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Editor: Rod Sullivan
Profession: Maritime Attorney

Category: Boat, Ship and Marina Fires

If you think those far off international treaties don't affect you, you are wrong.

Halon fire fighting systems were a welcome addition to the recreational boating industry when they were first introduced. They extinguished engine room fires while saving the lives of the passengers on board. That all changed beginning in 1994.

The Montreal Protocol on ozone depleting substances was passed in 1987. The protocol was administered by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which maintained a list of ozone-depleting substances which included Halon. In the United States, the Clean Air Act (CAA) Amendments of 1990 implemented the provisions of the Montreal Protocol into U.S. law. Under the Act the production of Halon ceased on January 1, 1994.

In Europe, EC Regulation 2037/2000 went into effect on October 1, 2000. It provided that new halon could not be used to refill existing systems; that recovered, recycled or reclaimed halon could only be used in existing systems until December 31, 2002; and that after that date no refilling could take place. Mandatory decommissioning of halon fire extinguishing systems had to be completed before December 31, 2003. Consequently yachts registered in European nations have had to scrap their systems altoghether or have them systems replaced.

U.S. yachts continue to use recycled Halon. However, it has become progressively more expensive and to date no one has discovered a simple and inexpensive alternative which can be "dropped-in" to existing Halon systems. Many boats owners are simply discontinuing use of the systems, which are not required, and taking the risk that in the event of a fire they can extinguish it will portable CO2, dry chemical or more recently AFFF (aqueous foam) extinguishers.

Most US shipowners moved from halon to CO2 for their engine room protection for new ships. Existing ships with halon systems installed continue to use recycled/reclaimed halon to recharge the systems which are discharged, or which need to be topped off.

Inert gas systems, like nitrogen or nitrogen/argon systems require large cylinders under high pressure to supply the gas.

CO2 and HFC-125 systems were supposed to replace Halon but they may be on the way out as well. The Kyoto Protocol was adopted without the participation of the United States on December 10, 1997. It committed the countries which signed to reductions in the release of Global Warming Gases which included CO2 and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).