🔍 Key Concepts

• 46 CFR requirements for fire main systems on towing vessels (Subchapter M) • Purpose of a fire main, hoses, and nozzles in machinery spaces • Difference between fixed fire pumps and portable fire pumps on towboats

💭 Think About

• Think about what the fire main system is expected to do inside a machinery space during a fire – what must the hose actually be able to reach? • Consider whether it is normally safer for fixed fire pumps to be inside or outside the machinery space on small towing vessels. • Ask yourself what kinds of nozzle spray patterns (solid stream only, or adjustable) are generally preferred for fighting machinery-space fires on vessels.

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify which option best matches the idea that the fire main must allow effective coverage of the machinery space. • Check whether rules actually require corrosion‑resistant, solid‑stream‑only nozzles, or allow more than one pattern. • Confirm whether the regulations emphasize the location of fixed pumps or the reach of the hose line as a specific requirement.