What is the difference between a fixed firefighting system and portable extinguishers?

• A. Portable extinguishers are manually operated by crew.
• B. Fixed systems are installed in the ship (e.g., AFFF or CO2); portable extinguishers are manually operated by crew.
• C. Fixed systems are decorative; portable extinguishers are for emergencies.
• D. Fixed systems are never used.

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that fixed firefighting systems are permanently installed on the ship and form part of the ship’s suppression network, designed to cover large spaces or compartments by delivering an extinguishing agent (like AFFF foam or CO2) automatically or from a central control. Portable extinguishers are hand-held and manually operated by crew, used for quick, targeted attacks on small fires. Fixed systems protect enclosed spaces such as engine rooms or cargo holds and may activate automatically, while portable extinguishers are used for early-stage fires or when access to a fixed system isn’t practical.