Port states to launch fire safety campaign

   Maritime authorities in 43 countries will place extra emphasis on fire prevention and extinction standards during upcoming inspections of commercial vessels in their ports, according to the organization that coordinates enforcement of international maritime safety, environmental and security standards.
   The inspection campaign will last from Sept. 1 to Nov. 30, the body that administers the Paris and Tokyo Memoranda of Understanding said earlier this month. 
   The Paris and Tokyo agreements established a system of harmonized inspection procedures designed to target sub-standards ships for removal from operation. The agreements operate under the principle that flag states have responsibility to enforce international maritime conventions.
   Coast guard or other authorities conducting regular inspections of ships considered a possible risk will go through a 12-point checklist to verify that fire safety policies, equipment, maintenance records, crew training, and other documents comply with international standards.
   Government actions may range from instructing the master to correcting a deficiency to detaining the ship until serious problems are fixed.