Liberia: Retroactive SOLAS requirements for passenger ships

Liberia Maritime Authority has issued Marine Advisory 32/2024 to inform shipowners, operators, and relevant parties of new SOLAS safety requirements for existing passenger ships, effective no later than each ship's first Passenger Ship Safety Survey after January 1, 2028. These retroactive requirements are established under MSC.550(108).

These requirements apply to passenger ships constructed before January 1, 2026, including those built prior to July 1, 2012. Ships affected include those with:

Vehicle spaces (spaces designed for carrying vehicles),
Special category spaces (areas with heightened fire risk),
Open or closed ro-ro spaces (roll-on/roll-off vehicle spaces), and
Weather decks intended for carrying vehicles.

New Safety Requirements:

Fixed Fire Detection and Alarm Systems:

Ships must have a fixed fire detection and alarm system that adheres to the Fire Safety Systems Code. This system should cover special category spaces, open and/or closed ro-ro spaces, and any areas designed for vehicle storage or transport.
The system must rapidly detect fires by sensing smoke and heat. Specifically:
- Smoke Detectors: Required throughout applicable spaces.
- Heat Detectors: Should meet the same spacing and area coverage requirements as smoke detectors, though only necessary where smoke detectors are already in place.
This comprehensive detection system is essential for prompt response in the event of a fire.

Video Monitoring System:

The advisory mandates the installation of a continuous video monitoring system in vehicle, special category, and ro-ro spaces. This system should:
- Provide immediate playback capability to help crew quickly identify the location of a fire.
- Use cameras placed high enough to maintain visibility over cargo and vehicles even after loading, ensuring full coverage of the space.
Video Retention: The video footage must be stored for at least 24 hours and be accessible for replay at a continuously manned control station or the ship’s safety center.
Crew Monitoring: Continuous monitoring of live video feed by crew members is not required. However, the system must allow rapid access to recorded footage as needed.
Camera-System Correspondence: A clear correspondence must be displayed near each video monitor to indicate the relation between cameras and the fire-extinguishing zones they cover, helping crews respond accurately.

Fixed Water-Based Fire-Extinguishing Systems:

Ships must equip weather decks intended for vehicle carriage with a fixed, water-based fire-extinguishing system.
This system must use monitors capable of covering all areas where vehicles are stored, positioned to avoid obstruction and ensure effective coverage.
Monitors: Each monitor should have a minimum water flow capacity of 1,250 liters per minute. However, the Administration (Liberia Maritime Authority) may approve lower flow rates if ship size or arrangement makes the standard rate impractical.
Operational Flexibility: Ships that already have a fixed water-based fire-extinguishing system as of January 1, 2026, may be allowed alternative compliance measures at the Administration’s discretion.
Monitors should be designed to allow operation from safe access points or via remote control, ensuring that their functionality is not compromised during a fire in the protected area.

Implementation and Compliance:

The Administration advises all passenger ship Owners, Operators, Recognized Organizations, and Masters to carefully review these retroactive requirements, assess their applicability to each vessel, and plan any necessary updates or installations to achieve compliance by January 1, 2028. Failure to meet these standards by the deadline could result in regulatory issues or penalties.