46 CFR 142.325: Fire pumps, mains, and hoses on towing vessels

What it says

1. Each towing vessel must have either a self-priming, power-driven, fixed fire pump with a fire main, hoses and nozzles, or a portable pump with hoses and nozzles.

   “Each towing vessel must have either a self-priming, power-driven, fixed fire pump, a fire main, and hoses and nozzles in accordance with paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section;”

2. A fixed fire pump must deliver water simultaneously from the two highest hydrants, or from both branches of the fitting if the highest hydrant has a Siamese fitting, at a pitot-tube pressure of at least 344 kilopascals (kPa) (50 pounds per square inch (psi)) and a flow rate of at least 300 liters per minute (lpm) (80 gallons per minute (gpm)).

   46 CFR 142.325(a)(1)“Delivering water simultaneously from the two highest hydrants, or from both branches of the fitting if the highest hydrant has a Siamese fitting, at a pitot-tube pressure of at least 344 kilopascals (kPa) (50 pounds per square inch (psi))”

3. A fixed fire pump must be capable of being energized remotely from a safe place outside the engine room and at the pump.

   46 CFR 142.325(a)(2)“Being energized remotely from a safe place outside the engine room and at the pump.”

4. All suction valves necessary for the operation of the fire main must be kept open or be capable of operation from the same place where the remote fire pump control is located.

   46 CFR 142.325(b)“All suction valves necessary for the operation of the fire main must be kept in the open position or capable of operation from the same place where the remote fire pump control is located.”

5. The fire main must have enough fire hydrants with attached hose that a stream of water can reach any part of the machinery space using a single length of fire hose.

   46 CFR 142.325(c)“The fire main must have a sufficient number of fire hydrants with attached hose to allow a stream of water to reach any part of the machinery space using a single length of fire hose.”

6. The hose must be lined commercial fire hose 15 meters (50 feet) long and at least 40 millimeters (1.5 inches) in diameter, with a corrosion-resistant nozzle capable of a solid stream and a spray pattern.

   46 CFR 142.325(d)“The hose must be a lined commercial fire hose 15 meters (50 feet) in length, at least 40 millimeters (1.5 inches) in diameter,”

7. A portable fire pump must be self-priming and power-driven, with a minimum capacity of at least 300 LPM (80 gpm) at a discharge gauge pressure of not less than 414 kPa (60 psi), measured at the pump discharge.

   46 CFR 142.325(e)(1)“A minimum capacity of at least 300 LPM (80 gpm) at a discharge gauge pressure of not less than 414 kPa (60 psi), measured at the pump discharge;”

8. The portable pump must be stowed with its hose and nozzle outside of the machinery space.

   46 CFR 142.325(f)“The pump must be stowed with its hose and nozzle outside of the machinery space.”

Common questions

The text of 46 CFR 142.325

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of March 31, 2026 · Read it on eCFR

Fire pumps, fire mains, and fire hoses