Cantiere Del Pardo Grand Soleil 39, Owner'S Manual

Page: 121 / 132

Ed. 04/2012
GS 39 m.y. 2012
137
39
CHAP. I
As can be seen, only a few simple precautions
are needed to drastically reduce the risk of fire.
If a fire breaks out, a series of simple but
important procedures must be followed as
quickly as possible:
- evacuate all persons on board to the deck
and have them assemble in a safe position
where they do not obstruct operations; one
or at most two persons will be sufficient to
fight the fire;
- switch off all electrical circuits, stop the
engine and heating boiler (if operating),
close the fuel cut-off valves using the
handles in the cockpit, and close all gas
supply valves to the galley;
- in the meantime, the other persons
on board must put on lifejackets and
gather together emergency equipment
in preparation for the possible need to
abandon the boat;
- gather together all fire extinguishers
on board so that spare extinguishers
are available rapidly as soon as one
extinguisher has been used;
- be ready to return the power supply only
to the VHF radio electrical circuit in case
an emergency call needs to be sent if the
situation cannot be controlled, if in any
other way you require help and assistance,
and above all if you need to abandon the
boat;
- fight fires only after abundantly
dampening your clothes with water, from
head to foot.
The engine compartment is fitted with a
“Fire-Port”, which is an access hole covered
by a rubber membrane that can be detached
along the edges by pressing with force against
the outer surface. This Fire-Port is located
beneath one of the steps in the hatchway
leading down from the cockpit to the saloon.
If there is a fire in the engine compartment,
discharge one or more fire extinguishers
through the Fire-Port.
Do not open the engine compartment hatch
until you are absolutely certain that the fire
has been extinguished, to prevent the entry
of air that would rekindle the blaze.
Keep the other fire extinguishers available
on board within convenient reach to be able
to extinguish any rekindling of the flames.
Even after the fire appears to have been
extinguished, monitor the area where the
flames broke out for a considerable time, as
the fire could break out again if the reasons
that caused it have not been eliminated. It is
therefore extremely important to trace the
cause of the fire (loss of inflammable liquids,
original ignition of the fire, short circuits,
overheating, contact between hot surfaces
and inflammable materials or liquids, sparks,
wear on protections or sheaths, etc).
Here is some more essential advice:
1. Carry out all recommended mainte-
nance routines.
2. Follow checklists and other checks
indicated in instruction manuals.
3. Always keep firefighting systems in
full working order and ready for use.
4. Faults in electrical and fuel systems
should be repaired as soon as possible.
Keep the bilges clean and eliminate
any small losses of fuel or oil at once.
5. Do not ignore even the smallest
warning signal. If something is not
working correctly, trace the fault.
6. If a fire is caused by the electrical
system, de-energize the system at
once, disconnect the shore power
supply and turn off the battery
disconnector switches.
7. if the fire involves the fuel system,
stop the engine immediately.
8. If fire breaks out, collect all the
extinguishers at a single point so that
you always have another one to use
when the first is empty.
9. If dry-powder extinguishers have
been used, have them recharged as
soon as possible, and do not sail until
this has been done. Otherwise you
will be unable to fight any fires that
might break out.
10. At least twice a year thoroughly
clean all surfaces in the engine
compartment, to eliminate any oily
deposits that might be present.