How many firefighting outfits are required on passenger ships carrying more than 36 passengers?

The requirement for how many firefighting outfits are needed on passenger ships carrying more than 36 passengers is determined by the regulations outlined in the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). According to these regulations, passenger ships must carry a minimum of two firefighting outfits, and an additional two outfits for each vertical zone. This ensures that there are sufficient firefighting resources available to the crew in case of an emergency and allows for effective firefighting operations throughout the various compartments of the vessel.

The rationale behind requiring additional outfits for each vertical zone is to take into account the potential size and complexity of larger passenger ships, which may have multiple levels and sections, thus increasing the need for readily accessible firefighting equipment. This approach enhances overall safety by ensuring that a sufficient number of trained personnel can respond to a fire in different parts of the ship without delay.

In contrast, the other options do not align with the established regulatory framework. They either underestimate the number of outfits needed based on the ship's capacity or provide a flat requirement that does not take into account the structural considerations of vertical zones.