AVOIDING A 0 AT

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dangerous. Both are heavier than air and do not disperse readily if there is a spillage or leak.

PETROL vapour and BUTANE gas are

BEFORE TAKING ON FUEL

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Stop the engine

Turn off all cooking, heating and lighting appliances, and extinguish all pipes, cigarettes and naked flames. Close all hatches, doors and portholes. To avoid overfilling, monitorthefuellevel carefullywith adip stick or other indicator.

Li

Li

Make sure that the tap between the petrol tank and the engine is turned off.
AFTER TAKING ON FUEL

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The filler inlet cap should be tightly secured. Check that no fuel has overflowed or leaked.

Li Li
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Mop up any spillage, only wash spilled fuel over the side in an emergency; it is an offence to pollute waterways.
Ventilate the boat thoroughly before startingup the engine or
using naked lights again.
SPARE CANS

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Unless absolutely necessary, petrol should not be stored on board. When spare fuel is required, petrol should only be carried in approved containers in a compartment reserved for

that purpose. Li
Unless refuelling, only open portable containers in the open air away from the boat. Fuel should not be decanted in or near
a

lock.

* All these precautions should also be taken for diesel oil, even thoughit is not so volatile.

B
Li

UT

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Ventilate thoroughly any compartment which has not been used for some time. When taking over a hire craft, ventilate all compartments.

Li

Beforegoingtobedorleavingtheboatswitchoffallappliances unless like refrigerators they are designed for continuous running. When changing cylinders:
check that the valveon the empty cylinder is turnedoff before disconnectingthe cylinder.

Li

wheretwo cylindersareconnectedbya manifoldortee, both

disconnected.

cylinder valves should be closed before either cylinder is

do notturn on the valveofthe full cylinder until it is securely

connected.

make sure the full cylinder is securely fixed into position.

Li

Do. not leave a cooker or other appliance unattended if there is a danger of a draught extinguishing the flame.
Hatches and portholes should always be open sufficiently to maintain essential ventilation.

Li Li

All containersand regulators, whether in use or not, should be

either: secured on deckaway from hatches and otheropenings so that any escaping gas is dispersed in the open air, or: placed in a properly designed and ventilated container housing above the water line.

'Bottogas', 'Butagas', 'Ca/orGas', 'Glogas', 'Kosangas', 'Rural Gas', 'Gaz'; and 'EPigas' etc.

IF FIRE BREAKS OUT

13

Make forthe nearest landing place.Stop the engine and turn off the fuel supply tap, the gas supply at the cylinder and the batteries at the master switch if it is safe to do so.
Use the fire extinguishers provided and water from over the side as well if necessary. (When taking over a boat

13

make sure that you know where the fire extinguishers are andhow to use them.)

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Li

Get everybody who is not fighting the fire off the boat to safety.

If fire threatens the gas cylinder,turn off the valve, disconnect the cylinder, and move it to a safe place ... or if necessary
drop it overboard. Gas cylinders are extremely hazardous when involved in a fire. On no account delay evacuation if immediate action cannot be taken

with thecylinder.
13

Should the fire continue to grow in spite of your efforts, leave the boat.

Tall the fire brigadeas soon as possible.

Inform the boatowner if it is a hired craft.

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IF THERE
If
a

IS

LEAK

build-up of petrol or gas vapour is suspected - you can usually smell it particularly when examining bilges - take
immediate action:

Ii.

Stoptheengineand extinguish all naked flames (cigarettes, pipes, cookers, lights and heaters).

13

Turn off the shut-off cock on the petrol feed pipe and the valve on the butane gas cylinder.

Li

Open up the space affected as much as possible to induce through ventilation, open doors, hatches and portholes.
Tieuporanchor-keepingasafedistance

13

from other craft and:

get everyone off the vessel; warn other people in the vicinity; call the fire brigade.
13

Inform the owner of the boat if it is a hired craft.

R
Fire ProtectionAssociation
140 Aldersgate Street.LondonEC1A4HX

September 1991 Fire ProtectionAssociation

Printed byChelmer Printing & StationeryCo. Ltd 1292/18