Special and general instruction by master

A separate section for general and special instructions is provided which is used by the master or the chief engineer of the vessel to keep inform or to instruct the crew of the ship.

The muster list is posted to keep the crew aware of the different emergency situations and duties to be performed if such situations occur in reality. For this, regular training and drill must be conducted by the master of the ship to ensure that all crew members are familiar with life saving and fire fighting appliances.

Exercise 4. Be ready to discuss the following text in English

Emergency Training and Drills

Each member of the crew shall participate in at least one abandon ship drill and one fire drill every month. The drills of the crew shall take part within 24 hours of the ship leaving a port if more than 25% of the crew have not participated in abandon shin and fire drills on board that particular ship in the previous month. The Administration may accept other arrangements that are at least equivalent for those classes of ship for which this is impracticable.

On a ship engaged on an international voyage, which is not a short international voyage, musters of the passengers shall take place within 24 hours after their embarkation. Passengers shall be instructed in the use of life-jackets and the action to take in emergency. If only a small number of passengers embark at a port after the muster has been held it shall be sufficient, instead of holding another muster, to draw the attention of these passengers to the emergency instructions. On a ship engaged on a short international voyage, if a muster of the passengers is not held on departure, the attention of the passengers shall be drawn to the emergency instructions.

Each abandon ship drill shall include:

- Summoning of passengers and crew to muster stations with the alarm required and ensuring that they are made aware of the order to abandon ship specified in the muster list;

- Reporting to stations and preparing for the duties described in the muster list;

- Checking that passengers and crew are suitably dressed;

- Checking that life-jackets are correctly donned;

- Lowering of at least one lifeboat after any necessary preparation for launching;

- Starting and operating the lifeboat engine;

- Operation of davits used for launching liferafts.

Each lifeboat shall be launched with its assigned operating crew aboard and manoeuvred in the water at least once every three months during an abandon ship drill.

If lifeboat and rescue boat launching drills are carried out with the ship making headway, such drills shall, because of the dangers involved, be practiced in sheltered waters only and under the supervision of an officer experienced in such drills.

Emergency lighting for mustering and abandonment shall be tested at each abandon ship drill.

Each fire drill shall include:

- Reporting to stations and preparing for the duties described in the Muster list;

- Starting a fire pump using at least the two required jets of water to show that the system is in proper working order;

- Checking fireman’s outfits and other personal rescue equipment;

- Checking the relevant communication equipment;

- Checking the operation of watertight doors, fire doors, and fire dampers;

- Checking the necessary arrangements for subsequent abandonment of the ship.

Fire drills should be planned in such a way that due consideration is given to regular practice in the various emergencies that may occur depending on the type of ship and its cargo.

The equipment used during drills shall immediately be brought back to its fully operational condition, and any faults and defects discovered during the drills shall be remedied as soon as possible.

Drills shall as far as practicable be conducted as if there were an actual emergency.

Exercise 5. Jig Saw Reading. Read the following paragraphs in groups. Be ready to provide the general idea of each paragraph and render the most important information.

Paragraph 1

The Master of the vessel is responsible for conducting drills as required by SOLAS.

Alarm Signals

Alarm signals vary from vessel to vessel, however SOLAS standards should apply. Refer to station bills for definition of audible alarms.

Fire Drills

A fire drill should be held within 24 hours of the vessel sailing after a port call or crew change of more than 75% of crew complement. Fire drills should consist of simulated incidents and must include:

1) Checking the muster list.

2) Manning fire stations, equipment and apparatus.

3) Testing the fire pump by starting it and spraying water, testing nozzles at full pressure.

4) Recording complete details of drills including response time in the ship’s official log and the safety report.

All crew members and passengers aboard should be accounted for by the fire team leader or his designated assistant.Only the minimum personnel essential for the operations should be excused from a drill. It is necessary, therefore, for drill times to be staggered to ensure that all persons attend.

The Chief Officer is normally designated as Fire Chief.

Paragraph 2

Manning Fire Stations

1) Trained fire fighters should dress in their fire fighting suits and then proceed to the fire site.

2) Start the emergency fire pump and foam pump.

3) Deploy fire hoses in the area of simulated fire.

4) The first aid team should tend any simulated casualties.

Testing the Fire Pump

The fire pump(s) should be started and a sufficient number of outlets used to ascertain that the system is in proper working order. Normally the foam system should be off; however the system should be fully tested for a short period at least once every three months. Fire hose nozzles should be tested to ensure that they could provide both jet and spray.

Paragraph 3

Man Overboard Drills

Man overboard drills are intended to familiarize all members of the crew with the necessary procedures required to locate and recover a man-overboard victim. All persons aboard the ship should be instructed:

1) In the deployment of the man overboard life raft.

2) In the use of the line throwers.

3) In Man Overboard Boat (MOB) rescue procedures.

4) Of the location and use of the life rings with rope, light and smoke.

5) On their assigned man overboard station.

Man overboard drills should be performed simulating various operational conditions and should be practiced in as real a scenario as possible.

Paragraph 4

Abandon Ship Drills

Abandon ship drills should be held as required by local law or SOLAS standards. Each abandon ship drill should include:

1) The sounding of the alarm to summon personnel to their stations.

2) Personnel reporting to their designated stations and preparing for the duties specified in the muster list.

3) Checking that personnel are present and are suitably dressed. Warm clothing, with as many layers as possible, should be worn.

4) Checking that lifejackets and/or survival suits are correctly worn. Personnel in or close to their cabins at the time of the alarm should bring lifejackets and/or survival suits from their cabin stowage point.

5) If applicable, lowering but not necessarily launching of at least one lifeboat after any necessary pre-launch preparations, including davit inspection, operation and starting the lifeboat engine.

6) Preparing at least one inflatable life raft by lowering necessary rails or chains.

As far as practical, different lifeboats should be lowered at successive drills and the drills should be conducted as if in an actual emergency.

Paragraph 5

Lifeboats should be launched with the assigned operating crew onboard and maneuvered in the water during an abandon ship drill when appropriate. Caution should be advised with compliance of the above two paragraphs. They should be conducted only on sheltered waters and under the direct supervision of an officer experienced in such drills.

Where a vessel is equipped with a rescue craft that is not a lifeboat this craft should be launched each month as far as practical. Where a vessel’s means of abandonment is provided solely by life rafts, the rescue craft role should include recovering personnel from the sea and gathering the rafts as necessary.

The emergency lighting for abandonment should be tested with each abandon ship drill.

Paragraph 6

Emergency Evacuation Plan

Medical evacuation plans should be maintained for each operating area and operating condition. These plans should provide a means for communication to emergency services and transportation. Methods, routes and contingency plans for weather conditions - or when the primary plan fails - should also be established. Medical information and travel documents should accompany the patient. Emergency preparedness exercises should be carried out on a regular basis and at the beginning of a new operation to verify that all evacuation plans are working and all contact names and numbers are checked.