[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 46, Volume 1]
[Revised as of October 1, 2008]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 46CFR27.203]

[Page 325]
 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
         CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
 
PART 27_TOWING VESSELS--Table of Contents
 
          Subpart B_Fire-Protection Measures for Towing Vessels
 
Sec. 27.203  What are the requirements for fire detection on 
towing vessels?

    You must have a fire-detection system installed on your vessel to 
detect engine-room fires. Any owner of a vessel whose construction was 
contracted for before January 18, 2000, may use an existing engine-room-
monitoring system (with fire-detection capability) instead of a fire-
detection system, if the monitoring system is operable and complies with 
this section. You must ensure that--
    (a) Each detector, each control panel, and each fire alarm are 
approved under 46 CFR subpart 161.002 or listed by an independent 
testing laboratory; except that, if you use an existing engine-room-
monitoring system (with fire-detection capability), each detector must 
be listed by an independent testing laboratory;
    (b) The system is installed, tested, and maintained in line with the 
manufacturer's design manual;
    (c) The system is arranged and installed so a fire in the engine 
room automatically sets off alarms on a control panel at the operating 
station;
    (d) The control panel includes--
    (1) A power-available light;
    (2) Both an audible alarm to notify crew at the operating station of 
fire and visible alarms to identify the zone or zones of origin of the 
fire;
    (3) A means to silence the audible alarm while maintaining 
indication by the visible alarms;
    (4) A circuit-fault detector test-switch; and
    (5) Labels for all switches and indicator lights, identifying their 
functions;
    (e) The system draws power from two sources, switchover from the 
primary source to the secondary source being either manual or automatic;
    (f) The system serves no other purpose, unless it is an engine-room-
monitoring system (with fire-detection capability) installed on a vessel 
whose construction was contracted for before January 18, 2000; and
    (g) The system is certified by a Registered Professional Engineer, 
or by a recognized classification society (under 46 CFR part 8), to 
comply with paragraphs (a) through (f) of this section.

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