REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS

SHIPPING DEPUTY MINISTRY

Circular No. 41/2021 1st December 2021

SDM File No. 5.13.002

To all Registered owners, Registered Bareboat Charterers, Managers,

Representative and Masters of Ships flying the Cyprus Flag

To all Recognised Organisations

Subject: Periodical inspection and maintenance of:

(1) Fixed fire extinguishing systems,
(2) Portable and non-portable fire extinguishers,
(3) Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus,
(4) Emergency Escape Breathing Apparatus,
(5) Oxygen bottles for medical use.

1. Introduction

1.1 The Maritime Safety Committee at its 103rd session (5 to 14 May 2021) approved
amendments to the Guidelines for the maintenance and inspections of fixed carbon dioxide fire-
extinguishing systems MSC.1/Circ.1318 with a view to dissemination as MSC.1/Circ.1318/Rev.1.
The amended Guidelines MSC.1/Circ.1318/Rev.1 represent a significant increase in the
hydrostatic test regime for CO2 cylinders and introduce a 5-yearly inspection of control valves1.

1.2 This SDM Circular:

.1 provides the minimum recommended level of maintenance and inspections for fire
protection systems and appliances,
.2 may be used as a basis for the ship’s onboard maintenance plan required by
SOLAS Regulation II-2/14,
.3 has been developed in line with the related IMO documents2,
.4 applies to all ships,
.5 supersedes SDM Circular No. 7/2002 which is hereby revoked,
.6 supersedes SDM Circular No. 14/2013 which is hereby revoked,
.7 must be placed on board ships flying the Cyprus Flag.

2. General requirements

2.1 The guidelines set out in MSC.1/Circ.1432 as amended by MSC.1/Circ.1516 should be

applied as these are supplemented by the following paragraphs of this SDM circular.

1
the inspection of control valves was already a Cyprus Flag requirement (SDM Circular No. 14/2013).
2
SOLAS chapter II-2, FSS Code, Assembly resolution A.951(23), IMO MSC.1/Circ.1432 as amended by
MSC.1/Circ.1516, MSC.1/Circ.1318-Rev.1, MSC.1/Circ.1312, MSC.1/Circ.1312/Corr.1, MSC/Circ.670,
MSC/Circ.798, MSC/Circ.847, MSC/Circ.847/Corr.1, MSC/Circ.849, MSC/Circ.1081, MSC.1/Circ.1555.
Kyllinis Street, Mesa Geitonia, 4007 Lemesos, Postal Address: P.O.Box 56193, 3305 Lemesos, Cyprus
Telephone: +357 25848100, Telefax: +357 25848200
E-mail: maritimeadmin@dms.gov.cy, Web page: http://www.shipping.gov.cy
 2.2 All fixed fire detection and extinguishing systems, including drenching systems, all
portable and non-portable fire extinguishers and all other systems and appliances referred to in
this SDM circular should, as a rule, be inspected and maintained in accordance with their
respective manufacturer’s recommendations.

2.3 Inspections and checks which are not explicitly stated as to be done by a third party may
be done by a competent person who may be a senior member of the ship’s crew, who has
successfully completed an appropriate training3.

2.4 In case the manufacturer of an equipment or system has specified intervals which are
more frequent than those specified below or criteria which are more stringent than those
specified below, such intervals or criteria shall apply in lieu of those specified below.

2.5 Inspections and checks should always be carried out in accordance with the
recommendations or guidance provided by the manufacturer of the equipment or system.

2.6 In addition, as a rule, third party inspection and maintenance (third party inspection)
should be done by a service provider which:

.1 is authorized or accredited in this respect by the manufacturer of the system or of

the appliances; or

.2 in the absence of such service provider, by a service provider which is accredited

in this respect by:

(a) the Recognised Organisation which is issuing to the ship, on behalf of this
Government, the related statutory certificate; or

(b) by one of the other Recognised Organisations which are authorized to

issue, on behalf of this Government, the related statutory certificate to
ships which are classed with them, provided the accreditation of the
service provider by the other Recognised Organisation is acceptable to
the Recognised Organisation which is issuing to the ship, on behalf of this
Government, the related statutory certificate; or

(c) an Administration of an IMO SOLAS Contracting Government and

accepted by the Recognised Organisation which is issuing to the ship on
behalf of this Government, the related statutory certificate.

2.7 Third party inspection by a service provider which does not fall under any one of the
categories listed above could be done, provided that the prior4 case by case authorization of the
Shipping Deputy Ministry has been obtained.

2.8 Furthermore, the following general rules apply:

.1 the system or an individual part or unit of the system and appliance should be
recharged when the loss of contents of the system as a whole or of an individual
part or unit of the system or of an appliance exceeds 10 per cent; and

.2 in all circumstances the attending surveyor may require, if he/she deems it fit, the
thorough inspection, hydrostatic testing or the recharging of a system or of an
individual part or unit of the system or of an appliance.

3. Specific requirements

3
at least an advanced fire-fighting training course – STCW A-VI/3.
4
an application form (dispensation) should be submitted as per the SDM Circular No. 15/2015.
2
 3.1 In the absence of related recommendations by the manufacturer of the system or of the
appliance this should undergo third party inspection and/or testing as specified below.

3.2 The time interval specified below should be counted from the date of the completion of
the construction of a system or of an appliance or from the date of the initial hydrostatic testing
stamped on the cylinder, as the case may be or in the absence of such date from the date of
completion of the initial survey of the ship upon construction and thereafter from the date of
completion of the previous third party inspection or testing.

3.3 The third party inspections should preferably be carried out:

.1 within a window of “+/- three months” from the anniversary of the Cargo Ship
Safety Equipment Certificate or of the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate, as the
case may be, and

.2 prior the attendance onboard of the Recognised Organisation5 for carrying out
the related statutory survey and the subsequently endorsement of the associated
statutory certificate.

3.4 The “+/- three months” window does not apply to the anniversary date of the third party
inspection of the system or of the appliance.

3.5 When it is practically feasible, the Ship’s Managers are urged to consider arranging third
party inspections / surveys of their ships as early as possible in the window of “+/- three
months”.

3.6 The Shipping Deputy Ministry may, upon request6 and in exceptional cases, extend7 the
time interval specified below for limited periods from the anniversary of the previous third party
inspection.

4. Fixed fire extinguishing systems

4.1 Fixed fire extinguishing systems are subject to third party inspection at interval not
exceeding 2 years.

5. Fixed gas fire fighting systems

5.1 The quantity of gas fire extinguishing medium should be checked at intervals not
exceeding 2 years.

5.2 For ships which are fitted with a fixed carbon dioxide fire extinguishing system, in case
the loss of content of the system as a whole or of an individual part or unit of the system
exceeds 10 per cent, the system or the individual part or unit of the system should be
recharged.

5.3 For ships which are fitted with a fixed gas fire extinguishing system other than carbon
dioxide, in case the loss of content of the system as a whole or of an individual part or unit of the
system exceeds 5 per cent, the system or the individual part or unit of the system should be
recharged.

5.4 The chemical composition of foam medium used in fixed fire extinguishing systems
should be tested by a third party no later than three years after the date it was installed on board

5
which is issuing to the ship, on behalf of this Government, the related statutory certificate.
6
an application form (extension) should be submitted as per the SDM Circular No. 15/2015,
7
for the minimum necessary period not exceeding three months extension is possible, for justified and documented
cases only.
3
 and, thereafter, at yearly intervals. For the various types of foam please referred to the related
provisions of MSC.1/Circ.1432.

5.5 A hydrostatic test and internal examination of 10 per cent of cylinders containing the
system's extinguishing agent and of the pilot cylinders should be carried out by a third party at
intervals not exceeding 10 years8. If one or more cylinders fail, a total of 50 per cent of the
onboard cylinders should be tested. If further cylinders fail, all cylinders should be tested. Before
the 20-year anniversary9 and every 10-year anniversary thereafter, all cylinders should be
subjected to a hydrostatic test.

5.6 The control valves of fixed fire extinguishing systems should be internally inspected by a
third party at interval not exceeding 5 years.

5.7 The flexible hoses should be internally inspected and hydrostatically tested by a third
party or, alternatively, should be replaced, at intervals not exceeding every 10 years.

6. Portable and non-portable fire extinguishers

6.1 Portable and non-portable fire extinguishers are subject to third party inspection at
intervals not exceeding 2 years.

6.2 The quantity of fire extinguishing medium and the quantity of propellant medium should
be checked at yearly intervals. In case the loss of contents exceeds 10 per cent the extinguisher
should be recharged.

6.3 The flexible hoses, applicators and control valves, including those of the propellant
medium, should be visually inspected at yearly intervals and should be replaced when
necessary.

6.4 All portable and non-portable fire extinguishers should be internally inspected and
hydrostatically tested by a third party at interval not exceeding 10 years.

7. Self-contained breathing apparatus

7.1 The self-contained breathing apparatus are subject to third party inspection at intervals
not exceeding 2 years, unless a statutory requirement stipulates otherwise. For example,
paragraph 14.2.6 of the IBC Code states that “The breathing apparatus should be inspected at
least once a month by a responsible officer, and the inspection recorded in the ship's log-book.
The equipment should be inspected and tested by an expert at least once a year.”

7.2 The mask, flexible hoses, breathing regulator, flow meters and control valves should be
inspected and the quantity and quality of air of self-contained breathing apparatus should be
checked:

.1 at yearly intervals; and

.2 by a third party at intervals not exceeding 2 years.

7.3 In case the loss of content of the system as a whole or of an individual part or unit of the

8
in cases where cylinders for fixed-gas fire-fighting systems have been date stamped prior to delivery of a vessel, the
first 10-year hydrostatic test may be harmonized (on case by case basis) with drydocking at the Second Special Survey
provided that the initial date stamp (month/year) on the cylinder does not exceed 12 months before the vessel delivery
date. An application form (extension) should be submitted as per the SDM Circular No. 15/2015 on case by case basis.
9
on 1 January 2022, ships having cylinders of 20 years of age or older having only 20% of the cylinders hydrostatically
tested, shall hydrostatically test the remaining 80% of the cylinders at the vessel’s next intermediate or renewal survey
whichever comes first. An application form (extension) should be submitted as per the SDM Circular No. 15/2015 on
case by case basis.
4
 system exceeds 10 per cent, the system or the individual part or unit of the system should be
recharged.

7.4 The quality of air of shipborne air charging system should be checked at yearly intervals
and by a third party at intervals not exceeding 2 years.

7.5 The air bottles of the self-contained breathing apparatus, including those provided as
spares and any pressure vessels of the shipborne air charging system should be internally
inspected and hydrostatically tested by a third party at interval not exceeding 5 years.

7.6 For every self-contained breathing apparatus, 200 per cent spare charged air bottles
should be provided on board, unless there are means on board for charging the air bottles or
unless the type of the ship requires more spare charged air bottles to be carried on board.

7.7 An onboard means of recharging breathing apparatus air bottles used during drills shall be
provided or a suitable number of spare air bottles shall be carried onboard to replace those air
bottles used during drills. The Shipping Deputy Ministry does not prescribe any minimum number
and thus the shipboard safety management system (SMS) must include provisions that sufficient
spare air bottles are available onboard10 corresponding to the number of breathing apparatus
being used during drills.

8. Emergency Escape Breathing Apparatus (EEBD)

8.1 Both MSC/Circ.849 and MSC/Circ.1081 should be followed.

8.2 Irrespective of number of EEBD in place, at least one (1) additional EEBD should be
available onboard solely for training purposes11 and be clearly marked accordingly.

8.3 The maintenance and inspections requirements of section 7 apply also to EEBD.

9. Oxygen bottles for medical use

9.1 The mask, flexible hoses, breathing regulator, flow meters and control valves should be
inspected and the quantity of medical oxygen should be checked:

.1 at yearly intervals; and

.2 by a third party at intervals not exceeding 2 years.

9.2 In case the loss of contents of the system as a whole or of an individual part or unit of the
system exceeds 10 per cent, the system or the individual part or unit of the system should be
recharged.

9.3 Medical oxygen has a limited shelf life of 3 years and should be replaced before the expiry
date.

9.4 The cylinders containing medical oxygen should to be internally inspected and
hydrostatically tested by a third party at intervals not exceeding 5 years.

9.5 For ships which are required to comply with the requirements of Column A or B of
Appendix 14 of the Medical First Aid Guide (MFAG) the following should be available in the ship’s
hospital:

.1 a quantity of medical oxygen not less than 40 L/200 bar, in non-portable medical

10
For the suitable number of spare air bottles to be provided in connection with drills refer to the MSC.1/Circ.1555,
Unified interpretation of SOLAS chapter II-2.
11
should be clearly marked as “training”.
5
 oxygen cylinder assembled for direct use with 1 flow meter unit with two ports for
supplying oxygen for 2 persons at the same time. If more than 1 non-portable
cylinder is used there must be 2 flow meter units for supplying oxygen to 2
persons at the same time; and

.2 one complete portable set with a quantity of medical oxygen not less than 2 L/
200 bar ready for use and a spare cylinder with a quantity of medical oxygen not
less than 2 L/200 bar.

.3 The single 40 L/200 bar Medical Oxygen Cylinder may be substituted with either
two (2) 20 L/200 bar cylinders or four (4) 10 L/200 bar cylinders, provided the
equipment/flowmeter units are arranged to supply oxygen to two (2) persons
simultaneously.

9.6 For ships which are not required to comply with the requirements of the MFAG a quantity
of medical oxygen not less than 2 L/200 bar in a portable cylinder and a spare quantity medical
oxygen not less than 2 L/200 bar in a portable cylinder.

10. Implementation

10.1 The provisions of this SDM Circular become applicable for each ship on the first safety
equipment related survey on or after 01 January 2022.

Liana Charalambous Tanos

Acting Permanent Secretary
Shipping Deputy Ministry

cc: Maritime Offices of the Shipping Deputy Ministry abroad

Inspectors of Cyprus ships
Cyprus Shipping Chamber
Cyprus Union of Shipowners
Cyprus Bar Association