EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

01A.14

COMPILED BY : CAPT RAJIV VIG

DATED : 22 APR 2019
APPROVED BY : CAPT L C DHARMANI
REVIEWED DATE : 21 APR 2022
 EMERGENCY
Definition :
“An event, or set of events,
which disrupts our normal day to
day routine.”

It can erupt suddenly, or develop

over some considerable time.

It can result in damage to the

physical environment and
people, and possibly lead to loss
of life.

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 TYPES OF EMERGENCIES
Types of emergencies and their
cause vary considerably, and no
two are exactly the same.

Some, like acts of war of

terrorism, are man-made.

Others can arise through natural

causes, human error, and
systems or machinery failure.

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 Types of Emergencies
 Abandonship
 Fire
 Collision
 Grounding / Beaching / Stranding
 Flooding and then Foundering
 Steering Failure / Gyro Failure
 Structural Failure (fatigue / wrong cargo opn)
 Power Failure / Main Engine Failure
 Injury to personnel
 Piracy Attack / Drug or Contraband smuggling / Stowaway
 Pollution (Oil / Garbage / Air / Chemicals / Dangerous goods)

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 TYPES OF EMERGENCIES

FIRE
Fire on deck,
cargo hold,
store room.
Fire in engine
room, steering
gear room.
Fire in galley/
accommodation
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 TYPES OF EMERGENCIES
DAMAGE TO SHIP
 Wrong weight
distribution / List
 Collision
 Grounding

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 TYPES OF EMERGENCIES
Failure of
EQUIPMENT
Main
propulsion
failure
Steering
gear failure
Electrical
power failure
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TYPES OF EMERGENCIES
POLLUTION
Oil
Garbage
 Dangerous Cargo
Harmful
substances
Noxious Liquid
substances
 AIR POLLUTION
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TYPES OF EMERGENCIES

UNLAWFUL
ACTS
Piracy
Stowaway
Drug
Terrorism
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 TYPES OF EMERGENCIES

PERSONAL ACTS
(MAJOR INJURIES)
 to Stevedores
 to ship’s Crew
 Man overboard
 Rescue of survivors
 Rescuefrom
machinery room/
enclosed space
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 TYPES OF EMERGENCIES

CARGO DAMAGE /
LOSS
Fire / Explosion
Cargo spillages
Cargo pilferage
Cargo
contamination
with water / other
cargo / oil
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 Shipboard Contingency Plan

 Ship specific ‘Contingency Plan’

(usually a Manual or a booklet) is
available on board each ship to deal
with each type of known emergencies.
 In the event of an emergency, the
Officer on Watch should immediately
RESPOND to the ‘emergency’ in hand.
 A detailed checklist is available in the
plan and same to be followed to ensure
all actions are adhered to by the
various ‘Teams’ fighting the
emergency.

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ACTIONS ON HEARING ALARM

 Proceed to your muster station.

 If you are in your cabin, bring you
lifejackets and immersion suits.
 If you are on deck, don’t go back
as there are extras on the boat
deck.
 Remain calm
 Get as much woolen clothes as
you can (but not losing time!)

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MUSTER

“To assemble the passengers and / or

crew on a ship”
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 Muster
Why is it required to Muster ship’s personnel ?
 To ensure that all personnel are safe and no one is
missing (head count is taken).

Do we muster in any order ?

 We muster as per Teams or
 We muster as per ‘rank markings’ made on deck

Where do we know what type of Emergency is there ?

 At the Muster station it is announced via PA
system on internal communication and/or the
Team Leaders brief their respective Teams

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CONTENTS OF MUSTER LIST
 Emergency Signals and their terms.
 Muster point (primary and secondary).
 The duties each crew member / passenger
has to perform in various emergencies.
 The number of the Lifeboat which each crew
or passenger are designated to.
 The rank/name of officer who takes charge in
case of in-charge is incapacitated.
 The rank/name of the officer in-charge of
maintenance of Safety items.
 Duties for the protection of passengers in
time of emergency.
 Name of ship, call sign, name & signature of
Master with date.
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Muster List (sample copy) 4.5

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Emergency Teams (sample)
Control Team ECR
• Capt Team
• 3rd/off • C/E
• AB • E/O
• Oiler

Emergency Team – Emergency Team –

A B
• C/O • 2/E
• Cadet • 3/E
• Bosun • J/E
• AB • Fitter
• OS • Oiler

Support Team
Rescue Boat Team • Cook
• 2nd/off • Steward
• AB
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 DRILLS
 Drills are required to be carried out
regularly in accordance with
Merchant Shipping Regulations.
 An abandon ship drill and a fire drill
must be held within 24 hours of
leaving port if more than 25 % of the
crew have not taken part in drills on
board the ship in the previous month.
 As soon as possible but not later
than 24 hrs after joining the ship,
onboard training in the use of the
ship’s life-saving appliances,
including survival craft equipment,
should be given to crew members
(Safety familiarisation).
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DRILLS
 The timing of emergency drills should vary so
that personnel who have not participated in a
particular drill may take part in the next.
 Any defects or deficiencies revealed during
drills and the inspections which accompany
them should be made good without delay.

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On board Drills - types
 Abandonship drill (every month)
 Fire drill (every month)
 Oil pollution drill (every month)
 Steering failure drill (every three months)
 Enclosed Space Rescue Drill (every two months)
 Power failure drill (all other drills
 Main Engine failure drill within a year or as
> Collision drill requirement)
 Grounding drill
 Structural Failure / Flooding drill
 Cargo shifting / Unacceptable List drill
 Helicopter Rescue drill
 Injury to persons drill
 Piracy and Security related drills (various types)
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 GENERAL EMERGENCY
ALARM SIGNAL

It is a signal for summoning crew and passengers, whenever any emergency

occurs, to their muster stations.

It consists of seven or more short blasts followed by one long blast on the ship's
whistle or siren and additionally on an electrically operated bell or Klaxon or
other warning systems.

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 ABANDON-SHIP SIGNAL

There is no statutory
abandon-ship signal. It is to
be given VERBALLY and
through a public address
system by the Master of the
vessel only.
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Escape Route
 Inside accommodation and in engine room, the passage
through which one can go to the ‘Muster station’ is
termed as ‘Escape Route’
 It is marked by ‘fluorescent arrows’ (visible even in
darkness) at various places (at the bottom of the
bulkheads).
 One should familiarize with the ‘Escape Route’ from one’s
cabin and usual workplace.
 E/Room staff should be familiar with ‘Emergency Escape
Route’ from E/Rm to Deck too.
 The rope, pulley arrangement for vertical lift in ‘Emg.
Escape route’ to be in good condition.

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 Internal Communication
Following are the ways of internal communication on board
ships :-
 Walkie Talkie (UHF channel or VHF channel)
 Talk back system or PA (Personnel Address) system
 Ship’s Telephone (using ship’s power)
 Ship’s Telephone (using battery)
 Loud Hailer
 Ship’s Whistle (to attract attention) – not in restricted
visibility or congested waters
 Hand Signals
 Morse signal

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