Technical Notices

Panama Maritime Authority has partly revised Merchant Marine Circular (MMC) No.142 about the special requirements for EEBDs onboard the Panama flag vessels, which summarized as follows:

Number of EEBDs

1. For cargo ships: At least two EEBDs and one spare EEBD in accommodation spaces.
2. For passenger ships carrying not more than 36 passengers: At least two EEBDs per main vertical zone and a total of two spare EEBDs, except to those defined in the regulation SOLAS II-2/13.3.4.5.
3. For passenger ships carrying more than 36 passengers: At least four EEBDs per main vertical zone and a total of two spare EEBDs, except to those defined in the regulation SOLAS II-2/13.3.4.5.
4. The minimum number of EEBDs required on machinery spaces of category A where crews are normally employed or may be present on a routine basis shall be as follows:
5. One EEBD at the engine control room, if located within the machinery space;
6. One EEBD at the workshop areas, if there is, however, a direct access to an escape way from the workshop, an EEBD is not required; and

1. 1. One EEBD at the engine control room, if located within the machinery space;
   2. One EEBD at the workshop areas, if there is, however, a direct access to an escape way from the workshop, an EEBD is not required; and
   3. One EEBD on each deck or platform level near the escape ladder constituting the second means of escape from the machinery space (the other means being an enclosed escape trunk or water tight door at the lower level of the space)

If the ship has a machinery space with more than one deck, then one EEBD for each deck shall be placed at the same area as in point (4)(iii).

Spares

Ships with ten or less EEBDs ¹ on board shall carry at least one spare device. Ships with 11 to 20 EEBDs ¹ on board shall carry at least two spare devices. Ships with more than 20 EEBDs ¹ on board shall carry spares equal to at least 10% of the total EEBDs but no more than 4 spares will be required.

Training

At least one EEBD training device shall be provided for training purposes. All EEBD training devices should be placed in addition to EEBDs required for the machinery and accommodation spaces and its spare parts. If onboard means of recharging breathing apparatus cylinders is provided, no additional training cylinder will be necessary. An EEBD training device used for training purposes must be marked as “training” in any case.

¹ Spare EEBDs mentioned above are not to be included in total number.