1.5 Emergency Procedures and Abandon ship
Emergency Procedures and Abandon ship
When joining a ship, all crew members should familiarise themselves with emergency procedures and equipment which have the aims of protecting:
Personnel
The environment
Property
The IMO (International Maritime Organization) uses Conventions, Protocols, Amendments, Recommendations, codes and guidelines such as SOLAS and the ISM Code to ensure safety at sea.
As a general guideline, safety onboard is maintained by:
Design and Construction of the Vessel - with many hazardous cargoes transported by sea, ships are designed to function with extremely high levels of safety built in.
Modern Equipment - Navigation, communication and safety equipment all play an important role in maintaining a safe regime.
Proper Training to Crew - personnel onboard should be trained to be aware of safety risks and to be able to act effectively and quickly in the event of danger or emergency.
Emergency procedures
While specific requirements may vary depending on the size, type, and flag state of the vessel, it is essential for all seafarers to be familiar with the emergency procedures and the location and uses of lifesaving appliances and equipment onboard.
In the event of an emergency when a ship is flooding, severely listing or is on fire and sinking, and the crew cannot control the situation safely, the vessel may need to be abandoned.
The decision to abandon ship is taken by the Captain / Master. In addition to the general alarm and on some ships an abandon ship alarm, the Abandon Ship order is given verbally over the loudspeaker system.
You will hear:
« This is your captain speaking. Abandon ship. Abandon ship. Abandon ship. All crew proceed to muster stations immediately. »
Abandoning the ship
The order to abandon ship does not mean jump off the vessel into the water - which you should avoid doing unless you have no choice, or it is a last resort.
Abandon ship means crew should immediately execute the emergency tasks that were assigned on the muster list and then proceed to the muster station.
From the muster station, crew should follow the orders of a superior officer in preparation to leave the vessel.
Before abandoning ship, all crew onboard should:
• Put on warm clothing.
• Perform emergency tasks according to the muster list.
• Put on a lifejacket and proceed to their muster station.
• Assist passengers and particularly those in need of help such as elderly people or children.
• Perform the roll call to check the presence of crew members and sometimes passengers.
Emergency Equipment
The ship's muster list details the duties and responsibilities of each crew member in the event of the need to abandon ship.
Personnel are also assigned to carry:
· Extra food and rations.
· Distress pyrotechnics
· Walkie-talkies.
· An emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB).
· Search and rescue transponders (SART).
Further equipment and rations may be collected if time and safety allow.
Once the order has been given, crew and passengers should proceed to board a lifeboat or life raft, sometimes by means of an inflatable slide or ladder.