What should be done if a primary firefighting system fails?

When a primary firefighting system fails, the immediate action should be to activate secondary or backup systems. This is crucial for ensuring the safety of the vessel and its crew, as fire can spread quickly and become unmanageable. Backup systems are designed to provide an alternative means of firefighting, minimizing the risk of a disaster while repairs or troubleshooting on the primary system can be conducted.

Focusing on the immediate implementation of secondary systems allows for a swift response to the emerging situation, which is essential for containment and control of a fire incident. It ensures that firefighting efforts continue without significant delay, thereby protecting lives and property.

In contrast, waiting for repairs before proceeding could lead to increased fire damage and endanger the safety of all onboard. Simply notifying the captain may not lead to timely action to combat the fire, and attempting to fix the primary system without a contingency plan can be risky if the situation worsens while repairs are underway. Thus, the activation of secondary or backup systems is the most effective course of action in response to a primary system failure.