Keep Shut Sign

Keep Shut Sign (MS0077)

Many compartments, cabinets, and access panels aboard a vessel must remain closed at all times to preserve watertight or fire integrity, contain a hazard, or simply keep an area secure, yet the reason is not always obvious to a crew member passing by. The Keep Shut sign (MS0077) is a photoluminescent ISO 7010 mandatory-action marking designed to be posted on any door, hatch, cabinet, or panel that must be kept closed under normal operating conditions. Manufactured to a maritime-grade photoluminescent specification, the sign remains clearly visible during a blackout or power failure, reinforcing the instruction regardless of onboard lighting conditions.

Vessels operating under SOLAS and the ISM Code rely on consistent compartmentalisation and containment practices to preserve structural integrity, fire boundaries, and general onboard order. Posting the Keep Shut sign on relevant doors, hatches, and access panels ensures every crew member and visiting contractor understands the requirement immediately, supporting the vessel’s documented safety management system and reducing the risk of an item being left open by mistake.

Why Face Protection Matters

A door or panel left open when it should be closed can compromise watertight subdivision, allow the spread of fire or smoke between compartments, or simply create a trip or security hazard depending on its location and purpose. Because the reason for a closure requirement is not always visible to the person passing by, a clear and consistent Keep Shut sign removes any ambiguity, whether the item in question is a technical space, a stores locker, or a watertight door on a subdivision boundary. Displaying the sign consistently across the vessel builds a habit of compliance that reduces the chance of an oversight.

Compliance and Certification

This sign is produced to the ISO 7010 international graphical symbol standard, using the recognised blue mandatory-action pictogram together with clear, simple supporting text understood by crew of any nationality. The ISM Code requires vessel operators to maintain effective controls over compartment integrity and containment, and SOLAS relies on doors and hatches being kept in their correct state to preserve watertight and fire subdivision. For the complete international regulatory framework, see the IMO’s SOLAS overview at imo.org. Displaying the Keep Shut sign supports compliance during ISM audit and flag-state inspection of watertight and fire boundaries.

Installation Recommendations

Mount the sign at eye level directly on the door, hatch, cabinet, or panel that must be kept closed, positioning it where it will be seen by anyone approaching from either side if practical. Charge the photoluminescent surface under normal lighting for the recommended period so it performs correctly if power is lost, and secure the sign with corrosion-resistant fasteners or marine-grade adhesive suited to the mounting surface. Record the sign’s position on the vessel’s fire and safety plan so its condition is checked during routine safety rounds.

• Photoluminescent, ISO 7010-compliant mandatory-action design for reliable low-light visibility
• Durable, corrosion-resistant construction suited to doors, hatches, cabinets, and access panels
• Clear, unambiguous closure instruction understood by crew of any nationality
• Supports SOLAS watertight and fire subdivision integrity and ISM Code documentation
• Simple surface-mount installation directly on the item requiring closure

Preserve compartment integrity and containment with the Keep Shut sign (MS0077) – order today to mark every door, hatch, and panel that must remain closed on your vessel.

For additional onboard risk areas, browse our range of Hazard Signs and Fire Fighting Signs to complete your vessel’s mandatory safety signage compliance.