Response to Emergencies

Question 1

Actions in event of Grounding/Stranding

Answer 1

1. Move to the bridge immediately and take the command on the bridge
2. Stop the ship’s propulsion
3. Sound the general emergency alarm if not already activated.
4. Close all the watertight and fire doors
5. Order a full muster of crew and guests - to check for casualties/missing persons
6. Order Engineers switch to high water intakes
7. Start the bilge pumps / fire pumps to be used to pump out water.
8. Obtain the ship’s position in latitude and longitude by any reliable means. Make an assessment of seabed.
9. Order the ship’s ‘deck lights’ on and display the appropriate lights, shapes and sound signal
10. Order the OSC to obtain an interim ‘damage assessment’.
11. Order the muster of ‘damage control parties’
12. Sound tanks and around ship
13. Order a distress or urgency message to be sent, if appropriate
14. Check weather forecasts and tides
15. Consider reducing draught or taking on ballast to prevent unwanted movement
16. Plan and prepare to refloat as appropriate or prepare LSA and survival craft
17. Consider actions to minimise pollution to the marine environment
    - Checklist
18. Inform Flag, Class, Mangement, Owner, P&I
19. Preserve evidence, photos, videos and logbooks which will be used to write reports and annexed to the OLB later.
20. Report the incident to the MAIB of the Marine Authority as soon as practicable after the incident. (Ref MGN 564]

Question 2

Action in the event of a Collision

Answer 2

1. Move to the bridge immediately and take command on the bridge
2. Stop propulsion or manoeuvre as appropriate to ensure vessels remain intact
3. Sound the general emergency alarm if not already activated
4. Close all watertight and fire doors
5. Order a full muster of crew and guests - to check for casualties/missing persons
6. Start the bilge pumps / fire pumps to be used to pump out water.
7. Obtain the ship’s position in latitude and longitude by any reliable means.
8. Turn the ship’s ‘deck lights’ on and display the appropriate (NUC) lights / sound signal /shapes
9. Order the OSC to obtain an interim ‘damage assessment’.
10. Order the muster of ‘damage control parties’ - and make assessment of ship’s GM.
11. Order a distress or urgency message to be sent
12. Activate deck parties to prepare LSA and survival craft
13. Consider anchoring
    -Checklist
14. Inform Flag, Class, Mangement, Owner
15. Consider actions to minimise pollution to the marine environment
16. Preserve evidence, photos, videos and logbooks which will be used to write reports and annexed to the OLB later.

Subsequent actions and legal obligations regarding the other vessel;

1. Standby to render assistance to the other vessel
2. Exchange information with the Master or Officer in Charge of the other vessel.
3. Entry of the incident to be entered in the offical log book.
4. Report the incident to the MAIB of the Marine Authority as soon as practicable after the incident. (Ref MGN 564)
5. Never admit liability!

Question 3

Actions in event of Fire

Answer 3

First Responder
Find, Inform, Restrict, Extinguish or Escape

-Activate fire alarm / Confirm Fire via CCTV/Fire Panel
-Muster all crew and passengers and confirm no casualties or missing
-OOW - inform master
-Handover & Take Conn - or allow OOW to continue keeping navigational watch depending on situation
-Slow down vessel as appropriate
-Close fire doors / watertight doors
-Close fire dampers
-Ensure Pumps Started
-Ensure fixed fire fighting activated (drenching valves, hi fog)
-Shut off fuel / isolate electricity, if necessary
-Shut off HVAC as appropriate
-Manoeuvre vessel (Smoke, Nav Dangers etc)
-Prepare BA to Investigate
-Initiate Boundary Cooling
-Consider Stability
-Prepare LSA
-Order and Authorise Distress/urgency to be sent, as required
- Assess damage and watertight integrity
- Checklist
- Inform Flag, Class, Mangement, Owner
- MARPOL
- Preserve evidence, photos, videos and logbooks which will be used to write reports and annexed to the OLB later.
-Report the incident to the MAIB as soon as practicable after the incident. (Ref MGN 564)

Question 4

Who is the MAIB?
What do they do?

Answer 4

Marine Accident Investigation Branch

• It’s an independant branch within the department of transport and is separate to the MCA
• SOLAS Chapter XI-1 (Enhanced Safety) discusses the duties of flag state to investigate any accidents that happen to UK vessels worldwide and to any foreign ships within territorial waters.
• What needs to be reported to the MAIB:
  
  • Collision, Grounding or Fire
  • Serious injury onboard, loss of limb, partial loss of eyesight, any broken bones except fingers or toes,loss of conciousness, hospitalisation for more than 24 hours, missing work for 3 days or a dislocation.
  • Form ARF1 (Found on the MAIB website)
    Accident Reporting Form - Also have 24 hour reporting line
• It is important to note that

Question 5

Action of receipt of Distress message

Answer 5

Treat Every distress message as serious
UNCLOS - SOLAS V R.33

Within Sea-Area:
-Commence Record keeping
-Wait 5 mins for coast radio
-Make entry into GMDSS Logbook
-Position to assist - Acknowledge distress
-Relay if no response from Coast Radio
-Proceed at best speed

Outside Sea Area:
-Commence record keeping
-Immediately acknowledge distress by radiotelephony
-Relay by any means
-Proceed at best speed

See a flare: take bearing!

Question 6

Decision to Abandon ship

Answer 6

-Freeboard left
-Weather conditions
-Stability of the vessels in distress
-Geographical position
-LSA available
-Casualties present
-Number of persons and their experience
-Range of SAR craft and time required to reach you
-Danger of explosion
-Comms with SAR
-Safely carrying out abandonment
-Climbing up into the liferaft

Question 7

Considerations / Checks to be made when entering / encountering heavy weather

Answer 7

Consider amending passage plan to best route vessel around heavy weather / or an an angle of attack that mitigates the effects of large seaway.

WT Integrity

• Hull openings closed
• WT Doors Closed and Secured
• Hawse pipe / spurling pipe covers
• Vent pipes covered
• All Sea Valves close apart from essentials
• Storm boards rigged

Vessel Security:

• Scuppers and freeing ports clear
• Extra lashings and stowage
• Reduces F.S.E
• Increase stability (GM)
• Check-Emergency Comms

Crew Safety:

• Restrict access to decks, rig life lines
• Safety harness’s
• Check liferafts
• Modify watch routine
• Crew Rested
• Warn Galley to prepare meals in advance

Question 8

The OOW has entered restricted visability.

What 10 things would you expect him to do?

Answer 8

1. Call me
2. Place a helmsman at the wheel
3. Have engines ready for immedate manoeuvre
4. Start fog signals
5. Increase the lookout
6. Reassess safe speed (thing about location, other traffic etc
7. Turn on Navigation lights
8. Close all watertight doors
9. Commence systematic plotting of all radar targets
10. Open Bridge wing doors and stop any noisy work in the vicinity

Question 9

Main Engine Failure / NUC 10 miles from Coast

Answer 9

1. Call me
2. Check poition by all available means
3. Show ‘NUC’ lights and shapes and sound signals where appropriate
4. Proximity to navigational hazards / other vessels checked
5. Chief Engineer called to discuss situation
6. Make and assessment of the weather / conditions and predicted drift
7. Prepare for anchoring if possible depending on water depth and conditions
8. Instruct for a safety or urgency message to be sent, as required
9. Modify AIS status
10. Inform VTS or Port Authority
11. Maintain log/record of events and decisions
12. Contact company to organise tow, consider safety of life and whether crew/passengers need to be disembarked

Question 10

Blackout

Answer 10

1. If not the Master, call the Master
2. Keep ship away from danger
3. Close watertight doors
4. NUC light, shapes and sound signals as appropriate
5. Contact Engine room
6. Select emergency power supply for Bridge and navigation equipment
7. Check position and position of vessels in the vicinity
8. Check for navigational hazards
9. Prepare for anchoring if depth and conditions appropriate
10. Inform VTS or Port Authority as appropriate
11. Modify AIS
12. Record events and decisions made