Immertion Suits - Difference Between Life and Death

IMMERSION SUITS
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH

IMMERSION SUITS
A VIDEOTEL PRODUCTION
AUTHOR
Sheila Brownlee
84 NEWMAN STREET, LONDON W1T 3EU

TELEPHONE +44(0)20
7299 1800
FACSIMILE +44(0)20
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mail@videotelmail.com
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IMMERSION SUITS
A VIDEOTEL PRODUCTION
THE PRODUCERS WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ASSISTANCE OF

THE MASTERS, OFFICERS AND CREWS OF ARKLOW WIND AND MAERSK RYE
THE STAFF OF THE SURVIVAL CENTRE, RNLI COLLEGE
Arklow Shipping Ltd

Avin International SA
Cosalt Safety & Protection and Crewsaver
Diving Diseases Research Centre, Plymouth (DDRC)
International Maritime Organization (IMO)
Meridian Marine Mgt Ltd
National Maritime College of Ireland
Norbulk Shipping (UK) Ltd
Paris MOU
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
The Maersk Company Ltd
Unicorn Shipping (Pty) Ltd
CONSULTANTS: Mike Short and John Parlour
PRODUCER: Peter Wilde
WRITER/DIRECTOR: Chris Setchell
PRINT AUTHOR: Sheila Brownlee
WARNING
Any unauthorised copying, lending, exhibition, diffusion, sale, public performance or other exploitation of the accompanying video is
strictly prohibited and may result in prosecution.
© COPYRIGHT Videotel 2007
This video and accompanying workbook training package is intended to reflect the best available techniques and practices at the time of
production. It is intended purely as comment. No responsibility is accepted by Videotel, or by any firm, corporation or organisation who
or which has been in any way concerned with the production or authorised translation, supply or sale of this video for accuracy of any
information given hereon or for any omission herefrom.
IMMERSION SUITS – THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH VIDEOTEL PRODUCTIONS
CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 4
WHAT IS AN IMMERSION SUIT? 5
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH 6
HOW IMMERSION SUITS WORK 8
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR IMMERSION SUIT 10
HOW TO PUT YOUR IMMERSION SUIT ON 16
USING YOUR IMMERSION SUIT IN AN EVACUATION 19
MAINTENANCE OF YOUR IMMERSION SUIT 22
SUMMARY 25
ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS 26
FURTHER RESOURCES 29
APPENDICES 30
1 Checklists for cold water survival 30
2 Regulations relating to immersion suits 31
3 Different flag states’ definitions of warm waters 35
4 Case studies 36
ASSESSMENT ANSWERS 44
3
INTRODUCTION Until recently, only the members of rescue boat crews had to be equipped
with immersion suits. But since 1st July 2006, it has been mandatory, under
SOLAS regulation III/32.3, to provide them for every person on board cargo
ships and bulk carriers. However, cargo ships constructed before 1 July 2006
need only comply by the time of their first safety survey on or after 1 July
2006. There is no exemption for bulk carriers.
Immersion suits are not required for every person on board if the ship is
constantly engaged on voyages in warm climates, generally regarded as
between 20° North or 20° South (these limits may vary according to Flag
State).
The regulation was introduced in response to the increased incidence of
seafarers’ deaths from hypothermia after abandoning ship.
ABOUT THIS WORKBOOK

The workbook follows the same structure as the IMMERSION SUITS video and
explains:
• The importance of appropriate immersion suit training

for all crew members
• When immersion suits should be used
• The different types of immersion suit
• How they work
• When and how to put them on
• How to use them in an emergency
• How to maintain and store them
It contains extracts from relevant regulations and case studies of ship

evacuations in which people did not survive because they had no immersion
suits or had not been adequately trained in how to use them.
NOTES TO TRAINERS
There is no set method for using this programme, but it is recommended that
you start by showing the DVD, then go through the workbook section by
section, repeating the relevant part of the DVD as required.
You may want to prepare by watching the DVD on your own so that you can
see how it relates to the type of immersion suits you have been equipped with
on your ship.
Make sure you have an immersion suit to hand while doing the training.
4
WHAT IS AN Immersion suits, also known as survival suits and abandonment

IMMERSION SUIT? suits, are intended for use in ship evacuations, when rescue could
be some time arriving.
Whereas lifejackets give you buoyancy, immersion suits are designed to save
your life in cold water by providing protection against the elements. Most suits
provide some degree of insulation from the cold water.
Unlike lifejackets, immersion suits cover everything except the face. They do
not let water in and are made of synthetic material that keeps the body warm.
They are brightly coloured so that rescuers can see them from far off.
Immersion suits
in the water
5
THE DIFFERENCE HOW THE BODY REACTS TO EXTREME TEMPERATURES

BETWEEN LIFE An understanding of how human beings react to changes in
AND DEATH temperature may be helpful in explaining how immersion suits
can save lives.
The body carefully regulates itself to maintain a steady temperature of 37°C,
by means of the network of blood vessels which run through the core of the
body. The body’s outer layers pick up the heat (produced by bodily functions
such as exercise and digestion) and distribute it throughout the body.
In hot external temperatures, the blood vessels expand to increase heat loss.
In cool surroundings, the blood vessels narrow to keep valuable body heat
from being lost too rapidly.
However, the body can only do this within certain limits. In extremes of hot
and cold the system becomes unable to regulate itself and, beyond a certain
point, the person is in serious danger of death from heatstroke or
hypothermia.
THE EFFECTS OF COLD WATER EXPOSURE

The main hazards of being in cold water (usually defined as 25°C
or less) are the involuntary breathing in of water, and heat loss.
Water conducts heat away from the body more than 20 times faster than air,
but there are other factors that dictate the speed at which a person will lose
their body heat:
• The water and air temperatures

• Wind speed
• Sea conditions
• Body type
• Body position and movements
• Mental state
• State of health and fitness
• The level of alcohol and drugs in the body
• The length of time spent in the water
• Whether or not protective clothing has been put on
6
THE DIFFERENCE THE FOUR STAGES OF DEATH FROM COLD

BETWEEN LIFE WATER IMMERSION
AND DEATH There are four stages of cold water immersion at which death can occur:
1. THE COLD SHOCK REFLEX

Immediately a person is immersed in cold water, they gasp in shock, their
heart rate goes up, and they start to breathe rapidly as an automatic and
uncontrollable response. This only lasts a couple of minutes, but if their
head is not held above the water (for example by a lifejacket), they may not
be able to stop themselves breathing water in and may drown.
2. LOSS OF MUSCLE PERFORMANCE

For those who survive the cold shock, the next stage is the cooling of the
muscles in the limbs, which comes on during the first 30 minutes in the
water. This loss of muscular strength can prevent the person from hanging
on to an overturned boat, grasping a rescue line, closing life raft apertures,
or operating equipment such as radios or signalling devices. Again, the
person may drown if they are unable to keep their head above water or
away from waves.
3. HYPOTHERMIA
Hypothermia can set in within 30 minutes. The person starts to shiver in
an attempt to produce more body heat, but if the cold is severe, their core
temperature will nevertheless begin to drop. By the time it falls below
35°C, they will be suffering from fatigue, numbness, difficulty in speaking
and disorientation. They will become unconscious when their temperature
reaches 30°C, and will die at 26°C.
4. POST-RESCUE COLLAPSE
Death can occur at any stage of hypothermia, and even conscious survivors
can collapse, become unconscious and die, after they have been rescued.
PROTECTION AGAINST HEAT LOSS

An immersion suit can make all the difference between life and
death because it minimises the effects of cold water shock and
keeps you warm.
A lifejacket alone can help prevent a person from drowning by keeping their
head above water. But it does not offer protection against waves splashing
over them, and it does not prevent heat loss, so hypothermia is a significant
risk unless the person is rescued very rapidly.
Wearing an immersion suit in combination with a lifejacket can extend
survival time by a considerable amount. For example, after six hours in 0°C
water, protected by an immersion suit, the body temperature should not drop
by more than 2°C.
7
HOW IMMERSION Immersion suits are insulated body suits with feet and hands.
SUITS WORK They cover the whole body, except for the upper face, and help the
wearer to survive cold water by:
• Locking body heat inside the suit

• Helping to keep the wearer afloat
• Preventing contact with the water
SOLAS approved immersion suits must have a ‘clo value’ (clothing insulation
value) of at least 0.75 . This will prevent the wearer’s core temperature from
falling below 35°C if they are in 0°C water for up to six hours.
THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF IMMERSION SUIT

1 Immersion suits without inherent insulation, usually made of
lightweight polyurethane coated nylon. These are always to be
worn with warm clothes and an approved lifejacket.
Immersion suit
without inherent
insulation
2 Immersion suits with inherent insulation which are only able to

fulfil the regulatory buoyancy requirements with a lifejacket.
These are the most common type and are usually made from
fire retardant neoprene, a naturally buoyant material which is
resistant to oil, sunlight and seawater.
Immersion suit
with inherent
insulation
8
HOW IMMERSION 3 Immersion suits with inherent insulation which fulfil the
SUITS WORK buoyancy requirements without carrying a lifejacket. These
suits are equipped with an approved light and whistle and a
buoyancy pillow at the back. These suits need not be worn with
a lifejacket, but the normal complement of lifejackets must still
be provided on board (This type of suit must be classified as a lifejacket
by the Administration if it is to be worn without a lifejacket).
Immersion suit
with inherent
insulation and
buoyancy
All immersion suits are designed to minimise trapped air which

could counteract the buoyancy of the lifejacket, tipping the wearer
up the wrong way.
Important note! Immersion suits should not be worn as everyday

work suits, as they could easily become damaged and useless in
emergencies.
9
GETTING TO THE RIGHT SIZE

KNOW YOUR Immersion suits usually come in three or more sizes and it is important that
IMMERSION SUIT you are equipped with one that fits you. For example, if your suit is far too
small, you will not be able to get into it and do it up. If it is far too big, you will
not be able to move around safely.
Some manufacturers also make one-size-fits-all suits.
COMPATIBILITY
There are many different immersion suits and lifejackets on the market, and
not all of them are compatible with each other. You should not take for
granted that:
• Your lifejacket will fit over the top of your immersion suit
• There will be enough room for you and your fellow crew members
inside the lifeboat when everyone is wearing their suits.
When you practise getting into your immersion suit for the first time, try
putting your lifejacket on over the top. If it does not fit, tell your Safety Officer!
It is also recommended that, as part of your safety drill, you board and fill a
lifeboat with fully-kitted crew to find out whether you can A. fit through the
door and B. all manage to get inside.
It is in fact the ship owner’s responsibility to see that “Before a ship leaves
port and at all times during the voyage, all lifesaving appliances should be in
working order and ready for immediate use.” (Regulation 20 of SOLAS). This
includes ensuring compatibility between immersion suits and lifejackets.
IMMERSION SUIT FEATURES

It is vital for you to familiarise yourself with your immersion suit
and how it works, so take it out of its bag and lay it out on a
suitably clean, dry surface.
A top-to-toe examination will show that the seams are glued and blind
stitched to ensure they are waterproof, and that there are seals that prevent
water getting in through the head and hand openings.
Now take a look at the suit’s features one by one.
10
GETTING TO GLOVES AND MITTENS

KNOW YOUR The regulations require you to be able to carry out normal duties such as
IMMERSION SUIT climbing a ladder or operating a VHF radio when wearing an immersion suit.
Some types of immersion suit have five-finger gloves, others have mittens,
and a third type has both.
The five-finger rubber glove gives you the most dexterity but has limited
thermal protection.
The five-finger
rubber glove
Mitten fitting over

rubber glove
With the type that has both mitten and glove, the glove goes on first, to enable
you to perform the necessary tasks. You then pull the mittens over the top of
the gloves to keep your hands warm.
BUDDY LINE
To prevent you from drifting away from your fellow seafarers, and to help any
injured fellow crew member, the buddy line allows you to tie yourself to other
people. Being in a group makes you more clearly visible from the air, and
helps to keep up morale.
Buddy line
11
GETTING TO FEET
KNOW YOUR With most suit designs, you are able to put the immersion suit on while
IMMERSION SUIT wearing your work boots. Keeping your boots on provides a double layer of
insulation, and makes it easier to climb down a ladder, if you have to.
Booted foot going

into leg of
immersion suit
Most designs of suit have straps round the ankle, which take the slack out
and allow for easy walking. The soles of the feet are made of reinforced
rubber so will not slip on wet decks.
MOUTH AND NOSE MASK

When you are in the sea, even in moderate conditions, it can be difficult not to
breathe in water accidentally. If your suit has a mask, it will help to keep the
water out of your airways, whether you are in or out of the water.
With mouth and

nose mask
No mouth and
nose mask
Other immersion suit designs do not have a mouth and nose mask. They
simply zip up until only the upper part of the face is exposed.
12
GETTING TO FACE SEAL

KNOW YOUR This goes round the edge of the face. The seal keeps water out and is vitally
IMMERSION SUIT important in preventing heat loss from the head.
Face seal
ZIP
The metal zip is one-piece and goes from the crotch up to the chin. This is the
most vital part of the immersion suit as it is potentially the weakest link and
can let in water if not cared for properly. (For an illustration of the dangers of a
malfunctioning zip, see the Hili-Kum case study in the Appendix).
Trunk of suit
with zip
Use of reflective
tape
SAFETY AIDS
Retro-reflective tape on your head, chest, arms and back make you more
visible from a distance.
13
GETTING TO
Whistle
KNOW YOUR
IMMERSION SUIT
The whistle on the zip slider can be blown to attract rescuers or fellow crew
members who cannot see you in the dark.
Not all lifejackets have lights, but all immersion suits do. The immersion suit
light is on your upper chest and starts automatically the moment you are in
the water. Because the light flashes rhythmically, it is more visible from afar
than a constant beam.
Light
MARKING OF IMMERSION SUITS

Immersion suits without inherent insulation must be marked ‘To be worn with
warm clothing’, but it is not an IMO (International Maritime Organization)
requirement to mark the suit with call sign, ship’s name or home port.
However, some authorities such as the USCG (United States Coast Guard) do
require US vessels to mark their immersion suits with:
• The vessel’s name

• The name of the suit’s owner, or
• The name of the person to whom the suit is assigned
If you are going to mark your suit, it is recommended that you check with the
manufacturer for the proper paint or magic marker to use, as the solvents
from non-approved pens can melt neoprene.
14
GETTING TO WHERE IMMERSION SUITS ARE KEPT

KNOW YOUR Normally your own immersion suit will be stored in your cabin, with a number
IMMERSION SUIT of extra suits in boxes at assembly stations or near the survival crafts, but
there are no regulations specifying where they should be kept and this will
depend on the ship owner.
The new SOLAS regulation requires suits to be placed at remote locations for
people on watch or working in these locations, and their position must be
clearly indicated.
Find out where the immersion suits are located on your ship!
15
HOW TO PUT It is recommended that you take your immersion suit to your
YOUR IMMERSION regular safety drills.
SUIT ON Putting the suit on is simple, as it is all in one piece, but it still
requires practice to learn how to put it on, with warm inner
clothing and the lifejacket over the top, in just two minutes.
When practising, it is best to take your boots off so that you do not risk
damaging the suit. But you should leave your boots on in a real evacuation
unless your type of suit already has built-in feet.
1 Insert one leg first.
2 Put in next leg and

pull suit up to waist.
3 Pull hood over head.
4 Place the ‘non-

dominant’ arm into
the suit first. (This
means that left-
handed people should
put their right arm in
first, and right-
handed people put
their left arm in first).
16
HOW TO PUT 5 Place ‘dominant’ arm

YOUR IMMERSION in last (left arm, if you
are left-handed, right
SUIT ON if you are right-
handed).
6 Zip the suit up fully,

right to the end of
the zip, using the
zip's thong rather
than the zip itself.
7 Put the face seal on.
8 Insert fingers into

face seal, squat down
and squeeze the suit
to express the air.
9 Remove fingers
before standing up to
prevent air
If you do not do this, the re-entering.
excess air will collect
around your legs when you
enter the water, and you
will find yourself with your
legs up and your head
down, making it extremely
difficult, if not impossible,
to raise your head above
the water – a potentially To vent the air from the suit, pull the neck of the suit out from the face (or insert your
fatal position to find fingers from one hand into the other sleeve), and squat down. Before standing up
yourself in! again, release the seal or sleeve so that the air does not get back in. If you have
Velcro ankle or leg straps, you can also do them up while you are bending down.
17
HOW TO PUT 10 Most suits are not

YOUR IMMERSION flotation approved so
a lifejacket must be
SUIT ON worn.
Solid lifejacket.
11 Gas lifejacket.
12 Put on the over

mittens, unless you
are required to
operate machinery or
assist with evacuation.
You should also practise putting the suit on from a sitting position, as you will
have to do this in a real emergency if the ship is at a heavy list or rolling from
side to side in high seas.
Putting on an
immersion suit
from a sitting
position.
Note: You may be asked to put the immersion suit on as part of the Port State
Control Inspection, so be prepared!
18
USING YOUR Research shows that ships sink surprisingly fast – often in 15
IMMERSION SUIT minutes or less – and it is crucial to get to where your immersion
IN AN suit is kept and put it on before abandoning ship.
EVACUATION You will need plenty of room to put your suit on. Do not attempt to get into it
in a small enclosed space.
Look out for your fellow crew members! If you see someone struggling with
their immersion suit, help them put it on.
Crewmember
helping a
colleague into an
immersion suit.
STEPPING OFF INTO THE WATER

When abandoning ship, your main aim is to stay dry! It is therefore best, if
possible, to use a life boat or life raft. But there may be circumstances in
which you have to enter the water, for example, if time does not permit a life-
saving appliance to be launched, or if you are trapped by fire at the wrong end
of the ship.
To get safely into the water, do not jump! Your immersion suit
may be damaged when you hit the water, and there might also be
people or debris below you.
Lower yourself down slowly and gently, i.e. by going down an over-side
ladder, lowering yourself down with a rope, or by stepping off from as low a
point as possible.
Enter the water via

an over-side
ladder.
19
USING YOUR ONCE IN THE WATER

IMMERSION SUIT If you have entered the water and are wearing a solid lifejacket, it will have
IN AN ensured that you are face up. With inflatable lifejackets, now is the time to
EVACUATION inflate it if you have not already done so!
Your objective now is to get out of the water.

Immersion suits are designed to enable the wearer to swim short distances.
It is recommended that you swim on your back using your arms as paddles,
with slow rhythmic strokes. You are less likely to drown on your back, and in
any case lifejackets are designed to turn you face upwards.
If a life raft has been launched, approach it through the door. The other crew
members already inside will help you enter. If you are the first, put your foot
on the exterior boarding ladder or ramp, force yourself downwards as deep as
possible. The suit’s buoyancy will propel you upwards and you can then pull
yourself inside using the straps inside the life raft.
If there is no life raft but you can see a floating object nearby, swim over and
hold on to it, or if you can, climb on to it. Remember, you are better out of the
water than in it!
Swimming on back
with arms out.
Swimming with
slow, rhythmic
strokes
Climbing onto a
floating object.
20
USING YOUR If there are no objects to climb on to, group together with other crew
members and attach yourself to them using your buddy lines.
IMMERSION SUIT
IN AN
EVACUATION Using a buddy line
BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE IT

People who are determined to live have a greater chance of survival. Stay
calm and hopeful. Tell yourself that rescue is on its way and will arrive in
time. Getting yourself into a positive frame of mind will help you and your
fellow crew members get through the ordeal.
21
MAINTENANCE Keeping your immersion suit in perfect condition is absolutely

OF YOUR essential. If even a little water enters the suit, you are at greater
IMMERSION SUIT risk of hypothermia.
With the exception of rescue boat crew’s suits, immersion suits should never
be taken into the water (for example to test how they work), as they are life-
saving equipment for emergency use only.
For further information about maintenance, check the manufacturers’
instructions and MSC/Circs. 1047 and 1114 guidelines for inspection and
testing (see Appendix).
CHECKING
A damaged immersion suit may not work in an emergency!
You should take your suit out of its bag once a month, lay it out on a clean, flat
surface or the floor and carefully check that it is in a good state of repair:
• Are there any tears or deterioration in the material or seams?

• Is the retro-reflective tape firmly attached?
• Does the zip work smoothly?
• Are any of the toggles knotted?
• Does the whistle work?
The lights that come with certain designs of suit do not need testing, as they
are already approved for use by the manufacturer.
The zip must be

waxed to lubricate
and waterproof it.
MAINTENANCE
During each inspection, the zip should be rubbed on both sides with the
lubricant recommended by the manufacturer or with beeswax/paraffin wax, to
make sure that it remains waterproof. The zip is the most critical part of the
suit because if it leaks, water will enter. This will seriously impair the suit’s
effectiveness in protecting you from the elements and it will also reduce your
survival time.
22
MAINTENANCE REPAIRS
OF YOUR If there are any tears or deterioration, the suit should be sent off to the
IMMERSION SUIT manufacturer or their authorised agent.
Do not attempt to repair the damage yourself, or be tempted to alter the
design, for example by adding a pocket, as this could affect the suit’s efficacy
and/or lose its SOLAS approval rating.
SERVICING
Immersion suits should be sent to an approved service station for a thorough
servicing. How often this is done will depend on the manufacturers’
recommendations. When well maintained, the immersion suit should last for
at least ten years.
STORAGE
To put your immersion suit back in its bag again:
1 Lay it flat on the floor.
2 Make sure the zip is

undone to 2cm.
3 Fold the arms on to

the chest.
23
MAINTENANCE 4 Roll the suit up

OF YOUR starting at the feet.
IMMERSION SUIT
5 Fold the hood in.
6 Put it into its bag.
STORAGE CONDITIONS AND POSITION

Stow the suit with the zip lubricated and open as far as the last 2cm.
Suits should be
stored in
strategically placed
lockers or purpose-
made containers.
Make sure that it is stored in a cool, dry place. Heat will cause rubber seals to
deteriorate, and damp will gradually damage the material.
Your immersion suit should be stored correctly, ready for use and easily
accessible in the event of an evacuation.
24
SUMMARY • Familiarise yourself with where your immersion suit is kept and
how it works.
• Make sure that it is the right size for you.
• Practise getting into it as quickly as you can, including from a sitting
position.
• Store the immersion suit away from damp and heat and check it
once a month to make sure that it is in good condition.
• Always wear warm clothes under the immersion suit and a
lifejacket over the top of it.
• If possible, do not enter the water at all. Staying in the lifeboat or
life raft will be warmer and safer.
• If you have to enter the water, step in slowly, preferably using a
disembarkation ladder or rope. Do not jump.
• Don’t rely on the lifejacket alone – it will not insulate you from the
cold. Remember: wearing an immersion suit could save your life!
• Believe you can make it! Staying positive can make all the
difference.
25
ASSESSMENT 1 SINCE 1ST JULY 2006, IT HAS BEEN MANDATORY FOR CARGO
QUESTIONS SHIPS AND BULK CARRIERS TRADING OUTSIDE 20°NORTH
OR 20°SOUTH TO PROVIDE IMMERSION SUITS FOR
a. all rescue boat personnel
b. everybody on board
c. It is not mandatory, only recommended,
to provide them for everyone on board
2 WATER CONDUCTS HEAT AWAY FROM THE BODY

a. at the same speed as air
b. at twice the speed of air
c. more than 20 times faster than air
3 COLD WATER SHOCK LASTS FOR AROUND

a. 30 seconds
b. 2 minutes
c. 30 minutes
4 WITH HYPOTHERMIA, UNCONSCIOUSNESS SETS IN WHEN

THE BODY TEMPERATURE REACHES
a. 35°C
b. 30°C
c. 26°C
5 DEATH OCCURS AT
a. 35°C
b. 30°C
c. 26°C
6 IF A PERSON SPENDS SIX HOURS IN 0°C WATER WHEN

WEARING AN IMMERSION SUIT, THEIR BODY TEMPERATURE
SHOULD NOT DROP
a. by more than 2°C
b. by more than 5°C
c. at all
7 IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT SIZE YOUR IMMERSION SUIT IS.

TRUE OR FALSE?
8 ALL TYPES OF LIFEJACKET WORK IN COMBINATION WITH

ALL TYPES OF IMMERSION SUIT. TRUE OR FALSE?
9 THE FACE SEAL IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT

HELPS TO PREVENT HEAT LOSS FROM THE HEAD. TRUE
OR FALSE?
26
ASSESSMENT 10 THE SUIT’S BUDDY LINE IS TO

QUESTIONS a. help attach you to the life raft
b. act as a reflective string which will be highly visible from the air
c. prevent you from drifting away from other crew members
11 IMMERSION SUITS WORK MOST EFFICIENTLY WHEN

a. you only have your underclothes on
b. you are fully dressed
12 LIFEJACKETS SHOULD BE
a. put on underneath the immersion suit
b. carried with you until you are in the water or life-saving appliance
c. put on over the immersion suit
13 WHEN PUTTING YOUR SUIT ON, SQUEEZE THE AIR OUT BY

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING METHODS
a. putting fingers inside face seal , squatting down and squeezing suit,
removing fingers from face seal, standing up again
b. using the pump provided
c. undoing the zip, making a corkscrew twisting motion with your
body, then doing the zip up again before the air gets back in
14 TO ENTER THE WATER SAFELY

a. jump as far off the side of the ship as you can
b. first attach yourself to other crew members with the buddy line and
lower the first person down to the water using the line
c. get as low down as possible to the water and step off or enter the
water by using a rope or ladder
15 IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT IF IT IS NECESSARY TO SWIM,

YOU
a. swim on your front
b. swim on your back, using slow, rhythmic strokes
c. neither: you should never attempt to swim in an immersion suit
16 REGULATIONS SAY THAT ALL IMMERSION SUITS MUST BE

STORED IN CABINS. TRUE OR FALSE?
17 YOU SHOULD CHECK YOUR SUIT’S CONDITION

a. once a month
b. once every 3 months
c. It is up to the Safety Officer to check the condition
of immersion suits
27
ASSESSMENT 18. WHEN CHECKING YOUR SUIT, WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING

QUESTIONS TASKS SHOULD NOT BE PERFORMED?
a. See if there any tears or deterioration in the material or seams
b. Test the retro-reflective tape to find out if it is firmly attached
c. Run the zip up and down to see if it works smoothly
d. Undo any knots in the toggles
e. Blow the whistle to see that it is functioning
f. Try the suit out in the shower, or if weather permits, in the sea
19 DURING EACH INSPECTION, THE ZIP SHOULD BE RUBBED

ON BOTH SIDES WITH
a. alcohol
b. glycerine soap
c. the lubricant recommended by the manufacturer
20 IF THERE ARE ANY TEARS OR DETERIORATION, YOU

SHOULD REPAIR IT IMMEDIATELY. TRUE OR FALSE?
21 TRUE OR FALSE. TO PUT YOUR IMMERSION SUIT BACK

IN ITS BAG AGAIN YOU SHOULD:
a. Make sure the floor is clean, brushing it if necessary?
b. Lay it flat on the floor?
c. Do the zip right up?
d. Roll the suit up starting from the head?
e. Fold the arms on to the chest?
f. Put it into its bag?
22 THE SUIT SHOULD BE STORED IN A COOL, DRY PLACE.

TRUE OR FALSE?
28
FURTHER IMO GUIDE FOR COLD WATER SURVIVAL MSC.1/Circ.1185

RESOURCES
VIDEOTEL TRAINING PROGRAMMES
• Cold Water Casualty
• Personal Survival at Sea, part 4 - Survival
• Man Overboard – Rescue Boat Operations
USEFUL WEBSITES
International Maritime Organization www.imo.org
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency www.mcga.gov.uk
United States Coast Guard www.uscg.mil
Transportation Safety Board of Canada www.tsb.gc.ca
Australian Maritime Safety Authority www.amsa.gov.au
COSALT Safety and Protection www.cosalt.plc.uk
29
APPENDICES 1 FROM THE IMO GUIDE FOR COLD WATER SURVIVAL

MSC.1/Circ.1185 APPENDIX
CHECKLIST FOR
WHAT CAN I DO TO SURVIVE A LONGER STAY IN COLD
COLD WATER
WATER, EVEN FOR SEVERAL HOURS?
SURVIVAL
PREPARATION IN ADVANCE
• Hardy to cold
• Fitness
• Emergency rescue training
• Knowledge of cold water survival
• Have a plan!
IN A DISTRESS ALERT SITUATION
• Put on as many layers as possible, alternating thin/close-meshed and
thick/wide-meshed. The outer layer should be as watertight as possible
• Fasten, close and/or button-up clothing to prevent cold water flushing
through the clothing
• Cover head, neck and face
• Wear robust, laced boots (better than Wellingtons)
• Put an immersion suit over the warm clothing
• Drink a lot (warm tea is best, no alcohol: that reduces chances of survival
in cold water)
• Take anti-seasickness tablets as soon as possible
• Be sure that all your clothing, lifejacket and lifebelt are secured correctly.
In cold water you will lose full use of your fingers immediately.
• Check each other!
SHIP ABANDONMENT
• Avoid entering the water for as long as possible
• Automatic life vests should be manually activated before you enter the
water and after you leave the interior of your ship
• Enter the water as late as possible and as slowly (step by step) as possible
to prevent cold shock
• Do not jump into the water (danger of cold shock)
• If falling into the water, keep your elbows to your sides and cover your
nose and mouth with one hand, holding the wrist or elbow firmly with the
other hand
• Be prepared that the first contact with the cold water will stress your
circulation, breathing and nervous system
• Within a few minutes of minimum movement the pain of your skin will
become more tolerable
IN THE WATER
• Float on your back with a minimum of leg movement
• Stay calm. Float as still as possible, legs together, elbows close to your
side, and arms folded across the front of your lifejacket
• Keep as much skin as possible out of the water
• Huddling close to others will conserve body heat
• Keep a positive attitude of mind. You will be the lucky one to be rescued!
You can survive a long time in cold water, even in deep hypothermia, even
when unconscious. Rescuers are searching for you! This positive attitude
helps your body to keep its core temperature
• Do not drink or inhale seawater!
30
APPENDICES 2 1 From SOLAS Regulation 32. Personal life-saving appliances

“The existing text of paragraph 3 is replaced by the following:
REGULATIONS 3. Immersion suits
RELATING TO .1 This paragraph applies to all cargo ships. However, with respect to cargo
ships constructed before 1 July 2006, paragraphs 3.2 to 3.5 shall be
IMMERSION SUITS complied with not later than the first safety equipment survey on or after 1
July 2006.
.2 An immersion suit complying with the requirements of section 2.3 of the
Code shall be provided for every person on board the ship. However, for
ships other than bulk carriers, as defined in regulation IX/1, these
immersion suits need not be required if the ship is constantly engaged on
voyages in warm climates* where, in the opinion of the Administration,
immersion suits are unnecessary.
.3 If a ship has any watch or work stations which are located remotely from
the place or places where immersion suits are normally stowed, additional
immersion suits shall be provided at these locations for the number of
persons normally on watch or working at those locations at any time.
.4 Immersion suits shall be so placed as to be readily accessible and their
position shall be plainly indicated.
.5 The immersion suits required by this regulation may be used to comply
with the requirements of regulation 7.3.”
*Refer to the Guidelines for assessment of thermal protection (MSC/Circ.1046).
GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSMENT OF THERMAL

PROTECTION From MSC/Circ.1046 ANNEX
INTRODUCTION
In considering appropriate thermal protective equipment for use on ships
operating in various climatic conditions, Administrations and ship operators
should take into account all of the relevant risk factors, to include type of
ship, type of survival craft, number of persons on board, environmental
conditions in the operational area, and availability of SAR services. The
purpose of these Guidelines is to provide information to assist in the
assessment of the impact of environmental factors, and specifically water
temperature on equipment selection. In the context of the medical threat of
hypothermia, the IMO publication ‘A Pocket Guide to Cold Water Survival’
should be referred.
THERMAL PROTECTIVE PERFORMANCE

In addition to the performance requirements specified in the International
Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code, there are some data available which
illustrate the performance of the equipment at different water temperatures.
Thermal protective performance for the various types of equipment at these
temperatures is defined as the time to reach a deep body temperature of
35°C or reduce a deep body temperature by 2°C, which is the point at which a
significant degree of incapacitation is expected to occur. These data were
obtained by a combination of theoretical and experimental methods. While
based upon the best information available, they are provided for comparison
purposes only. Individual results may vary greatly based on sea conditions,
body type, etc.
31
APPENDICES 2 TABLE 1: THERMAL PROTECTIVE PERFORMANCE BY TYPE OF

PERSONAL LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES
REGULATIONS
Thermal protective means IMO minimum Time (hrs) for core temperature drop of 2oC or
RELATING TO (clothing is generally included) test requirements to 35oC when exposed to water of temperature
IMMERSION SUITS Time Water 0oC 5oC 10oC 20oC
(h) temp.(oC)
Lifejacket – – – 0.5 h 0.8 h 1.7 h
Thermal protective (TP) lifejacket 2h 10 0.5 h 0.75 h 2h 4h
Anti-exposure suit 1h 5 1.5 h 2h 4h 10 h
Immersion suit uninsulated 1h 5 1.5 h 2h 5h >12 h
Immersion suit insulated 6h 2 6h >12 h >12 h >12 h
* No IMO requirements
(MSC/Circ.1046 ANNEX)
TEMPERATURE RANGE AND GEOGRAPHICAL SECTORS

The sea areas subject to these temperatures vary greatly throughout the year
and do not always uniformly follow specified latitudes. Table 2 illustrates the
approximate variation of water temperature with latitude during the coldest
months of the year in the northern and southern hemispheres.
TABLE 2: VARIATION OF SEAWATER TEMPERATURE WITH LATITUDE
Temperature range Geographical sectors (degree latitude)

(oC) (North) (South)
Above 20 0-30 0-30
20-10 30-50 30-45
10-5 50-60 45-50
Below 5* 60-70 50-60
* All areas of icing conditions included in this range as defined in resolution A.749(18) –
Code on Intact Stability, should be included in this range.
(MSC/Circ.1046 ANNEX)
32
APPENDICES 2 GUIDELINES FOR MONTHLY SHIPBOARD INSPECTION OF

IMMERSION SUITS AND ANTI-EXPOSURE SUITS BY SHIPS’
REGULATIONS CREWS MSC/Circ. 1047 (28 May 2002)
RELATING TO When carrying out the inspection of immersion suits and anti-exposure suits
required by SOLAS regulation III/20.7, the following procedure is
IMMERSION SUITS recommended.
1 Check closures on storage bag as well as general condition of bag for ease
of removal of suit. Ensure donning instructions are legible. Confirm that
suit is the type and size identified on the bag.
2 Lay the suit on a clean, flat surface. Make sure the suit is dry inside and
out. Visually check for damage. Rips, tears or punctures should be
repaired in accordance with manufacturer‘s instructions by a suitable
repair station.*
3 Check the zipper by sliding it up and down to check for ease of operation.
Using lubricant recommended by the manufacturer, lubricate the front and
back of the zipper and the slide fastener. If the zipper is not functional, the
suit should be removed from service and discarded or returned to the
manufacturer or a suitable repair station.
4 If fitted, check inflatable head support and/or buoyancy ring for damage
and ensure that it is properly attached. Check inflation hose(s) for
deterioration. At least quarterly, the head support/buoyancy ring should be
inflated and tested for leaks (this test does not apply to integral inflatable
lifejackets). Leaks should be repaired in accordance with manufacturers'
instructions by a suitable repair station.
5 Check retro-reflective tape for condition and adhesion. Replace if
necessary.
6 If fitted, check whistle and expiration date of light and battery.
7 Replace suits in the bag with zippers fully opened.
8 The opportunity should be taken at such monthly inspections for the crew
to practise donning the immersion suits or anti-exposure suits.
* A "suitable repair station" is one authorized by the suit manufacturer and/or
acceptable to the Administration.
GUIDELINES FOR PERIODIC TESTING OF IMMERSION SUIT

AND ANTI-EXPOSURE SUIT SEAMS AND CLOSURES
MSC/Circ.1114 25 May 2004
1 The Maritime Safety Committee, at its seventy-eighth session (12 to 21
May 2004), recognizing that shipboard inspections of immersion suits and
anti-exposure suits carried out in accordance with SOLAS regulation
III/20.7 and MSC/Circ.1047 may not be adequate to detect deterioration of
seams and closures of the suits due to adhesive ageing, and having
considered the recommendation made by the Sub-Committee on Ship
Design and Equipment at its forty-sixth session, approved the Guidelines
for periodic testing of immersion suit and anti-exposure suit seams and
closures, as set out in the annex.
2 Member Governments are invited to bring the annexed Guidelines to the
attention of all parties concerned.
33
APPENDICES 2 GUIDELINES FOR PERIODIC TESTING OF IMMERSION SUIT

AND ANTI-EXPOSURE SUIT SEAMS AND CLOSURES ANNEX
REGULATIONS 1 Research performed by several Member Governments has demonstrated
RELATING TO that the seams and closures of immersion suits and anti-exposure suits
experience deterioration over time. The rate and severity of deterioration
IMMERSION SUITS may vary widely, depending upon the specific components and procedures
employed in the manufacture of the suit and the conditions under which
the suit is stored. However, even under ideal conditions, the materials and
adhesives used have a finite service life and will inevitably experience a
reduction in strength and/or loss of watertightness with age.
2 The Guidelines for monthly shipboard inspection of immersion suits and
anti-exposure suits (MSC/Circ.1047) are very helpful in identifying obvious
problems with a suit, but do not adequately address deterioration of seams
and closures (zippers, etc.) which may not be readily apparent by visual
inspection. Such deterioration can be detected by pressurization of the suit
with air, and testing of the seams and closures for leaks with a soapy
water solution.
3 To ensure the maintenance of adequate strength and watertightness of
seams and closures of immersion suits and anti-exposure suits with age, it
is recommended that each suit be subjected to an air pressure test such
as the following, at intervals not exceeding three years, or more frequently
for suits over ten years of age:
.1 A suitable head piece, fitted with a means to inject air into the suit, should
be inserted into the face orifice of the suit and secured so as to minimize
leakage around the face seal. A low-pressure monitoring device, either
integral to the fitting for air injection or as a separate device, should also
be inserted. If the suit is fitted with detachable gloves and/or boots, the
wrists and/or cuffs should be sealed by inserting a short length of suitable
diameter plastic pipe and securing the gloves and/or boots with suitable
wire ties or hose clamps. The zipper should be fully zipped, and any face
flap closed. The suit should then be inflated to a pressure of 0.7 to 1.4 kPa
(0.1 to 0.2 psi). If an auxiliary inflatable means of buoyancy is provided, it
should be inflated through the oral valve to a pressure of 0.7 kPa (0.1 psi)
or until firm to the touch.
.2 Each seam and closure of the suit - and each seam, oral tube and
attachment points and joint or valve of any auxiliary inflatable means of
buoyancy – should then be covered with a soapy water solution containing
enough soap to produce bubbles (if leakage is noted at a foot valve to the
extent that air pressure cannot be maintained, the valves should be sealed
for the test).
.3 If leaks are revealed by the propagation of bubbles at seams or closures,
the leaking areas should be marked and, after cleaning the suit thoroughly
with fresh water and drying it, repaired in accordance with the suit
manufacturer's recommendations.
.4 It is recommended that the air pressure test be performed at a suitable
shore-based facility equipped to make any necessary repairs in accordance
with the manufacturer's recommendations. In view of the wide variety of
materials and adhesives used in immersion suits and anti-exposure suits,
it is strongly recommended that any repairs to a suit be carried out by a
facility which has access to the original manufacturer's recommended
servicing instructions, parts and adhesives, and suitably trained personnel.
The air pressure test may be carried out on board ship if suitable
equipment is available.
34
APPENDICES 3 UNITED STATES

Immersion suits must be carried on all cargo vessels except those operating
between the 32° North and 32° South latitudes.
DIFFERENT FLAG
STATES’ PANAMA
DEFINITIONS OF Panama ships other than bulk carriers as defined in SOLAS Chapter IX Reg.1,
as amended, which are constantly engaged on voyages between Latitude 32°
WARM WATERS North and 32° South may be exempted from the installation of immersion
suits according to SOLAS Chapter III Reg.32 by Merchant Marine Circular
No.144.
CYPRUS, ISLE OF MAN, AND SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT

The following have been defined as warm climate sea areas for the scope of
exempting ships from this regulation:
(i) The sector of the globe between latitude 30° North and 30° South.
(ii) The part of the Mediterranean Sea of latitude of 35° South.
(iii) The coasts of Africa (20 nautical miles) not included in (i) and (ii) above
LIBERIA
Liberia defines warm climates as being that between 32° North and 32°
South latitudes.
BAHAMAS
The Bahamas Maritime Authority considers a warm climate to extend
between latitudes 30° North and 30° South.
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

Apply by MSC/Circ. 1046.
GREECE
Exemption for vessels sailing:
• In Mediterranean Sea and Caribbean Sea in period between 01/04 and
30/10
• In Persian Gulf, Red Sea and within sea area between parallels of latitude
20° North and 20° South
MALTA
Exemption for vessels sailing in:
• Sea areas between parallels of latitude 30° North and 30° South
• Sea areas of Mediterranean Sea south of latitude 35° North
• Sea areas within 20 nautical miles from the coasts of Africa not included
in the sea areas above
MARSHALL ISLANDS
For vessels with open life boats operating above 50° North and 50° South
latitudes, the administration requires that immersion suits be provided for all
persons on board. For cargo vessels less than 85 metres in length operating
above 30° North and 30° South latitudes, where only liferafts are carried in
accordance with SOLAS Chapter III, Reg. 31.1.3, all persons to be provided
with immersion suits.
35
APPENDICES 4 The following are edited extracts from relevant case studies.
CASE STUDY 1
CASE STUDIES
Transportation Safety Board of Canada
Marine Investigation Report Break-Up and Sinking
THE BULK CARRIER "FLARE"

Cabot Strait
16 January 1998
Report Number M98N0001
SYNOPSIS
On 16 January 1998, en route from Rotterdam, Netherlands, to Montreal,
Quebec, in severe weather conditions, the "FLARE" was approximately 45
miles southwest of the islands of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon. The vessel broke
in two and the stern section sank within 30 minutes. The bow section sank
four days later off Nova Scotia, on the western side of Banquereau Bank.
Twenty-one of the crew perished and four survived. There was widespread,
non-recoverable, fuel oil pollution from the sunken stern section.
IMMERSION SUITS AND THERMAL PROTECTIVE AIDS

In accordance with SOLAS requirements for a cargo ship equipped with two
open lifeboats, the "FLARE" was equipped with 6 immersion suits and 27
thermal protective aids. These thermal protection aids were available for the
protection- while in open lifeboats- of those persons for whom immersion
suits were not provided.
The survivors could not remember immersion suits being produced at
emergency drills nor were they given a practical demonstration of how to don
or use an immersion suit. The survivors were equally unaware of the number
of suits on board, where the suits were stored, or to whom the suits would be
distributed in an emergency. The previous master confirmed that allocation
was not decided and not discussed at emergency drills.
No immersion suits or thermal protective aids were recovered during the SAR
operation. Current (international) SOLAS regulations do not require that an
immersion suit be provided for each person on all cargo vessels*- particularly
when the vessels normally operate in temperate or warm climates. The
regulations are such, however, that an Administration (Flag State) may, at its
discretion, require the provision of an immersion suit for each person on
board. In this instance, the Administration did not require, nor did the owners
or operators of the "FLARE" provide, an immersion suit for each crew
member.
Canadian-flag ships, which regularly operate in higher latitudes, are required
by regulations to provide at least one immersion suit for each crew member.
International organizations have not taken action to require that ships trading
in colder climates provide an immersion suit for each crew member.
* Editor’s note: this event took place in 1998, before the introduction of SOLAS III/32.3.
36
APPENDICES 4 LIFEJACKET TESTING

SOLAS requires that an approved lifejacket, meeting the IMO Standards for
Lifejackets at the time at which the ship was built, be carried for each person
CASE STUDIES on board the vessel.
The lifejacket worn by one of the survivors was examined and tested by
Underwriters Laboratories of Canada, which concluded that it did not meet
the SOLAS 1992 (Consolidated Edition) standard for lifejackets, although as
the "FLARE" was an existing ship, the lifejackets on board were not required
to satisfy this standard.
As only one lifejacket was available for testing, it is unknown if it was
representative of the condition of the others.
1 The lifejacket that was recovered from a survivor and later tested did not
meet the lifejacket standards of the 1992 Consolidated International
Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), nor was it required for a
ship of this age. It is not known if the lifejacket was representative of the
condition of the other lifejackets aboard the "FLARE".
2 There were six immersion suits on board, but the survivors were unsure of
their stowage location and, in the event, the suits were not used.
IMMERSION SUITS FOR OPERATIONS IN COLD WATERS

The North Atlantic Ocean is one of the most hostile environments in the
world. Average mid-winter sea surface temperatures off the eastern
seaboard range from 0C to 2C. The mid-summer temperatures range from
8°C to 16°C. In such harsh marine conditions, the survival time for a person
immersed in water is often measured in minutes, while for a person wearing
an immersion suit, survival time can run to several hours. People clad in such
suits have been rescued following 18 hours of immersion in cold water.
In February 1983, during a storm in the Atlantic Ocean, the United States bulk
carrier "MARINE ELECTRIC" capsized and sank about 30 nautical miles east
of Chincoteague, Virginia. Only 3 of the 34 persons on board survived. The
United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigated the
occurrence and determined that the lack of personal thermal protection
equipment for the crew- to minimize the effects of hypothermia- contributed
to the heavy loss of life. Consequently, the NTSB recommended that exposure
suits be provided for every person on board vessels that operate in waters
where hypothermia can greatly reduce an individual's survival time.
All four surviving crew members of the "FLARE", wearing lifejackets, were
found to have been severely hypothermic and could barely move their limbs
during their rescue, rendering the rescue operation difficult and subjecting
SAR personnel to undue risks. Two other crew members, who had clung to
the same lifeboat, remained alive for some time but succumbed to
hypothermia before the survivors were spotted (Neither immersion suits nor
thermal protective aids were recovered during the SAR operation).
As described in the report, a sea survival model indicated that the use of
immersion suits would have increased survival times to between 12 and 14
hours, depending on the clothing worn. The model also indicates that, in
seawater of 2°C, the best-clothed survivor would lose consciousness within
6.4 hours while the other survivors would reach this state in 2.0 to 2.3 hours.
The Board believes that, under such conditions, crew survival largely depends
on adequate thermal protection.
37
APPENDICES 4 Therefore, the Board recommends that:

The Department of Transport advocate international measures requiring that
an adequate immersion suit be provided for each person on board vessels
CASE STUDIES operating in waters where hypothermia can greatly reduce an individual's
survival time.
Furthermore, in rapidly developing distress situations such as those involving
bulk carriers, it is critical that life-saving equipment, such as immersion
suits, be readily accessible and rapidly retrievable without confusion. During
this occurrence, the survivors of the "FLARE" indicated that they were
unaware of where the suits were stowed, nor had they time to locate any of
the immersion suits. In view of the frequency of occurrences involving bulk
carriers that have rapidly capsized and sunk, often leaving crews insufficient
time to avail themselves of on-board life-saving equipment, the Board further
recommends that:
The Department of Transport advocate international measures to help
ensure that critical life-saving equipment, such as immersion suits and
thermal protective aids, are stowed so that they are readily retrievable,
without confusion, and that all crew members are familiar with their use and
their stowage location.
CASE STUDY 2.
Transportation Safety Board of Canada
Marine Investigation Report
Sinking
FISHING VESSEL HILI-KUM

Hecate Strait, British Columbia
10 April 1995
Report Number M95W0013
SYNOPSIS
The Hili-Kum departed from an anchorage off Moresby Island, B.C., with a
cargo of red urchins for discharge at Port Edward, B.C. En route, the weather
deteriorated. On 10 April 1995, in following gale-to-storm force winds and
rough seas, the vessel shipped large volumes of water on the afterdeck,
settled by the stern, and sank stern first. The three crew members donned
immersion suits, abandoned the vessel, and boarded a liferaft. Two of the
three immersion suits were defective, and the liferaft capsized several times.
Two of the crew succumbed to hypothermia and drowned; the survivor was
rescued some five and a half hours later.
The Board determined that the Hili-Kum proceeded to sea despite a storm
warning broadcast, and was being operated in following high winds and rough
seas with the fish hold hatch cover not battened down. The cumulative effect
of large volumes of seawater shipped on the afterdeck, the vessel's low
freeboard aft, and the flooding/downflooding of the below-deck spaces aft
caused the vessel to settle by the stern, lose reserve buoyancy, and sink stern
first. The hypothermia and subsequent drowning of two of the crew is
attributable to the poor state of repair of their immersion suits and to their
exposure to the harsh weather conditions when the liferaft capsized.
38
APPENDICES 4 CAUSES
The Hili-Kum proceeded to sea despite a storm warning broadcast, and was
CASE STUDIES being operated in following high winds and rough seas with the fish hold
hatch cover not battened down. The cumulative effect of large volumes of
seawater shipped on the afterdeck, the vessel's low freeboard aft, and the
flooding/downflooding of the below-deck spaces aft caused the vessel to
settle by the stern, lose reserve buoyancy, and sink stern first. The
hypothermia and subsequent drowning of two of the crew is attributable to
the poor state of repair of their immersion suits and to their exposure to the
harsh weather conditions when the liferaft capsized.
MED (MARINE EMERGENCY DUTIES) TRAINING AND SURVIVAL

Only the cook, who had undergone survival training, survived; the other two
crew members, who had neither MED training nor survival training, did not.
Although the cook's immersion suit was the only one in which the zipper
functioned satisfactorily, his survival, nonetheless, can be attributed in great
part to the survival training he had received- he was able to right the liferaft
single-handedly a dozen times, and therefore could be sheltered partially
from the elements.
This occurrence once again highlights the need for MED training which
includes survival techniques.
ISSUES RESPECTING THE CAPSIZING OF THE LIFERAFT

As the liferaft was fitted with small water pockets, it was more prone to
capsizing in high winds and rough seas than liferafts fitted with larger water
pockets. Although the new standards call for larger-size water pockets to
enhance stability, existing liferafts were not required to be upgraded to meet
the Canadian standards when these were introduced. The safety of personnel
using older liferafts may be compromised because no limitation is placed on
the life expectancy of liferafts and because vessels still carry liferafts which
were manufactured before the new standards came into force.
As the purpose of the entrance cover is to protect the liferaft occupants
against the elements, it is imperative that the cover be closed. However, the
liferaft capsized frequently, and the lone survivor was fearful of being trapped
within the liferaft. Consequently, he had little option but to keep the liferaft
entrance open to the detriment of his chances of survival. His exposure to the
adverse weather conditions, in conjunction with the non-inflated liferaft floor,
could account for the lone survivor's hypothermic condition when rescued
some five and a half hours later. The cook's survival can be attributed to his
immersion suit functioning satisfactorily.
IMMERSION SUITS
21 The new practice of individuals carrying their own immersion suits from
vessel to vessel has created a problem in monitoring the maintenance of
these suits.
22 The immersion suits, which are required to be used in an emergency, were
stowed in the engine-room and not in a conveniently accessible location.
23 Two of the three immersion suits previously had been submerged in salt
water for some time, and their zippers were corroded and unserviceable.
39
APPENDICES 4 24 The immersion suits worn by the victims provided very little thermal
protection.
25 Neither the vessel nor the owners had any regime in place to ensure that
CASE STUDIES the immersion suits were maintained in good order.
SURVIVAL AND TRAINING

26 The cook, the only crew member who had undergone survival training,
survived; the other two did not.
27 There is no regulatory requirement for the crew of fishing vessels of this
size and type to undergo Marine Emergency Duties (MED) training.
28 The cook's survival can be attributed to the donning and the proper
functioning of the immersion suit and to his survival training.
CASE STUDY 3
THE M/S ESTONIA DISASTER
The following are edited extracts from the final report of the Joint Accident
Investigation Commission of Estonia, Finland and Sweden.
ACCIDENT
The ro-ro passenger ferry ESTONIA sank in the northern Baltic Sea during
the early hours of 28 September 1994. Of the 989 people on board, 137
survived. All 95 victims recovered from the sea have been identified and 757
people are still missing.
WEATHER
The wind at about 0100 hrs at the site of the accident was south-westerly, 18-
20 m/s, and the significant wave height was about 4m. At the time of the
accident the ESTONIA was encountering the waves on her port bow.
SHIP'S CONDITION
The vessel was seaworthy and properly manned. The cargo was secured to
normal standard and the visor was properly closed and secured on departure.
The vessel had a starboard list of about 1° when she gained the open sea.
FAILURE
The failure sequence may have started at about 0055 hrs when the AB
seaman heard a metallic bang at the bow ramp. The locking devices and the
hinges of the bow visor failed fully under one or two wave impact loads on the
visor shortly after 0100 hrs. The visor worked its way forward and forced the
ramp partly open due to mechanical interference between the visor and the
ramp, inherent in the design. Water started entering the car deck at the sides
of the partly open ramp. The ramp rested for a while within the visor before
the visor at about 0115 hrs fell into the sea, pulling the ramp fully open.
CAPSIZE
Large amounts of water entered the car deck and in a few minutes a
starboard list of more than 15° developed. The main engines stopped at about
0120 hrs, one after the other, due to lubricating oil pressure loss caused by a
list of about 30°. The vessel drifted with her starboard side towards the
waves.
40
APPENDICES 4 At about 0125 hrs the list was more than 40°. By then, windows and a door
had broken in the aft part on the starboard side, allowing progressive flooding
of the accommodation. The main generators stopped. As the list increased
CASE STUDIES the ESTONIA started to sink stern first. At about 0135 hrs the list was about
80°. The vessel disappeared from the surface at about 0150 hrs.
ACTION BY THE CREW

Two reports of unusual sounds from the bow area were given to the officers of
the watch, the first about 20 minutes prior to the loss of the visor. Attempts
were made to find the reason for the sounds. The master arrived at the bridge
and was present when the second attempt was initiated shortly after 0100
hrs. The speed setting was maintained until the list developed.
At about 0100 hrs the speed was about 14 knots, with all four main engines
running at full service speed setting. The visor indicator lamps on the bridge
did not show when the visor was detached, and the visor was not visible from
the conning position. Nor did the lamps show when the ramp was forced
open.
The ingress of water at the sides of the partly open bow ramp was observed
on a monitor in the engine control room, but no information was exchanged
with the bridge. As the list developed the officers of the watch reduced the
speed and initiated a turn to port. They also ordered the engineer to
compensate for the list by pumping ballast, but the pump sucked air and,
furthermore, the tank was almost full. The officers of the watch also closed
the watertight doors.
The first known Mayday call from the ESTONIA was transmitted at 0122 hrs,
and at about the same time the lifeboat alarm was given. Shortly before that,
a brief alarm in Estonian was given over the public address system. Just after
this, the crew were alerted by a coded fire alarm. No general information was
given to the passengers during the accident.
Besides the master and the two officers of the watch, at least the chief officer
and the third officer were on the bridge at the time of the distress traffic.
EVACUATION
The time available for evacuation was very short, between 10 and 20 minutes.
There was no organised evacuation. The evacuation was hampered by the
rapid increase in the list, by narrow passages, by transverse staircases, by
objects coming loose and by crowding. About 300 people reached the outer
decks. Most victims remained trapped inside the vessel. The lifesaving
equipment in many cases did not function as intended. Lifeboats could not be
lowered.
DISTRESS TRAFFIC
Mayday calls were received by 14 radio stations including MRCC Turku. At the
beginning the SILJA EUROPA took the role of control station for the distress
traffic.
The distress traffic was not conducted in accordance with the procedures
required by the radio regulations. The ESTONIA's two EPIRBs were not
activated and could therefore not transmit when released.
MRCC Turku did not announce on the radio that they were conducting the
operation.
41
APPENDICES 4 Helsinki Radio did not hear the ESTONIA's distress calls or the distress
traffic.
Helsinki Radio transmitted a Pan-Pan call (urgent message) at 0150 hrs
CASE STUDIES instead of the distress message requested by MRCC Turku.
RESCUE OPERATION
Initially the accident was not treated as a major accident. It was formally
designated as such at 0230. MRCC Turku started alerting rescue units at 0126
hrs. One standby helicopter was alerted at 0135 hrs, another at 0218 hrs, and
the military helicopters at 0252 hrs. Assistance by Swedish helicopters was
agreed at 0158 hrs. The master of the SILJA EUROPA was appointed On-
Scene Commander (OSC) at 0205 hrs.
The first rescue unit, the MARIELLA, arrived on the scene of the accident at
0212 hrs, 50 minutes after the first distress call. MRCC Tallinn was informed
of the accident at 0255 hrs by MRCC Helsinki. The first helicopter arrived at
0305 hrs.
Two Finnish helicopters landed survivors on the passenger ferries. Other
helicopters carried rescued persons to land. An air co-ordinator arrived to
assist the OSC at 0650 hrs and a surface search co-ordinator arrived at 0945
hrs. The participating vessels did not launch lifeboats or MOB boats due to
the heavy weather. Their rescue equipment was not suitable for picking up
people from the water or from rafts.
Winch problems in three Swedish Navy helicopters seriously limited their
rescue capacity. Some helicopters carried journalists during the later rescue
flights.
Of the approximately 300 people who reached the open decks, some 160
succeeded in climbing onto liferafts, and a few climbed onto capsized
lifeboats. Helicopters rescued 104 people, and vessels rescued 34.
CONCLUSIONS
EVACUATION
• The rapid increase in the list contributed to the large loss of life.
• The lifeboat alarm was not given until about five minutes after the list
developed, nor was any information given to the passengers over the
public address system.
• By the time the alarm was given, the list made escaping from inside the
vessel very difficult. This together with problems in using lifesaving
equipment contributed to the tragic outcome.
RESCUE OPERATION
• The alarming of helicopters was late.
• The helicopters had a key part in the rescue operation by rescuing most of
the people who had succeeded in climbing onto liferafts or lifeboats.
• One rescue man per helicopter was not enough due to the very exhausting
rescue work.
• It is deemed inappropriate for helicopters to carry journalists in critical
situations and where they may encroach on the privacy of survivors.
• The main reasons for the delay in issuing alarms in general were that the
distress traffic was conducted separately from MRCC Turku, and that there
42
APPENDICES 4 was only one person on duty at MRCC Turku, at MRCC Helsinki and at
Helsinki Radio, respectively.
• In the Finnish MRCCs the instructions regarding distress traffic were
CASE STUDIES inadequate.
• The lifesaving equipment of vessels participating in the rescue operation
proved unsuitable for rescuing people from the water in the prevailing
heavy weather conditions.
43
ASSESSMENT 1. b. everybody on board

ANSWERS 2. c. more than 20 times faster than air
3. b. 2 minutes
4. b. 30°C
5. c. 26°C
6. a. by more than 2°C
7. FALSE. If your suit is far too small, you will not be able to get into it and
do it up. If it is far too big, you will not be able to move around safely.
8. FALSE. You will need to check to see if your lifejacket is compatible with
your immersion suit.
9. TRUE.
10. c. prevent you from drifting away from other crew members
11. b. you are fully dressed
12. c. put on over the immersion suit
13. a. putting fingers inside face seal , squatting down and squeezing suit,
removing fingers from face seal, standing up again
14. c. get as low down as possible to the water and step off or enter the
water by using a rope or ladder
15. b. swim on your back, using slow, rhythmic strokes
16. FALSE. The regulations only require there to be one for each person on
board with additional suits at remote locations. It is up to individual ship
owners where the crew’s suits are kept.
17. a. once a month
18. f. Try the suit out in the shower, or if weather permits, in the sea
19. c. the lubricant recommended by the manufacturer
20. FALSE. The suit should be sent off to the manufacturer or their
authorised agent.
21. a. TRUE.
b. TRUE.
c. FALSE. The zip should be open, not closed.
d. FALSE. The suit should be rolled up starting from the feet.
not the head
e. TRUE.
f. TRUE.
22. TRUE.
44
p r o d u c t i o n s
84 NEWMAN STREET, LONDON W1T 3EU
TELEPHONE +44(0)20 7299 1800
FACSIMILE +44(0)20 7299 1818
E-MAIL mail@videotelmail.com
WEB www.videotel.co.uk

Immertion Suits - Difference Between Life and Death

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IMMERSION SUITS

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH

84 NEWMAN STREET, LONDON W1T 3EU

THE PRODUCERS WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ASSISTANCE OF

Arklow Shipping Ltd

CONSULTANTS: Mike Short and John Parlour

PRODUCER: Peter Wilde

WRITER/DIRECTOR: Chris Setchell

PRINT AUTHOR: Sheila Brownlee

WHAT IS AN IMMERSION SUIT? 5

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH 6

HOW IMMERSION SUITS WORK 8

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR IMMERSION SUIT 10

HOW TO PUT YOUR IMMERSION SUIT ON 16

USING YOUR IMMERSION SUIT IN AN EVACUATION 19

MAINTENANCE OF YOUR IMMERSION SUIT 22

1 Checklists for cold water survival 30

2 Regulations relating to immersion suits 31

3 Different flag states’ definitions of warm waters 35

ABOUT THIS WORKBOOK

• The importance of appropriate immersion suit training

It contains extracts from relevant regulations and case studies of ship

WHAT IS AN Immersion suits, also known as survival suits and abandonment

THE DIFFERENCE HOW THE BODY REACTS TO EXTREME TEMPERATURES

THE EFFECTS OF COLD WATER EXPOSURE

• The water and air temperatures

THE DIFFERENCE THE FOUR STAGES OF DEATH FROM COLD

1. THE COLD SHOCK REFLEX

2. LOSS OF MUSCLE PERFORMANCE

PROTECTION AGAINST HEAT LOSS

• Locking body heat inside the suit

THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF IMMERSION SUIT

2 Immersion suits with inherent insulation which are only able to

All immersion suits are designed to minimise trapped air which

Important note! Immersion suits should not be worn as everyday

GETTING TO THE RIGHT SIZE

IMMERSION SUIT FEATURES

Now take a look at the suit’s features one by one.

GETTING TO GLOVES AND MITTENS

Mitten fitting over

Booted foot going

MOUTH AND NOSE MASK

With mouth and

GETTING TO FACE SEAL

MARKING OF IMMERSION SUITS

• The vessel’s name

GETTING TO WHERE IMMERSION SUITS ARE KEPT

1 Insert one leg first.

2 Put in next leg and

3 Pull hood over head.

4 Place the ‘non-

HOW TO PUT 5 Place ‘dominant’ arm

6 Zip the suit up fully,

7 Put the face seal on.

8 Insert fingers into

HOW TO PUT 10 Most suits are not

12 Put on the over

STEPPING OFF INTO THE WATER

Enter the water via

USING YOUR ONCE IN THE WATER

Your objective now is to get out of the water.

BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE IT

MAINTENANCE Keeping your immersion suit in perfect condition is absolutely

• Are there any tears or deterioration in the material or seams?