How many additional fire suits are required on passenger vessels with 36 people?

The requirement for additional fire suits on passenger vessels is based on the vessel's zoning and safety protocols. Each main vertical zone on a passenger vessel is a designated area separated by fire-rated divisions. To enhance safety during emergencies, particularly during a fire, the regulations specify having at least two additional fire suits for each main vertical zone.

In this case, with 36 people on board, the number of suits ensures that crew members can effectively respond and assist in emergencies while also being able to don necessary protective gear quickly. This rule is designed to account for the need for effective personnel safety and operational readiness across different zones on the vessel, as an incident could occur in more than one area.

On vessels that might be divided into multiple main vertical zones, having only one suit or a number less than two per zone would not provide adequate safety gear for the crew in an emergency situation, highlighting the importance of the chosen response to ensure effective emergency management practices.