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Due to a series of recent U.S. Port State Control (PSC) detentions within the last twelve months, regarding inoperative water mist systems on foreign flagged vessels, the Marshall Islands has issued an Advisory as follows, to underscore the importance of having all water mist systems fully checked and verified to be in satisfactory working order, prior to entering U.S. waters, particularly in the U.S. ports of the Gulf of Mexico. "Masters, Officers, and crew members are advised to take note that there have been a total of six (6) foreign flagged vessels detained for inoperative water mist systems. In each of these six (6) cases, the water supply valve was found in the closed position during the PSC examination, essentially rendering the water mist system "not readily available for immediate use." This has resulted in each case being a reportable IMO detention. Also, in several of these cases, the chief engineer did not know that the water supply valve was in the closed position and was left in the closed position during maintenance. It is highly advised that frequent rounds and inspections be made of the water mist system, paying close attention to valve alignment as well as ensuring that there is adequate labelling so that existing and new crew members will know that critical fixed fire-fighting equipment must be made available for immediate use."