fire/general service/ballast pumping systems general locations

Fire/General Service/Ballast Pumping Systems

General Locations

There are two pumps that may be configured interchangeably to operate this system:

Fire/General Service/Ballast Pump Bilge Pump

The Fire/General Service/Ballast Pump is normally configured to provide firefighting water for on ship firefighting.It may also be configured to:

De-water or “pump down” the fire mains Deliver sea water to the HAZMAT Decontamination Shower Load, or discharge saltwater ballast to/from the Forepeak and

Afterpeak Ballast Tanks.



Fire/G.S./Ballast Pump Bilge Pump

The Bilge Pump and Fire/G.S./Ballast Pump share common suction and discharge manifolds. We already reviewed the general locations of those valves and branch lines when we looked at the Bilge Pumping Systems.This module will go over the general locations of the components of the on-ship firefighting system, ballast system, the system used to dewater our fire mains, and also out saltwater HAZMAT decontamination shower.


General Locations

Remote Actuated Sea Chest Valve

Manual Sea Chest Valve

Both will need to be open to provide sea water for On-Ship Firefighting, or the HAZMAT Decontamination Shower

General Locations

Remember, the Remote Actuated Sea Chest Valve is opened with the switch at either the Main Deck Entry Fire Control Station or the Wheelhouse Fire Control Station.

Moving either switch to the right will open the valve

General Locations

Also recall that the Fire/GS/Ballast Pump can be turned on/off at the following locations:

Main Switchboard in Engine Room

Port Main Deck Entry

Port Wheelhouse Bulkhead

General Locations

The Fire/GS/Ballast Pump will normally be configured to operate as the fireboats on board firefighting system. It will provide firefighting water to two fire hose stations.As you trace the discharge pipes from the Fire/GS/Ballast pump discharge manifold you will notice it loops through the engine room overhead and branches upward to the port and starboard fire hose stations. Trace these lines out.

Port Fire Hose Station Branch in E/R overhead

General Locations

The firefighting station branch lines split off toward the starboard side of the E/R overhead, and continues through the VSP room and up to the main deck.

The Saltwater HAZMAT Decon. Shower taps into the starboard side firefighting station supply branch. It then continues up to the Decon. Corridor.

Normally Open

General Locations

Starboard, FWD, Firefighting System

General Locations

Port, Aft firefighting station

General Locations

Saltwater HAZMAT Decon. Shower in HAZMAT Corridor This is the Fresh

Water HAZMAT Decon. Shower

Saltwater coming up from below

Valve Handle

General Locations

Ballast System

Generally, the Ballast System operates off of the Fire/GS/Ballast Pump (although, you may configure the Bilge Pump to operate as a Ballast Pump). With this in mind, it is important to note that neither the Bilge Pump or Fire/GS/Ballast pump are normally configured for ballasting operations. If a decision is made to load or discharge ballast (extremely unlikely), one or both of the pumps will need to be configured to accomplish this task.

Note: A ballast operation should never be initiated without first consulting with the Fireboat Captain, Pilot and Engineer. Ballasting will effect the vessels draft, air draft, stability and trim. Ballasting should never be executed without thorough consideration of all operational factors!

Note: The Ballast suction lines are the primary means of dewatering the Forepeak Tank and Aftpeak Tank bilges.

Note: Careful consideration must be used when using the Bilge Pump as the Ballast pump due to the possibility of contaminating the Ballast system with oily bilge residues.

General Locations

Ballast Manifold

Port, Outboard Side of E/R just forward of Port Generator

General Locations

Aftpeak Tank Ballast Suction

Aftpeak Tank Ballast Discharge (Fill)

Forepeak Tank Ballast Suction

Forepeak Tank Ballast Discharge (Fill)

General Locations

The Forepeak and Aft Peak Ballast System Branch Lines leave the common discharge and suction manifold, travel through the vessels bilges to each tank. There is only one branch line for each tank, and both tanks have an individual bulkhead valve on the branch line. The bulkhead valves are operated from the main deck via a reach rod assembly

Aftpeak Tank Bulkhead Valve in Aft Machinery Space Aftpeak Tank Block Valve Actuator DriveTo Port of the Crane Pedestal

Use T-Handle to operate

General Locations

Forepeak Tank Bulkhead Valve

Actuated from Port, FWD Main Deck

Reach Rod Travels through Port, Outboard side of EMS Recovery Room

Then on Down to Forepeak Tank Bulkhead Valve in FWD Tank Void

Use T-Handle to operate

General Locations

Fire Main De-Watering (GS) System

The Fire/GS/Ballast pump may be configured to pump down the boat’s large fire mains.It connects to the common suction manifold of the both the Bilge Pump and the Fire/GS/Ballast Pump.All branch lines and valves are under the E/R Floor Plates, and connect to each main fire- pump’s casing, and sea chest inlet piping.

General Locations

Here is an example of how it connects to the pump casing and suction drop of Fire Pump 6.Note how the builder used either ¾ inch stainless tubing and hydraulic lines to form the connections. Connections vary from one pump to the next, so tracing this system out on your own will help you figure out how to line it up.



General Locations

The two ball valves shown below have to be opened to pump down Fire Pump 6.Not easy to get to or locate, but you’ll get the hang of it…

General Locations


Fire Pump 3 pump casing pump down connection and valve

General Locations


The valves, branch lines and connections for this system are randomly positioned in the E/R Bilge, so look real hard around the Fire Pumps and their suction drops to find the valves! Remember, each Fire Pump will have two pump-down valves: One for the pump casing and one for the suction drop.

For example, the smaller ball valve is the Pump #6 Discharge Drop drain, and the larger ball valve is the Pump #6 pump casing drain. Confused? Trace the system!

General Locations


The branch lines come together to a common suction line that connects directly to the common Bilge and Fire/GS/Ballast pump suction manifold at the pump skid support leg.

A note of caution on this system:After you have de-watered the Fire Mains, it is critical that you CLOSE ALL VALVES associated with the Fire Main De-Watering piping!Why?If you do not, you run the risk of back pressuring the Bilge and Fire/GS/Ballast system with Fire Pump pressure. This could damage these systems, or inadvertently lead to the flooding of bilges or ballast tanks! We will discuss more when we describe operations.

General Locations


fire/general service/ballast pumping systems general locations

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