Towing

 When a vessel becomes disabled at sea, Salvage tugs are normally used
to tow her to safety
 However , another merchant ship may under take this task
 Before agreeing to tow, Master should check the legal considerations and
above all be satisfied that his ship has sufficient power and is provided
with necessary equipment and sufficient bunker for the proposed voyage
 A merchant ship is normally capable of towing another vessel of up to
twice her own size
 Towing – Tow Line

 Tow line should have good elasticity as well as considerable strength

 Fiber ropes have good elasticity but unlikely be strong enough for towing
 Wire ropes have good strength but practically no elasticity
 Cable in the form of an anchor chain has considerable strength. Its weight
causes it to form a shallow curve between the two ships tends to absorb
the changing stresses in the tow line.
 Most suitable tow line is generally considered to be a combination of
anchor cable from the disabled ship shackled to the heavy wire of the
towing ship
 Such arrangement has been used on numerous occasions for towing
vessels of all sizes including a fully laden 200000 tons deadweight tanker
 Towing -Preparations

 The disabled ship should land the anchor on the deck and disconnect the
cable ready for shackling to the heavy wire from the other ship
 On the towing vessel the inner end of the heavy wire should be secured
using several sets of bitts to distribute the load
 The end of the heavy wire is paid out from the towing ship after reeving
through the snatch block which is shackled to the end of a mooring rope
 Mooring rope is then taken forward to a winch so that the wire can be
sent out under full control
 Towing- Connecting the tow

 Tow line should be passed during the day time in clear weather
 If the seas are rough it is worth waiting for the weather to improve
 A rocket line is fired across to make connection with the disabled ship
 The disabled ship would be lying stopped beam on to wind and sea
 Towing vessel should approach from fine on other vessel’s quarters and move in
parallel to her sending a rocket line across when two vessels are abreast of one another
 Thereafter towing vessel takes up a position slightly ahead of disabled vessel to pass
the tow line across
 In rough weather towing vessel may take a position stern to wind, off the end of the
disabled ship as the vessels are likely to have different rate of drift
 Rocket line should be attached to a fiber messenger rope which is then secured to a
wire or synthetic fiber rope to haul the heavy wire rope
 Towing - Commencing to tow

 When the heavy wire is shackled to the end of the disabled vessel’s cable
and secured aboard the towing vessel, the cable is veered to get the
required length of tow line
 At least 3 shackles of cable should be used to give a long tow line with a
sufficient sag to absorb shocks
 On towing vessel, wire should be well greased or protected at the
fairleads by to prevent chaffing
 Cable should be secured by tightly screwing up the brake and using bow
stopper
 The stress on the tow line is imposed gradually by the towing vessel
increasing the rpm few at a time
 Towing voyage

 Generally speed should be less than 10 kts even in good weather

 Tow line should never be allowed to come out of the water keeping the
lowest part 6 to 12 m below the surface
 The towed vessel should disengage the propeller shaft to allow free
wheeling to reduce stress
 Towed vessel should trimmed by stern to reduce yawing
 Keep a watch on tow line at all times
 Freshen the nip if required
Search and Rescue Operations

 Once a craft in distress initiates May day or Pan call or EPIRB

transmission is picked up it is relayed to Maritime Rescues Coordination
Centers (MRCC) located along the coasts i.e. Mumbai, Chennai,
Singapore , London etc.
 The MRCC acts as Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator (SMC) and
Search and Rescue operations are initiated.
Duties of SMC include –
 Assume search and rescue in their area of responsibility
 Allocate resources ( Ships, aircraft and helicopters) for SAR operation
 Appoint a suitable ship or aircraft as On Scene Coordinator (OSC)
 Initiate broadcasts through VHF, HF, NAVTEX etc.
 Search and Rescue Operations

 Normally a specialized unit like a warship or a military aircraft would assume the duties of the
On Scene Coordinator (OSC). The duties of OSC include
 Coordination between various units involved in the search
 Maintain communication with SMC
 Report arrival or departures of SAR units
 Seek any additional resources
 Make periodical reports on progress of operations
 Communications will be established on 2182 kHz or VHF channel 16, if possible.
 Surface vessels when engaged with aircraft in a coordinated search could expect items of a
specialist nature to be dropped into the sea for rendering assistance to the craft in distress
 In case no specialist units are engaged in the search area, the Master of the vessel going to the
assistance of the distressed vessel must assume the duties of On Scene Coordinator (OSC)
 Search and Rescue Operations –
Master’s Obligation
 In accordance with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at
Sea (SOLAS), Masters have an obligation to render assistance to a person
or persons in distress, if it is within their power.
 Any Master of a vessel at sea, on receiving a signal for assistance from
another ship, aircraft or survival craft, is bound to proceed with all
possible speed to the scene of the signal.
 If possible, he should inform the distressed party that assistance is on its
way.
 If the Master of a ship is unable, or under special circumstances
considers it unreasonable or unnecessary, to proceed to the scene of
distress, then he must enter that reason in the log book
 IAMSAR

International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (IAMSAR)Manual

 The Manual is published jointly by IMO and International Civil Aviation
Organization(ICAO)
 It provides guidelines for the Search and Rescue operations for ships and aircraft
in distress
 Three Volumes-
Volume I- Organization and Management
 Outlines the concept of a global SAR system
 Establishment and improvement of national and regional search and rescue
systems i.e. MRCC etc.
 Discusses the need for cooperation between various states in order to provide
effective SAR services
 IAMSAR

Volume II – Mission Coordination

 Assistance to personnel who plan and coordinate search and rescue
operations and exercises
Volume III – Mobile Facilities
 Mandatory for carriage onboard ships
 Provides assistance in helping perform a search and rescue
 Provides information on the role of On Scene Coordinator
 Various search patterns that can be followed depending upon many
factors such as number and type of ships, aircraft and helicopters
available for search, nature of distress, time elapsed since the incident of
distress
 IAMSAR

Volume III
 Section 1-General Overview- SAR Organization, responsibilities and
obligation, coordination , Mission coordinator, On Scene coordinator
 Section 2- Rendering Assistance- Action by ships and aircraft on SAR
mission, onboard preparations, Search patterns, communication, helicopter
operations, care of survivors
 Section3 -Onboard coordination- coordination of SAR, Communications,
Planning and conducting search, Conclusion of search
 Section 4- Onboard Emergencies- Distress signals, medical evacuation ,
MOB, Ship emergencies, aircraft emergencies, Ship- aircraft emergencies
 Appendices- SOLAS Regulations, Message, Situation Reports and Debrief
forms
Search and Rescue Operations-
IAMSAR
 With the introduction of the three manuals of IAMSAR, the civil aviation
and the maritime industries were brought much closer together.
 This mutual co-operation between ships and aircraft serves both the
marine and aviation industries well.
 Although fixed wing aircraft cannot, in general, recover from the surface,
they can locate distressed parties early, by coverage of a greater area.
 Ships can subsequently be brought in to recover, when the situation is
outside helicopter range.
 There are numerous search patterns and SAR operations which have
relied heavily on the involvement of aircraft.
Search Patterns – Choice and Aspects

 A number of search patterns are given in IAMSAR Vol III

 The choice of search pattern to be followed depends on many factors –
 The type of distress
 Time elapsed
 Size of the area to be searched
 Number of search units engaged
 Weather and visibility
 The search pattern needs to be pre-planned to ensure that all participants are aware of
their respective duties during the ongoing operation.
 Masters of ships called in to act as a search unit, or designated as an On Scene
Coordinator (OSC),may be allocated a search pattern by the SAR Mission Coordinator
(SMC) or at times , the choice of search pattern may be left at the discretion of
individual Master.
 Muster list

 It is a list stating the Emergency signal and action to be taken by the crew
and passengers when the emergency signal is sounded
 General emergency alarm is sounding of at least 7 short blasts followed by
one prolonged blast on the whistle or siren and also on electric bell
 It also states how the Abandon ship signal will be given
 Signal for fire alarm is also stated
 Location of Primary and secondary muster stations
 Special duties allotted to some members of the crew ,Station to which each
person to go and duties to be performed in any particular emergency
 Muster list should be made out before the ship sails and posted in Bridge,
Engine room, accommodation and crew spaces
Muster list
 Muster list

 The special duties assigned to some crew members will include-

 Closing of water tight doors, fire doors, valves , scuppers , port holes etc
 Equipping of survival craft and other life saving appliances- portable radios, EPIRB, SART, Walkie Talkies,
pyrotechnics, extra water, blankets, food etc
 Preparation for launching of survival craft
 Preparation of other LSA
 Muster of passengers
 Use of communication equipment
 Manning of fire fighting parties
 Officer responsible for maintenance of FFA and LSA
 Substitutes for key personnel in case of injury/ disability
 Duties of crew members in respect of passengers – warning the passengers, assembling them at muster
stations, checking them for proper clothing, donning the life jackets correctly, maintain order and control over
their movements
 Ensuring that a large number of blankets are taken to the survival craft
 Muster list

 Illustrations and instructions in English and any appropriate

language
 Indicate the location of muster stations
 How to don life jackets
 Actions to be taken in an emergency
 These are to be pasted in
 Passenger cabins
 Muster station
 Other passenger space
 DUTIES OF THE LOOKOUT

 The principal duty of the lookout is to maintain a continuous watch for all hazards that
may impair the safe navigation of the vessel
 He is obliged to give his full uninterrupted attention to this duty, reporting any of the
following to the officer of the watch:
 1. All ships irrespective of size or position in relation to the vessel on which he is sailing.
 2. All navigation marks or lights.
 3. All floating objects.
 4. Any sightings of ice, no matter in what form.
 5. Sandbanks or prominent navigational features.
 6. Any other hazard considered dangerous to navigation.
 7. The malfunction of the ship’s lights, and their correct functioning at hourly intervals
DUTIES OF THE LOOKOUT

 The lookout is also obliged to remain at his position until correctly relieved of his
duties.
 On being relieved, he should acquaint his relief with relevant information
concerning the items he has reported.
 The lookout has a very responsible job and his duties must never be taken lightly.
 Rule 2 of the Regulations for ‘Preventing Collisions at Sea’ states, ‘Nothing in these
Rules shall exonerate any vessel, or the owner, Master or crew thereof, from the
consequence of any neglect to comply with these Rules or of the neglect of any
precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen, or by the
special circumstances of the case’,
 Rule 5,‘Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper lookout by sight and hearing
as well as by all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and
conditions so as to make a full appraisal of the situation and of the risk of collision’.