety equipment survey on or after 1 January 2013
6 : at first scheduled dry-docking on or after 1 January 2013

2. Fire extinguishers
(1) Fire extinguishers should be examined annually by a competent person, who in this case may be taken to be the ship's Chief Officer, Second Engineer or above.
(2) Each extinguisher should be provided with a sign indicating that it has been examined.
(3) Containers of permanently pressurized fire extinguishers and propellant bottles of non-pressurized fire extinguishers should be hydraulic pressure tested every 10 years. Container of non-permanently pressurized fire extinguishers should be also hydraulic pressure tested every 10 years.
(4) Portable CO2/Halon extinguishers should not be located in accommodation spaces.
(5) Where portable gas fire extinguishers are provided in rooms at switchboards etc., the volume of any space containing one or more extinguishers are should be such as to limit the concentration of vapour that can occur due to discharge to not more than 5% of the net volume of space.

(To be continued)