Start hereRules checked 20 October 2026
Fire safety is the largest single group of port state control (PSC) deficiencies. In the Paris MoU region, findings under SOLAS chapter II-2 were 17.2% of all deficiencies recorded in 2024.13 Most are not about exotic systems. They are an extinguisher missing from its bracket, a hose that leaks at the coupling, a breathing apparatus cylinder past its test date, or a fire-fighter’s locker with half its kit gone.
Behind each of those findings is a chain of rules. Some are law, some are guidance that flags and class treat as the standard, and some are the manufacturer’s instructions. This lesson maps that chain, so that for any item in the rest of the course you know where the rule comes from and how binding it is.
Try it
Portable fire-fighting equipment from weekly checks to ten-yearly tests
In plain words
Think of the rules as four layers.
- SOLAS chapter II-2 is the law. It says what a ship must carry: how many extinguishers and hoses, how many fire-fighter’s outfits, where escape breathing devices go. It also says the equipment must be kept in good order and ready for immediate use, and that the ship must have a maintenance plan.1
- The FSS Code (International Code for Fire Safety Systems) is also mandatory. SOLAS points to it for the engineering details: the size of the international shore connection flange, what a fire-fighter’s outfit contains, how much air a breathing apparatus must hold, the minimum charge of an extinguisher.2
- IMO guidelines say how to look after the equipment. MSC.1/Circ.1432 (amended by MSC.1/Circ.1516) lists weekly-to-ten-yearly checks for most fire protection systems. Resolution A.951(23) does the same for portable extinguishers. On paper they are recommendations. In practice SOLAS says maintenance must be “based on” them, and flags and class surveyors use them as the standard.135
- Your flag, your class and the manufacturer add detail. Flag notices often make the guidelines mandatory and set extra rules, for example who may service extinguishers or how often a third party must attend.91011 The manufacturer’s instructions apply on top of everything else.3
PSC officers, flag inspectors and class surveyors check all four layers. When something is wrong, the question is always the same: which rule, and is the equipment ready to use now?
In detail
Where the equipment sits in SOLAS chapter II-2
Chapter II-2 is built around fire safety objectives and functional requirements, with prescriptive rules beneath them. Four regulations matter for this course1:
| Regulation | Subject | What it covers for portable equipment |
|---|---|---|
| II-2/10 | Fire fighting | Fire mains, hydrants, hoses and nozzles (10.2), the international shore connection (10.2.1.7), portable extinguishers and spare charges (10.3), machinery space extinguishers (10.5), fire-fighter’s outfits (10.10), fire-party radios (10.10.4) |
| II-2/13 | Means of escape | Emergency escape breathing devices (EEBDs) in accommodation (13.3.4) and machinery spaces (13.4.3) |
| II-2/14 | Operational readiness and maintenance | Ready for immediate use, recharge discharged extinguishers at once, the maintenance plan |
| II-2/15 | Instructions, on-board training and drills | EEBD training, recharging or spare cylinders for breathing apparatus used in drills (15.2.2.6) |
The paragraph numbers are those of the consolidated text. The 2000 rewrite of chapter II-2 (resolution MSC.99(73), in force 1 July 2002) set the structure. Later amendments added paragraphs, such as 10.10.4 on radios in 20146 and 10.11 on the PFOS ban in 2026.8
The FSS Code chapters you will use
The FSS Code (resolution MSC.98(73), mandatory since 1 July 2002) gives the engineering specifications2:
- Chapter 2, international shore connections: flange dimensions, material and the bolts, nuts and gasket kept with it.
- Chapter 3, personnel protection: the fire-fighter’s outfit (personal equipment, breathing apparatus, lifeline) and EEBDs. Paragraph 2.1.2 was replaced by resolution MSC.339(91), which added the low-air alarm for breathing apparatus from 1 July 2014.7
- Chapter 4, fire extinguishers: type approval, minimum charges, the 23 kg mass limit, recharging with approved refills only, and portable foam applicators.
The maintenance guidelines
SOLAS regulation II-2/14.2.2 requires maintenance, testing and inspection “based on the guidelines developed by the Organization”, and a maintenance plan on board.1 Two documents do most of the work:
- MSC.1/Circ.1432 (31 May 2012), Revised guidelines for the maintenance and inspection of fire protection systems and appliances. It replaced MSC/Circ.850, applies from 31 May 2013 and was amended by MSC.1/Circ.1516 (8 June 2015), which only changed the sprinkler and water mist items. It sets the minimum checks at weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual, two-year, five-year and ten-year intervals. It does not cover fixed CO2 systems or portable extinguishers.34
- Resolution A.951(23) (5 December 2003), Improved guidelines for marine portable fire extinguishers. It covers classification, construction, marking and periodical inspection and maintenance. It says its status is “advisory”.5
Unified interpretations settle wording that would otherwise be read in different ways. You will meet MSC.1/Circ.1275 (number and arrangement of portable extinguishers), MSC/Circ.1081 (number of EEBDs), MSC.1/Circ.1499 (the breathing apparatus low-air warning) and MSC.1/Circ.1555 (spare cylinders for drills) later in the course.16
The maintenance plan
Regulation II-2/14.2.2.3 lists what the plan must include, where installed. For this course the relevant items are: fire mains, fire pumps and hydrants, including hoses, nozzles and international shore connections; fixed fire-extinguishing systems and other fire-extinguishing appliances; emergency escape breathing devices; portable fire extinguishers including spare charges; and fire-fighter’s outfits. The plan may be computer-based and must be available to the Administration.1
MSC.1/Circ.1432 paragraph 3.2 says some tasks may be done by competent crew members who have completed an advanced fire-fighting course, while others need persons specially trained in that equipment. The plan should say which is which.3 The advanced fire-fighting standard, STCW Table A-VI/3, includes the competence to inspect and service fire detection and fire-extinguishing systems and equipment.15
Records
Inspection records must be kept on board, on paper or on a computer. When a service technician does the work, an inspection report should be handed over at the end.3 For extinguishers, A.951(23) adds that records should show the date, the type of maintenance and whether a pressure test was done.5 Surveyors and PSC officers start with these records, so a correct but undocumented check counts for little.
In force now, and coming
- In force since 1 July 2014: at least two explosion-proof or intrinsically safe two-way radios for each fire party on new ships. Ships built before that date had to comply by the first survey after 1 July 2018.6
- In force since 1 July 2019 for all ships: the breathing apparatus of every fire-fighter’s outfit must have the audible alarm and visual or other low-air warning of FSS Code chapter 3, paragraph 2.1.2.2.67
- In force since 1 January 2026: SOLAS regulation II-2/10.11 bans the use or storage of extinguishing media containing PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonic acid). It applies at once to ships built on or after that date. Older ships must comply by their first survey on or after 1 January 2026.8 This affects old foam concentrates, including foam extinguisher charges and portable applicator tanks.
- Under development: IMO’s Ship Systems and Equipment Sub-Committee (SSE) is working on SOLAS II-2 and FSS Code amendments for fires on containerships.17 At SSE 12 (March 2026) it agreed draft amendments that would require portable infrared thermal imagers and update the rules for water mist lances, expected to enter into force on 1 January 2032 once the Maritime Safety Committee approves and adopts them. Other measures for cargo holds and cargo decks went back to a correspondence group until SSE 13 (March 2027).18 None of this is in force yet; check the latest IMO meeting summaries before planning on any dates.
What the rules say
- SOLAS regulation II-2/14.2.1.2 requires fire-fighting systems and appliances to be “kept in good working order and readily available for immediate use”, and a discharged portable extinguisher to be recharged or replaced at once.1
- SOLAS regulation II-2/14.2.2 requires maintenance, testing and inspections based on IMO guidelines, and a maintenance plan on board that is available to the Administration whenever required.1
- SOLAS regulation II-2/14.2.2.3 lists hoses, nozzles and international shore connections, EEBDs, portable extinguishers including spare charges, and fire-fighter’s outfits among the items the maintenance plan must include.1
- MSC.1/Circ.1432 section 1 says the guidelines give the minimum recommended level of maintenance and may be used as the basis for the regulation II-2/14 plan. They do not cover fixed CO2 systems or portable extinguishers.3
- MSC.1/Circ.1432 paragraph 3.4 (as amended by MSC.1/Circ.1516) says the manufacturer’s maintenance and inspection guidelines should be followed in addition.4
- Resolution A.951(23) paragraph 9.1 says extinguishers should be periodically inspected to the manufacturer’s instructions and serviced at intervals not exceeding one year.5
- SOLAS regulation II-2/10.10.4 requires at least two explosion-proof or intrinsically safe two-way portable radios for each fire party on ships built on or after 1 July 2014, and on older ships by the first survey after 1 July 2018.6
- SOLAS regulation II-2/10.11.2.2 prohibits the “use or storage of extinguishing media containing perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS)”, in force from 1 January 2026.8
Flag and class notes
- Liberia (Marine Notice FIR-001, Rev. 02/26) treats the checks of MSC.1/Circ.1432 as an integral part of the annual Safety Equipment survey, to the satisfaction of the class surveyor. It also sets its own rules for crew servicing of extinguishers, hydrostatic testing facilities and fire-party radios.9
- Marshall Islands (Marine Notice 2-011-14, Rev. Aug/2025) gives a table of who does each check (ship, shore service facility or recognised organisation) and how often. It treats the EEBD guidelines of MSC/Circ.849 as mandatory.10
- Cyprus (Circular 41/2021) requires third-party inspection of portable and non-portable extinguishers and of SCBA at intervals not exceeding two years. Third parties must be authorised by the manufacturer or accredited by the recognised organisation or an Administration.11
- United Kingdom (MGN 276 Amendment 1, 2023) follows BS 5306-3 service intervals plus A.951(23). It allows basic and extended services on board under the supervision of a “competent person” holding an STCW II/2 or III/2 unlimited certificate and an advanced fire-fighting certificate.12
- How to check your own flag: most registries publish marine notices or circulars on maintenance of fire protection systems on their websites. Search their notice library for “fire protection”, “MSC.1/Circ.1432” or “fire extinguishers”, and ask your class society which notice its surveyors apply. The examples above show how far flags differ.
Key numbers
| What | Value |
|---|---|
| Paris MoU deficiencies under SOLAS II-2, 2024 | 17.2% of all deficiencies13 |
| Portable extinguisher service interval | Not exceeding 1 year5 |
| Extinguisher test discharge | One of each type and year of manufacture every 5 years5 |
| Extinguisher hydraulic test | Not exceeding 10 years5 |
| Steel SCBA cylinder hydrostatic test | Every 5 years3 |
| Fire hoses pressure-tested (sample) | All hoses within 5 years3 |
| International shore connection check | Quarterly3 |
| Radios per fire party (ships from 1 July 2014) | At least 26 |
| PFOS ban in force | 1 January 20268 |
What inspectors find
- Fire safety tops the list. SOLAS II-2 findings were 17.2% of all Paris MoU deficiencies in 2024, ahead of structural and electrical items under chapter II-1.13
- Fire-fighting equipment and appliances. During the 2023 fire safety campaign, Tokyo MOU inspectors recorded 392 deficiencies under code 07110 (fire fighting equipment and appliances), 57 of them grounds for detention.14
- Fire drills. In the same campaign, 8.44% of the witnessed fire drills were unsatisfactory, the lowest compliance of any question. Drills accounted for 43 detentions.14
- Fire main valves and pumps. 2.08% of ships had fire main valves that did not work, and 25 were detained for it.14
- Missing or poor records. Flags such as Liberia and the Marshall Islands require records of every interval, including deficiencies found and corrective action taken. A check that was done but not recorded cannot be shown to the surveyor.910
FAQ
Is MSC.1/Circ.1432 mandatory?
Not by itself: it is a set of guidelines. SOLAS regulation II-2/14.2.2 requires maintenance based on IMO guidelines, and many flags (for example Liberia and the Marshall Islands) make the circular’s checks part of the statutory survey. On board, treat it as the minimum.
Does MSC.1/Circ.1432 cover portable extinguishers?
No. Section 1 sends you to resolution A.951(23) for portable extinguishers and to MSC.1/Circ.1318 for fixed CO2 (now replaced by MSC.1/Circ.1318/Rev.1). It does cover wheeled (mobile) extinguishers, breathing apparatus, EEBDs, hoses, hydrants, the shore connection and fire-fighter’s outfits.
Who may service the ship's extinguishers?
A.951(23) says service and inspection should be done by, or under the supervision of, a person with demonstrable competence. Flags set the detail. Liberia, for example, accepts crew with advanced fire-fighting training who meet its conditions, while hydraulic testing must go to a certified facility. Check your flag notice and your class.
What changed in 2026?
SOLAS regulation II-2/10.11 came into force on 1 January 2026 and bans extinguishing media containing PFOS. Existing ships must comply by their first survey on or after that date. Ask your foam supplier for a declaration on any foam extinguisher charges and applicator concentrate.
Quiz6 questions
Sources
- 1
IMO Resolution MSC.99(73), Adoption of amendments to SOLAS 1974 (revised chapter II-2), adopted 5 December 2000, in force 1 July 2002, regulations II-2/10, 13, 14 and 15 (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, chapters 2, 3 and 4. 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, sections 1 to 10 (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 MSC.1/Circ.1516, Amendments to the revised guidelines for the maintenance and inspection of fire protection systems and appliances (MSC.1/Circ.1432), 8 June 2015, annex paragraph 1 (copy published by the German flag administration). https://www.deutsche-flagge.de/de/redaktion/dokumente/interpretationen/solas/ii-2/msc-1-circ-1516-amendments-to-the-revised-guidelines-for-the-maintenance-and-inspection-of-fire-protection-systems-and-appliances-msc-1-circ-1432.pdf
- 5
IMO Resolution A.951(23), Improved guidelines for marine portable fire extinguishers, adopted 5 December 2003, annex sections 1 and 9 and table 9.1.3. https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/AssemblyDocuments/A.951(23).pdf
- 6
IMO Resolution MSC.338(91), Amendments to SOLAS 1974, adopted 30 November 2012, in force 1 July 2014, annex items 4, 24 and 25 (regulations II-2/1.2.5, 10.10.1 and 10.10.4). https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/MSCResolutions/MSC.338(91).pdf
- 7
IMO Resolution MSC.339(91), Amendments to the FSS Code, adopted 30 November 2012, annex item 1 (chapter 3, paragraphs 2.1.2.1 and 2.1.2.2). https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/MSCResolutions/MSC.339(91).pdf
- 8
IMO Resolution MSC.532(107), 2023 amendments to SOLAS 1974, adopted 8 June 2023, in force 1 January 2026, annex items 3 and 4 (regulations II-2/1.2.10 and 10.11). https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/MSCResolutions/MSC.532(107).pdf
- 9
Liberia Maritime Authority, Marine Notice FIR-001 Rev. 02/26, Fire-protection systems and appliances, sections 1.6, 6, 9 and 10. https://www.liscr.com/sites/default/files/online_library/FIR-001.pdf
- 10
Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator, Marine Notice 2-011-14 Rev. Aug/2025, Maintenance and inspection of fire protection systems and appliances, sections 11 and 12 and Appendix A. https://www.register-iri.com/wp-content/uploads/MN-2-011-14.pdf
- 11
Cyprus Shipping Deputy Ministry, Circular No. 41/2021, Periodical inspection and maintenance of fixed fire extinguishing systems, portable and non-portable fire extinguishers, SCBA, EEBD and medical oxygen, paragraphs 2.6, 6 and 7 (annexed to IRClass Technical Circular 008/2022). https://www.irclass.org/media/5913/technical-circular-no008.pdf
- 12
UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency, MGN 276 (M+F) Amendment 1, Fire protection: maintenance of portable fire extinguishers, 2023, paragraphs 1.4 to 1.6. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mgn-276-mf-amendment-1-fire-protection-maintenance-of-portable-fire-extinguishers/mgn-276-mf-amendment-1-fire-protection-maintenance-of-portable-fire-extinguishers
- 13
Paris MoU, Annual Report 2024, deficiency figures as summarised by the Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS), “Paris MoU releases 2024 Annual Report”. https://www.iims.org.uk/?p=55654
- 14
Tokyo MOU, Report of the 2023 Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Fire Safety, tables 1 and 3. https://www.tokyo-mou.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/CIC-ON-FIRE-SAFETY-2023-Report-public.pdf
- 15
IMO, STCW Code, Part A, Table A-VI/3, Specification of minimum standard of competence in advanced fire fighting, competence “Inspect and service fire detection and fire-extinguishing systems and equipment” (IMO publication). https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/HumanElement/Pages/STCW-Conv-LINK.aspx
- 16
IMO MSC.1/Circ.1275, Unified interpretation of SOLAS chapter II-2 on the number and arrangement of portable fire extinguishers on board ships, 3 June 2008, annex section 1 (copy published by Traficom, Finland). https://www.traficom.fi/files/media/regulation/22668-MSC_1-Circ_1275_-_Tulkinta_SOLAS_II-2.pdf
- 17
IMO, Sub-Committee on Ship Systems and Equipment, 11th session (SSE 11), 24 to 28 February 2025, meeting summary, fire protection item. https://www.imo.org/en/mediacentre/meetingsummaries/pages/sse-11th-session.aspx
- 18
DNV, “IMO Sub-Committee on Ship Systems and Equipment (SSE 12)”, 2026, containership fire safety item (draft amendments to SOLAS II-2/7 and II-2/10.7.3.1; expected entry into force 1 January 2032). https://www.dnv.com/news/2026/imo-sub-committee-on-ship-systems-and-equipment-sse-12/
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.
