Solas requires all vessels provide the following
Emergency instructions for crew
Crew training in the use of fire fighting and life saving appliances.
Emergency signals
Emergency Instructions for crew
- Clear instructions to be provided and followed by every person on board inn case of an emergency.
- Abandon ship training and drills.
Manuals: A training manual for all FFA and LSA shall be provided in each crew messroom and recreation room or in each cabin location of training manuals displayed on muster lists
Practice musters and drills: Solas regulation Ill/19 require Musters of newly embarked passengers prior to or immediately upon departure. Passengers shall be instructed in the use of lifejackets and the action to take in an emergency. Each abandon ship drill shall include
a) Summoning of passengers and crew to muster stations with the alarm crew shll participate in each weekly abandon ship drill passengers should be strongly
b) Reporting to stations and preparing for the duties described in the Muster Lists.
c) Checking that passengers and crew are suitably dressed.
d) Checking that lifejackets are correctly donned.
e) Lowering at least one lifeboat advised to attend these drills
f) Starting and operating the lif boat engine.
g) Operation of davits used for aunching liferafts.
Above drills to be conducted as if there is an actual emergency each lifeboat shall be launched with its assigned operating crew aboard and manoeuvred in the water once in three months.
Rescue boat other than lifeboat to be launched each month with their assigned operating crew and manoeuvred in the water Emergency lighting for mustering and abandonment shall be tested at each abandor ship drill.
On Board Training and Instructions: Fire Fighting equipment and on board trai in the use of the all ships life saving appliances including survival craft equipment shall be given as soon as possible but not later than two weeks after a crew joins the ship. Training to include operation of ships liferafts, problems of hypothermia, first aid treatment of hypothermia, launching procedures in heavy weather of lifeboat, liferaft and davit launched liferafts. Records to be kept in logbook of the date when musters were held, with details of abandon ship drills, and fire drills with on board training in use of FFA & LSA equipment.
Operational readiness, maintenance and inspections
Before ship leaves port and at all times during the voyage all LSA/FFA shall be in working order and ready for immediate use.
Maintenance: Certain officers and crew to be assigned for maintenance of all FFAand LSA and their names displayed on Muster Lists. Instructions & schedule for on board maintenance of all LSA and FFA to be provided and maintenance shall be carried out accordingly. This may be in the form of a ships planned maintenance programme Lifeboat falls to be changed end to end every 30 months and renewed every 5 years Spares and repair equipment shall be provided for all FFA and LSA subject to consumption and excessive wear
Maintenance programme to include weekly, monthly quarterly, half yearly and annual inspections, tests, maintenance & renewal instructions for all FFA and LSA especially the following critical systems.
1) Lifeboats and equipment of lifeboat, lifeboat engine.
2) Liferafts, rescue boat&equipment
3) Hydrostatic release
4) Davits for lifeboat and liferaft
5) Lifebuoys
6) Pyrotechnics
7) Lifeboat radio, SART, EPIRB
8) Life jackets, TPA, immersion suits
9) Fire extinguishers
10) Emergency generator
11) Emergency lighting
12) Emergency power source for radio installation
13) Emergency alarms
14) Public address system
15) Fireman's outfit and breathing apparatus
16) Emergency fire pump.
17) Remote stops for fuel supply and vent fans
18) Remote/local control of fire dampers
19) Fire detection /alarm system
20) Fire doors
21) Bilge pumps
22) Lecal/Remote closing of watertight doors
23) Familiarity with damage control plan by key crew members
24) Lowering of life boat / rescue boat test of propulsion & steering systern and recovery to stowed position Test of emergency steering gear
25) Test of Emergency Alarm and signals
Emergency Alarm and Signals
All crew and passengers should be familiar with the energency signal for fire and
abandon shiip. For abandon ship the alarm is 7 or more short blasts followed by one long blast however only the master give the verbal order to abandon the vessel. Fire alarm is the continuous ringing of the alarm bell or siren. When above alarm sounds all crew to evacuate, direct and safely assemble all passengers at their muster stations, take count, check all lifejackets worn correctly and report to bridge
Emergency Precedures
Vessel to have muster list and defined emergency procedures and checklists for all
types of emergencies on board passenger ships such as
- collision
. flooding
- structural failure
- main engine failure
-grounding
-fire
-navigational equipment failure
-piracy
-bomb threat
-escape, evacuation and rescue
-breathing apparatus procedure
-medical emergency and ev acuation
-location of pollution prevention equipment & precedures fer notifying port or nearest coastal autherities communications
-containment & or extractien of smoke
-search procedures for missing persons
-ballasting and deballasting
Muster list to indicate emergency alarm signals, names of officers & crew their duties for boat and emergency stations. Substitutes for key persons, names of crew responsible for maintenance of FFA and LSA location of training manuals, LSA&FE control plans, name of safety officer
The muster list includes names of passengers assigned for each boat and personsin
charge ofthem and boat
Location of muster station and embarkation deck to be indicated All officers and crew
familiar with emergency procedures/ actions in case of any emergency with special emphasis on
Passenger count
Actions to be taken in event of emergency
Use of life saving appliances
Use of fire fighting appliances
All persons on board to be counted prior departure of vessel and passenger and crew list must be given ashore and made really available to search and rescue services when needed, including information of physically handicapped persons
Vessel must have illustrations and instructions conspicuously displayed in all passenger spaces to inform passengers of the essential actions to be taken in an emergency and the correct use of life saving appliances
The master must ensure that the illustrations and instructions are drawn to the attention of all persons on ooard in a manner appropriate to the operation the methods used may be an announcement of the relevant information or an announcement directing passengers to the displayed information or pointing out displayed information to persons as they board or a personal tour for passengers or groups of passengers
In the event of any emergency the following procedures will be required to assist the passengers
Communication skills must be sufficient to assist
1) Communication Skills such as demonstration, hand signals, calling attention to the location of instructions, appliances, or evacuation routes muster lists and emergency instructions and escape routes including alternate
3) Procedures for evacuating passengers from areas of responsibility. To muster or
4) Procedures for use of emergency equipment relevant to the duties of assising passengers in emergency situations. Location and donning procedures for lifejackets.
5) Communication proceduresusing internal communication systems
- raising alarm
- alerting the passengers
- reporting and notification
6) Evacuation procedures to include
- use of passenger list and counts
- the alarm signal
- mustering passengers and importance of keeping orderto avoid panic
- location and use ofemergency exits
- evacuation equipment
- search plan for each deck or section of deck for any missing persons
- maintenance of escape routes being kept clear of obstructions
- methods or facilities available for evacuation of disabled persons or persons
- ensuring the passengers have donned their life jackets correctly
In case of Abandonment
-Ensure correct use of individual survival equipment eg life jackets immersion
suits, life buoys, light and smoke signals and other equipment.
-Need for assistance in special cases
In case of fire
- Initial detection and initial containment
- Raising alarm
- The danger of smoke inhalation
- Breathing protection
For correct, and quick emergency response following is required
1) Familiarization by means ofrepeated organized guided tour on board
2) Repeated participation in fire dills and life boat drills including transportation of simulated causalities
3) Repeated exercise in use of equipment such as life jackets, and other protective clothing
4) Repeated exercise in the use of internal communication system
5) Repeated exercises in evacuation
There should always be sufficient, trained personnel assigned to assist the
total number of passengers on board.
