The fire main

Fire main

also: fire line, hydrant system

The pressurised water piping with hydrants, hoses and nozzles. The ship’s basic fire-fighting tool, fed by the fire pumps.

Key facts

The hydrant valves are placed so that at least two jets of water from different hydrants reach every accessible place on the ship. One of them the crew delivers with a single length of hose.
Fire hoses are made of rot-resistant material, and their couplings of materials resistant to sea corrosion.
The water nozzles are of the dual-purpose type: they give a solid jet and a spray, and they can shut off the flow.
When the main pumps fail, the water comes from the emergency fire pump (FSS Code chapter 12).
The hydrant valves and the hose cabinets carry plates with the symbols from the fire control plan.

SOLAS II-2 (part C) and the FSS Code (hoses and nozzles, emergency fire pump: chapter 12).

This is not a legal text: when in doubt, the current wording of the Convention and the FSS Code decides.

Fire prevention and fire fighting (STCW A-VI/1-2).