Start hereRules checked 20 October 2026
The fire main is the one fire-fighting system every ship relies on, and the hose and nozzle are where the crew meet it. In the 2023 fire safety campaign, Tokyo MOU inspectors found fire main valves that did not work on 149 ships and detained 25 of them. Another 38 ships could not show that a fire pump delivered the two required jets of water.5 In a real fire, a seized hydrant valve or a burst hose length costs minutes the crew does not have.
In port, the international shore connection lets the shore fire brigade pump water into the ship’s fire main whatever couplings the ship uses. It only works if the flange, bolts and gasket are on board, the right size and easy to find. This lesson covers the hardware, the numbers and the test cycle.
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In this lesson
- A hydrant station and the international shore connection
- In plain words
- In detail
- What the rules say
- Flag and class notes
- Key numbers
- What inspectors find
- Quiz: 6 questions
Try it
A hydrant station and the international shore connection
In plain words
Water is still the main fire-fighting agent on a ship. The fire pumps push sea water into the fire main, a pipe that runs the length of the ship. Along it are hydrants, each with a valve. The crew couple a hose to a hydrant and control the water with a nozzle that gives either a solid jet or a spray, and can be shut off.
The rules make sure that:
- two jets of water can reach any part of the ship, from different hydrants;
- the pressure at the hydrants is high enough to be useful but low enough for a person to hold the hose;
- hoses are the right length, kept near the hydrants, and their couplings fit every hydrant;
- the ship carries an international shore connection, a standard flange with which a shore fire brigade in any port can connect to the fire main.
The crew check hoses and nozzles every month and the shore connection every quarter. Each year they test pump capacity and hydrant valves and pressure-test a share of the hoses, so that every hose is tested within five years.
In detail
Hydrants and pressure
SOLAS regulation II-2/10.2.1 sets the layout1:
- 10.2.1.5.1: hydrants placed so that at least two jets of water, not from the same hydrant and one of them from a single length of hose, can reach any part of the ship normally accessible to passengers or crew while at sea, and any part of an empty cargo space. In ro-ro and vehicle spaces each of the two jets must come from a single length of hose. Hydrants are positioned near the accesses to the spaces they protect.
- 10.2.1.4.2: a valve at each hydrant, so a hose can be removed while the pumps are running.
- 10.2.1.4.3: relief valves where the pumps can exceed the design pressure of the pipes, hydrants and hoses.
- 10.2.1.6: with two pumps delivering through the nozzles at adjacent hydrants, the minimum pressure at all hydrants is:
| Ship | Minimum pressure at hydrants |
|---|---|
| Passenger ship, 4,000 GT and upwards | 0.40 N/mm² |
| Passenger ship, under 4,000 GT | 0.30 N/mm² |
| Cargo ship, 6,000 GT and upwards | 0.27 N/mm² |
| Cargo ship, under 6,000 GT | 0.25 N/mm² |
The maximum pressure at any hydrant must not exceed the pressure at which a person can be shown to control a fire hose effectively (10.2.1.6.3).1 For reference, 0.27 N/mm² is 2.7 bar.
Hoses
Regulation II-2/10.2.3.1 requires fire hoses of non-perishable material approved by the Administration, each with a nozzle and the necessary couplings. They are kept ready for use, with fittings and tools, in conspicuous positions near the hydrants. In interior locations of passenger ships carrying more than 36 passengers, hoses stay connected to the hydrants at all times.1
| Location | Hose length |
|---|---|
| Machinery spaces | 10 m to 15 m |
| Other spaces and open decks | 10 m to 20 m |
| Open decks of ships over 30 m maximum breadth | 10 m to 25 m |
Unless there is one hose and nozzle for every hydrant, couplings and nozzles must be completely interchangeable (10.2.3.1.2).1
Number of hoses (10.2.3.2)1:
- Passenger ships: at least one hose for each required hydrant, used only for fire-fighting or for testing at drills and surveys.
- Cargo ships of 1,000 GT and upwards: one for each 30 m of the ship’s length plus one spare, with at least five in all, not counting hoses required in engine or boiler rooms. Ships carrying dangerous goods under regulation II-2/19 carry three more hoses and nozzles.
- Cargo ships under 1,000 GT: calculated the same way, with at least three.
Worked example. A 180 m bulk carrier: 180 ÷ 30 = 6, plus 1 spare, gives 7 hoses outside the engine and boiler rooms. If it carries dangerous goods under regulation 19, that becomes 10. Where the length is not a whole multiple of 30 m, SOLAS does not say how to round. Rounding up is the safe reading; check your flag’s view.
Nozzles
Regulation II-2/10.2.3.31:
- Standard sizes are 12 mm, 16 mm and 19 mm, or as near as possible. Larger sizes are at the Administration’s discretion.
- Accommodation and service spaces need no nozzle larger than 12 mm.
- In machinery spaces and exterior locations, the nozzle size gives the maximum discharge possible from two jets at the required pressure from the smallest pump, but need not exceed 19 mm.
- Nozzles must be of an approved dual-purpose (spray/jet) type with a shut-off.
The international shore connection
SOLAS regulation II-2/10.2.1.7 requires ships of 500 GT and upwards to carry at least one international shore connection complying with the FSS Code, with facilities to use it on either side of the ship.1 FSS Code chapter 2 gives the standard2:
| Item | Dimension |
|---|---|
| Outside diameter | 178 mm |
| Inside diameter | 64 mm |
| Bolt circle diameter | 132 mm |
| Slots in flange | 4 holes of 19 mm, equally spaced on the bolt circle, slotted to the edge |
| Flange thickness | At least 14.5 mm |
| Bolts and nuts | 4, each 16 mm diameter and 50 mm long |
The connection is steel or equivalent, designed for 1 N/mm² service, flat-faced on one side and permanently fitted on the other to a coupling that fits the ship’s hydrants and hoses. It is kept on board with a gasket for 1 N/mm², four bolts, four nuts and eight washers.2 Many ships also keep a notice beside it showing where it is and how to rig it to the fire main.
The test cycle
MSC.1/Circ.1432 sets the minimum3:
| When | Check | Paragraph |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | Hydrants, hoses and nozzles in place, properly arranged and serviceable; run all fire pumps to confirm adequate pressure; emergency fire pump fuel and heating adequate | 5.1 |
| Quarterly | International shore connection serviceable | 6.1 |
| Annually | Inspect all accessible parts; flow-test all fire pumps for pressure and capacity, and the emergency fire pump with the isolation valves closed; test all hydrant valves; pressure-test a sample of hoses at the maximum fire main pressure, so that all hoses are tested within five years; check relief valve settings; examine filters and strainers for debris and contamination; check nozzle size and type and that they are maintained and working | 7.1 |
Fire drills exercise the same equipment. SOLAS regulation III/19.3.4.2 requires each fire drill to include starting a fire pump and using at least the two required jets of water “to show that the system is in proper working order”. Regulation III/19.3.4.3 requires equipment used in drills to be brought back to full operating condition at once, and faults to be remedied as soon as possible.4
Practical points for the hose test. Record each hose by its own number, so the five-year coverage can be shown. After a pressure test, look for leaks at the binding of the couplings and for bulges or soft spots. Drain and dry hoses before stowing them. Hoses that are wet, folded the same way for years, or kept in sunlight age fastest.
Work it out
What the rules say
- SOLAS regulation II-2/10.2.1.5.1 requires at least two jets of water, not from the same hydrant and one from a single length of hose, to reach any part of the ship normally accessible to passengers or crew.1
- SOLAS regulation II-2/10.2.1.6 sets minimum hydrant pressures of 0.27 N/mm² for cargo ships of 6,000 GT and upwards and 0.25 N/mm² below that, and 0.40 or 0.30 N/mm² for passenger ships.1
- SOLAS regulation II-2/10.2.1.7 requires ships of 500 GT and upwards to carry at least one international shore connection complying with the FSS Code, usable on either side of the ship.1
- SOLAS regulation II-2/10.2.3.1.1 requires hoses of at least 10 m and not more than 15 m in machinery spaces, 20 m in other spaces and open decks, and 25 m on open decks of ships over 30 m in breadth.1
- SOLAS regulation II-2/10.2.3.2.3 requires cargo ships of 1,000 GT and upwards to carry one hose for each 30 m of length plus one spare, at least five in all, plus three for ships carrying dangerous goods.1
- SOLAS regulation II-2/10.2.3.3.4 requires nozzles of an approved dual-purpose (spray/jet) type incorporating a shut-off.1
- FSS Code chapter 2, paragraph 2.2, requires the shore connection to be kept on board with a gasket, four 16 mm bolts 50 mm long, four nuts and eight washers.2
- MSC.1/Circ.1432 paragraph 7.1.4 calls for an annual pressure test of a sample of fire hoses at the maximum fire main pressure, “so that all fire hoses are tested within five years”.3
Flag and class notes
- Liberia makes officers responsible for the monthly and quarterly checks of fire extinguishers, pumps, hydrants, hoses and nozzles and the international shore connection, recorded in the official log-book. The annual tests are part of the statutory survey for the Safety Equipment Certificate.6
- Marshall Islands assigns the monthly, quarterly, annual and five-yearly hose, hydrant and shore connection checks to the ship’s officers in its Appendix A, unless the maker requires an authorised agent.7
- Hose numbers: regulation II-2/10.2.3.2.1 leaves the number and diameter of hoses to the Administration, and 10.2.3.2.3 lets the Administration require more hoses for the ship type and trade.1 Some flags publish their own figures; check your flag’s notices and the ship’s fire control plan.
- Class: at the annual Safety Equipment survey, the surveyor (often the class society acting for the flag) will normally ask to see the fire pumps run and hydrants used. Have hose test records, by hose number, ready for the surveyor.
Key numbers
| What | Value |
|---|---|
| Hydrant pressure, cargo ship of 6,000 GT and upwards | 0.27 N/mm² (2.7 bar)1 |
| Hydrant pressure, cargo ship under 6,000 GT | 0.25 N/mm²1 |
| Hydrant pressure, passenger ship of 4,000 GT and upwards | 0.40 N/mm²1 |
| Hose length, machinery spaces | 10 m to 15 m1 |
| Hose length, other spaces and open decks | 10 m to 20 m (25 m on ships over 30 m breadth)1 |
| Hoses, cargo ships of 1,000 GT and upwards | 1 per 30 m of length + 1 spare, minimum 51 |
| Nozzle sizes | 12, 16 and 19 mm1 |
| Shore connection required | Ships of 500 GT and upwards1 |
| Shore connection flange | 178 mm OD, 64 mm ID, 132 mm bolt circle, 4 × 19 mm slots, at least 14.5 mm thick2 |
| Shore connection design pressure | 1 N/mm²2 |
| Hose pressure test coverage | All hoses within 5 years3 |
What inspectors find
- Fire main valves not operational: 149 ships (2.08% of inspections) in the Tokyo MOU 2023 campaign, with 25 detentions.5
- Fire pumps that could not deliver the two required jets: 38 ships, with 9 detentions.5
- Fire pumps and their pipes: 115 deficiencies, 37 of them grounds for detention.5
- Hoses and nozzles missing, damaged or mismatched, such as a nozzle without a shut-off or couplings that do not fit the hydrant, against regulation II-2/10.2.3.1
- International shore connection incomplete, missing its bolts, nuts, washers or gasket, or nobody on board able to find it.23
FAQ
Can we keep a hose permanently connected to a hydrant on deck?
On interior locations of passenger ships carrying more than 36 passengers it is required. Elsewhere SOLAS does not forbid it, as long as the hose stays ready for use near the hydrant. If you do it on deck, protect the hose from weather, sun and freezing, and make sure it is drained, because water left in the line can freeze and damage both hose and valve.
Our ship is 450 GT. Do we need an international shore connection?
SOLAS regulation II-2/10.2.1.7 applies to ships of 500 GT and upwards. Below that, check your flag’s rules and the port’s requirements.
At what pressure are hoses tested?
MSC.1/Circ.1432 paragraph 7.1.4 says at the maximum fire main pressure. That is the highest pressure the hose will see in service, not a factory proof test. Check the hose’s rated working pressure first.
Does the shore connection have to be stored on deck?
The FSS Code only requires it to be kept on board with its gasket and fittings, and SOLAS requires it to be usable on either side of the ship. Store it where shore fire-fighters and the crew can reach it quickly, mark the location, and show it on the fire control plan.
Quiz6 questions
Sources
- 1
IMO Resolution MSC.99(73), revised SOLAS chapter II-2, adopted 5 December 2000, regulation II-2/10.2 (fire mains, hydrants, pumps, hoses and nozzles; consolidated numbering). https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/MSCResolutions/MSC.99(73).pdf
- 2
IMO Resolution MSC.98(73), International Code for Fire Safety Systems (FSS Code), adopted 5 December 2000, chapter 2, international shore connections, table 2.1 and paragraph 2.2. https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/MSCResolutions/MSC.98(73).pdf
- 3
IMO MSC.1/Circ.1432, Revised guidelines for the maintenance and inspection of fire protection systems and appliances, 31 May 2012, paragraphs 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1 (copy annexed to Cayman Islands Shipping Notice 01/2014 Rev 2). https://www.cishipping.com/system/files/notices/documents/CISN%202014_01%20Rev%202%20with%20Annex.pdf
- 4
IMO Resolution MSC.47(66), Adoption of amendments to SOLAS 1974 (revised chapter III), adopted 4 June 1996, regulation III/19.3.4. https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/MSCResolutions/MSC.47(66).pdf
- 5
Tokyo MOU, Report of the 2023 Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Fire Safety, tables 1 and 3 (questions 6 and 9; deficiency code 07113). https://www.tokyo-mou.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/CIC-ON-FIRE-SAFETY-2023-Report-public.pdf
- 6
Liberia Maritime Authority, Marine Notice FIR-001 Rev. 02/26, Fire-protection systems and appliances, sections 1.4 to 1.6. https://www.liscr.com/sites/default/files/online_library/FIR-001.pdf
- 7
Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator, Marine Notice 2-011-14 Rev. Aug/2025, Appendix A. https://www.register-iri.com/wp-content/uploads/MN-2-011-14.pdf
Rules checked 20 October 2026. VSL Safety is not an approved training provider and doesn't issue certificates. These lessons don't replace STCW training, or the manufacturer's training and certification that service technicians need.
