b'COAST GUARD REPORTFire Extinguishing Agent Phasedown COAST GUARDT heU.S.CoastGuardOfficeofDe- 15 percent of the baseline levels in a stepwiserofit purposes to avoid the potential FM-200 signandEngineeringStandardshasmanner over the next 15 years which will resultsupply shortage.released MSIB 06-22 to inform CoastinareductionofFM-200availability.This Guard Officers in Charge, Marine Inspectioncould lead to a supply shortage for new FM- For existing vessel FM-200 systems, these alter-(OCMI) and the maritime industry that FM- 200 systems and for charging existing systems.native suppression systems may not readily be 200 (also known as HFC-227ea or heptafluo- Thesupplyshortagecouldleadtosystemsa one-to-one replacement. A complete system ropropane), a fire extinguishing agent, is beingbeingunserviceableordelaysincompletingplan review and flow calculation will be required phased down in production as part of a recentmaintenance. Vessels that have an inoperableto verify that the modified systems provide an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule.fire suppression system are likely to receive aequivalent level of safety. Modification requests FM-200 is used in fire extinguishing systemsdeficiency or be issued a do-not-sail order. ofthesetypeapprovedsystemsandsystems for machinery spaces and cargo spaces on unin- aboard Coast Guard certificated vessels should spected vessels, commercial vessels, and publicThere exist alternative suppression technolo- be submitted to the appropriate Coast Guard of-vessels. This rule does not prohibit the use ofgies which are not being phased down as partfice for review prior to modification/installation.FM-200 to extinguish fire and vessel operatorsof the EPA rule. These systems include, but are should not hesitate to use their existing firenot limited to, clean agent NOVEC 1230 (FK- Vessel owners should not hesitate to use their extinguishing systems in case of a fire. 5-1-12),carbondioxide,inertgas(Inergen),existingFM-200firesuppressionsystems watersprayandwatermistsystems.Theseincaseofemergency.Wheremaintenance FM-200isoneofthehydrofluorocarbonsextinguishing agents are type approved by theand upkeep can be planned, they should be (HFCs)beingregulatedbytheEPAunderCoast Guard for the protection of machineryscheduled far in advance to ensure replacement the American Innovation and Manufacturingspaces and other spaces with flammable liquidFM-200 cylinders are available. Inspectors are (AIM) Act. The EPA rule requires that thehazards and should be considered as alterna- encouraged to raise awareness to vessel owners net U.S. production of HFCs be reduced totives to FM-200 for new installations or for ret- of the EPA rule and phasedown of FM-200.COAST GUARD REPORTMarine Safety Alert: Operation and Detection Of Radar Search And Rescue Transponders T he U.S. Coast Guard Office of Inves- revealed that the SART was in good conditionhold a SART. If held by its antenna, the SARTs tigationsandCasualtyAnalysishasand was operating in accordance with the inter- ability to transmit and receive signals is reduced. released Safety Alert 12-22 to addressnational and domestic requirements for a 9 GHzWhen used with a liferaft or lifeboat, there is an issues that may reduce the effectiveness of a ra- SART. Testing revealed the X-band radar settingsopportunity to mount the SART high in the dar Search and Rescue Transponder (SART). that are optimal for navigation might actuallysurvival craft on its pole or in a pocket. This will prevent the SART signature from displaying onimprove the devices ability to transmit and re-During a recent incident, a survivor was driftinga vessels radar screen. The gain, sea clutter, rainceive signals, while also providing a much better in the water and holding an activated 9 GHzclutter, tuning, and range on X-band radars aretarget than a SART floating in the water.(X-band radar) SART, but was not detected bycommonly operated in auto mode, but this was some of the responding vessels. The survivor sawfound to drastically reduce, or completely elimi- The Coast Guard strongly recommends that four vessels pass close by as he held the SARTnate, the ability of the receiving radar to display avessel owners, operators, and crewmembers:above water, but none of the vessels crews sawSARTs dots or circular lines.him. In spite of this and the tropical storm-like Incorporate the above information into theirconditions, the survivor was finally rescued afterThe orientation of the antenna and the height ofSART training and testingremaining in the water for three hours. the SART above the water both affect the ability of an X-band radar to detect a SART. The SARTEnsure that all safety equipment is maintained in After the incident, the National Transportationis designed to free-float or be mounted on a poleaccordance with the owners manual. The effec-SafetyBoardtestedthesurvivorsSART,inin a life raft or on a survival craft. The narrowtiveness of all safety equipment is dependent on cooperation with the Coast Guard, the vesselsend of a SART is the antenna, but is also the onlyseveral factors, including proper maintenance, owner, and the SART manufacturer. The testingsuitable location for a person in distress to firmlytesting, training, and operating procedures. 45 NOVEMBER 2022'