This copy shall be placed in/at

TRAINING MANUAL

on life-saving appliances

Name of ship ___

Port of registry ________

Type of ship _

Call sign ___

Official number

Year of build _

Main particulars ____

Length _ DWT _

Breadth Main engine power

GRT/GT Service speed _

ISBN 87-87895-93-5 Printed by JBK Offset ApS, Ishoj.

Printed in Denmark 1991

Guidance for the shipping company/safety officer

This training manual will form a complete guide to the use of life-saving appliances on board ships when the supplements/re- movals mentioned below have been made. It will thus fulfil the requirements laid down in SOLAS 74, Chapter III, Regulation 51.

In order to comply fully with the directions contained in regulation 51 it is necessary - as mentioned - to make individual supple- ments/removals applicable to the individual ship so that the train- ing manual comprises the life-saving appliances on board that ship. This applies here to arrangements of launching appliances, lifeboats and liferafts, lifejackets etc.

Instructions for several brands of life-saving appliances are in- cluded in this manual. For other brands of life-saving appliances carried on board the ship the safety officer must procure or pre- pare the relevant material and insert it in the manual.

The instructions in the manual must be replaced by updated material whenever life-saving appliances carried on board are changed or replaced by another type or model.

The items which have to be adjusted are as follows:

0 The front page to be filled in. 2.2 The muster lists to be inserted. 2.3 Scheme of alarm signals to be filled in.

3.2 Lifejackets and immersion suits: Instructions to be inserted.

3.3 This section to be extended with relevant instructions/ drawings for the ship.

3.4 Signals for launching of survival craft to be entered, (ref. 2.3).

3.4.2 Relevant instructions to be inserted. 3.4.3 Relevant instructions to be inserted,

(slip-hooks, hydrostatic release gear).

4.1 Liferaft-book of instructions to be inserted in the plastic pocket at the back of the manual.

4.2 Instructions for pyrotechnics and radio to be inserted. 4.3 Instructions for EPIRBs to be inserted. 4.4 Instructions for lifeboat engine to be inserted. 5.3 Instructions for line-throwing appliance to be inserted. 5.4.1 Alarm signal to be entered, (ref. 2.3).

Instructions regarding rescue boat to be inserted. 5.4.3 Number of lifebuoys on board to be entered.

Instructions for MOB-buoy to be inserted. 6. The intention of this section is to cover special equipment

found on specialized vessels such as passenger ships, gas and chemical tankers, diving ships etc.

7. Under this item instructions and comments are inserted regarding procedures especially valid for the shipping com- pany. For instance questionnaires etc. to be used in con- nection with the safety training might be inserted here.

Introduction

This training manual has been written and collected by a project group representing the Danish Maritime Authority (S0fartsstyrel- sen), shipping companies, and the seafarers' organizations, who - under the Danish Shipowners' Association - have been working for a general and uniform training manual on the use of life-saving appliances on board vessels in connection with the introduction of the revised chapter III on life-saving appliances in the International Convention on Safety of Life at Sea, SOLAS 74 *). The revised chapter III came into force on July 1st 1986.

The training manual is intended as a reference book containing answers to questions arising from the use of all life-saving ap- pliances on board, and according to SOLAS 74, chapter III, re- gulation 18, a manual shall be provided in each crew mess room and recreation room or in each crew cabin to be accessible to all members of the crew.

The manual has been prepared as a loose-leaf binder into which amendments can be inserted. Furthermore supplementary sec- tions dealing with special ships, special equipment, policy of ship- ping companies regarding procedures etc., can be inserted for the individual user.

On the condition that this training manual has been completed for the vessel which is identified on the front page of the book, the present edition fulfils the requirements laid down in regulation 51 of SOLAS 74, chapter III, 1983-amendments.

The abbreviation SM »B« refers to a Danish set of regulations equal to the SOLAS 74.

The project group would like to express their thanks to the IMO for permission to reproduce "A Pocket Guide to Cold Water Sur- vival", as well as to all companies and persons who have co- operated in the production of the manual.

This second edition of the Training Manual has been brought up to date and a few parts have been rewritten. Important amend- ments are issued as loose-leafs to the first edition.

This edition closed for contributions in April 1988.

') SOLAS is an abbreviation of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea prepared by the United Nations' shipping organization IMO (International Maritime Organization).

Contents

Page Part 1 - Common safety............................................. 1.0

Lifeboat and fire muster lists .................... 1.1.01 Man-Over-Board muster list ....................... 1.2.01 Drills and instructions ................................ 1.3.01 Safety notices and signs ............................ 1.4.01 Escape ........................................................ 1.5.01 Know the location and use of safety equipment..................................................... 1.6.01

Part 2- When the accident occurs ...........................2.0 Types of accidents ...................................2.1.01 Muster lists ...................................................2.2.01 Alarm signals ..............................................2.3.01

Part 3 - Abandoning the ship ....................................3.0 Hazards of cold exposure (survival technique) ....................................3.1.01 Personal life-saving appliances ..................3.2.01 Precautions when launching the survival crafts.............................................................3.3.07 Survival craft.................................................3.4.01

boarding ..................................................3.4.1.01 launching...................................................3.4.2.01 release ......................................................3.4.3.01

Part 4-In the survival craft .......................................4.0 Use of the survival craft facilities ................4.1.01 Use of the survival craft detection equipment -pyrotechnics and radio ..........................4.2.01 Use of Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB) ....................................... 4.3.01 Use of engine and accessories .................4.4.01 Emergency repair of life-saving appliances . 4.5.01

Parts- Various rescue situations .............................5.0 Rescue by helicopter ................................5.1.01 Shore rescue ................................................5.2.01 Line-throwing appliance ...............................5.3.07 Man-Over-Board situation .........................5.4.1.01

Use of rescue boat .................................5.4.1.01 Recovering of the rescue boat and lifeboat ...............................................5.4.2.01 Lifebuoys...................................................5.4.3.01

Part 6 - Special rescue equipment for specialized ships.............................................................6.0

Part?-

Index

Pag. Alarm signals ..................................... 2.3.01

Basketlift ............................................ 5.1.02 Boarding lifeboats and -rafts ............. 3.4.01 Boat alarm.......................................... 2.3.01, 3.4.01

Cold injury.......................................... 3.1.A. 10 Cold injury, treatment........................ 3.1.04, 3.1.A.07 Common safety.................................. 1.0

Doublelift ........................................... 5.1.01 Drills ................................................... 1.1.01, 1.3.01

Embarkation area.............................. 3.3.01 Emergency lighting in the embarkation area .................................................. 3.3.07 Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB)................................ 4.3.01 Emergency repair of life-saving appliances .......................................... 4.5.01 Emergency signals ............................ 4.2.03 Engine in lifeboat .............................. 4.4.01 EPIRB ................................................ 4.3.01 Escape routes .................................... 1.5.01

Fire alarm ......................................... 2.3.01 Fire muster lists .............................. 1.1.01, 2.2.01

Freezing cold injury (frostbite) ........... 3.1.A. 10

General alarm .................................... 2.3.01

Hazard of cold exposure ................... 3.1.01

Hydrostatic release gear ................... 3.4.3.02

Hypothermia ..................................... 3.1.A.05

Immersion suits................................. 3.2.01

Jumping wearing a lifejacket ............. 3.4.1.02

Launching of boats from ships making headway............................................. 3.4.2.03 Launching of lifeboat ......................... 3.4.1.03, 3.4.2.01 Launching of liferaft ........................... 3.4.1.04 Launching of rescue boat .................. 5.4.1.02 Lifeboat, boarding, launching and release................................................ 3.4.01 Lifeboat drills..................................... 3.4.3.01 Lifeboat equipment............................ 4.1.05 Lifeboat muster list............................ 1.1.01, 2.2.01 Lifeboat, recovery.............................. 5.4.2.01 Lifebuoys ............................................ 5.4.3.01 Lifejackets .......................................... 3.2.01

Pag. Liferaft, boarding, launching and release ................................................ 3.4.01 Liferaft equipment ............................... 4.1.05 Life-saving signals ............................ 5.2.03 Line-throwing appliance....................... 5.3.01

Man-over-board muster list................. 1.2.01, 2.2.01, 5.4.1.01 MOB-alarm.......................................... 2.3.01 MOB-boat ........................................... 1.2.01, 5.4.1.01 MOB-buoy........................................... 5.4.3.02 Muster lists __ '................................. 2.2.01

Non-freezing cold injury ...................... 3.1.A. 10

Personal life-saving appliances........... 3.2.01 "A Pocket Guide to Cold Water Survival".............................................. 3.1.A.01 Pyrotechnics ...................................... 4.2.01

Radio .................................................. 4.2.02 Recovering of the rescue boat and lifeboat ................................................ 5.4.2.01 Release of lifeboat or -raft ................. 3.4.3.01 Rescue by helicopter.......................... 5.1.01 Rescue from the shore ..................... 5.2.01 Rocket apparatus ................................ 5.2.01

Safest position for unconscious person ............................................... 3.1.A.08 Safety notices ..................................... 1.4.01 Sea anchor ......................................... 4.1.01 Ship abandonment.............................. 3.1.A.06 Shore rescue ...................................... 5.2.01 Signals when launching...................... 3.4.02 Signs ................................................. 1.4.01 Singlelift .............................................. 5.1.01 Special rescue equipment for specialized ships................................. 6.0 Stretcherlift.......................................... 5.1.02 Survival technique............................... 3.1.01

Temperature regulation of the body .. 3.1.02, 3.1.A.02 Treatment for hypothermia ................ 3.1.04, 3.1.A.07 Types of accidents.............................. 2.1.01

Regulation 51

SOLAS, Chapter III, Regulation 51 describes a series of detailed items and procedures which are to be included in training man- uals on life-saving appliances, prepared according to the above regulation.

The table below indicates where the individual items described in Regulation 51 are dealt with in this training manual.

SOLAS, Chapter III, Regulation 51 Training manual

. 1 donning of lifejackets and immersion suits . 3.2

.2 muster at the assigned stations ................................................ 2.2

.3 boarding, launching, and clearing the sur- vival craft and rescue boats ......................... 3.4, 5.4.1

.4 method of launching from within the survival craft ........................................................... 3.4

.5 release from launching appliances ............ 3.4

.6 methods and use of devices for protection

in launching areas, where appropriate . . . . 3.3

.7 illumination in launching areas ................... 3.3

.8 use of all survival equipment ....................... 4.1

.9 use of all detection equipment ..................... 4.2

. 10 with the assistance of illustrations, the use

of radio life-saving appliances .................... 4.3

. 11 use of sea anchors .................................... 4.1

. 12 use of engine and accessories .................. 4.4

. 13 recovery of survival craft and rescue boats

including stowage and securing ................ 5.4.1,5.4.2

. 14 hazards of exposure and the need for warm clothing........................................................... 3.1

. 15 best use of the survival craft facilities in order to survive ........................................... 4.1

. 16 methods of retrieval, including the use of helicopter rescue gear (slings, baskets, stretchers) breeches-buoy and shore life- saving apparatus and ship's line-throwing apparatus .................................................... 5.1, 5.2, 5.3

.17 all other functions contained in the muster list and emergency instructions ................... 1.1-1.6, 2.3

. 18 instructions for emergency repair of the life- saving appliances ...................................... 4.5

1.1

Lifeboat and fire muster lists

In accordance with SOLAS, notices known as muster lists, which tell each crew member what to do in an emergency, are to be placed on all ships. Among these notices are "LIFEBOAT AND FIRE MUSTER LISTS". They can differ from ship to ship depending on the company. The lifeboat and fire muster lists will also vary according to the type of ship and the size of its crew. Certain general requirements apply to the contents of these lifeboat and fire muster lists, among other things that they are to contain information about when the various alarm signals are to be used and what they sound like. It is vital that all those on board fully understand their tasks in the event of an emer- gency. For this reason it is the duty of every crew member carefully to study the lifeboat and fire muster lists as soon as they sign on.

To ensure that all on board al- ways know their duties in the event of an emergency, drills shall be performed. It is dur- ing drills that things possibly not functioning quite accord- ing to the purpose shall be found and it is during drills you ask the questions you want to have answered.

Remember! Ask - while there is time to answer! During an emergency there is no time to answer questions.

Remember! It is Your duty to participate in the lifeboat (Abandon Ship) and fire drills

1.6

Know the location and use of safety equipment

The location of the safety equipment is carefully planned and already before the ship was built the distribution of the safety equipment was ap- proved by the administration. No matter where you are in the ship there is always some safety equipment nearby - but remember it might be difficult to locate if for instance the rooms are filled with smoke, so it is wise to note the loca- tion of the equipment before you have to use it.

2.1

Types of accidents

The ship and the seafarer can encounter many different types of emergencies. Many of these can be avoided with care and by knowledge of the potential dangers. For this reason it is important, not to expose yourself or others to dangers because ofsloppi- ness. - Know your duties in an

emergency! - Be prepared - an emergen-

cy can arise any time! - Knowledge and training

gives you the best chances to cope with an emergency.

Emergencies can arise for a variety of reasons, for in- stance: Fire/Explosion can arise due to failure or faulty operation of equipment, to self-ignition caused by carelessness with open fire or smoking in the bunk.

Collision can be caused by failure of machinery or rudder, inadequate watchkeeping or by navigational errors.

Grounding or stranding, like collision, can be caused by navigational errors, failure of machinery or rudder, bad weather or by the ship drag- ging its anchor.

Leakage occurs if the ship's hull, deck or hatches are damaged.

Icing can be dangerous es- pecially to smaller vessels. It reduces the stability of the vessel, which may result in

Muster lists

In order to cope with an emer- gency situation in the best way planning ahead is neces- sary. The plans are called the muster lists, and comprise the boat muster lists and the fire muster lists respectively, and in certain ships there may also be a Man-Over-Board muster list.

Out of consideration for your shipmates and yourself it is your duty to acquaint yourself thoroughly with the muster lists - consider in particular:

- What is my task, do I under- stand what to do?

- Where do I have to appear?

- Where is the equipment to be used?

- Who gives the orders?

- To whom shall I report?

- What are the ship's alarm signals?

It is your duty to attend all musterings and drills. Your place on the muster list is given either by your profes- sion, name, crew number or room number.

If the heat loss is too great to be compensated for by the shiver and increasing insula- tion the body temperature will fall; first at a slow rate, later on faster until death occurs.

The possibility of the body to compensate for the heat loss by shivering and increased in- sulation by narrowing the blood-vessels are very limited compared to the amount of heat being lost by lowering a body into the water. Even at temperatures of 30°C a sub- stantiel cooling will take place, and only in few places in the world is the sea water tem- perature so high.

When a person falls into cold water, it will immediately pen- etrate the clothes. The insulat- ing layer of air in the clothes will be displaced by water and the skin will be strongly cooled.

The blood-vessels of the skin will narrow, but if the water temperature is below the above mentioned 30°C, this al- one will not prevent heat loss.

The body will try to produce more heat by tightening the

If you are in cold water and can't swim to anything near by, keep your clothes on, avoid movements and await rescue. In cold water don't overesti- mate your ability to swim.

If you are wearing a lifejacket, which keeps your head and neck out of the water, the cool- ing of the body will be slower, as the main artery to the head is less exposed to cooling at the place where it runs close to the skin.

As you see, wearing a life- jacket is not only a question of avoiding drowning, but also a question of surviving for a pro- longed period.

An extra help to reduce cool- ing can be achieved by press- ing the lifejacket against the breast, keep the arms close to your body, bend the thighes up against the lifejacket and keep

The purpose of this guide is to examine the hazards of cold exposure that may endanger your life.

It provides you with advice on how to prevent or minimize those dangers.

A thorough understanding of the information contained in this guide may some day save your life.

During the second world war the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom alone lost about 45,000 men at sea, of whom it is estimated 30,000 died from drowning and hypothermia. Many of those who drowned did so because of incapacita- tion due to cold. Even today the pattern is similar.

It is important to realize that you are not helpless to effect your own survival in cold water. Body heat loss is a gradual process, and re- search shows that in calm water at 5° C a normally dress- ed person has only a 50 per cent chance of surviving one hour. Simple, self-help tech- niques can extend this time, particulary if the person is wearing a lifejacket.

You can make the difference; this guide is intended to show

Hypothermia

The loss of body heat is one of the greatest hazards to the survival of a person at sea. The rate of body heat loss de- pends on water temperature, the protective clothing worn, and the manner in which the survivor conducts himself. An abnormally low body core temperature can be recog- nized by a variety of symp- toms. Very early during ex- posure, the body tries to com- bat the excessive heat loss both by narrowing its surface blood vessels (to reduce heat transfer by blood to surface) and by shivering (to produce more body heat). However, if the exposure is severe, the body is unable to conserve or produce enough heat. Body core temperature begins to fall. When body core tempera- ture is below 35°C the person is suffering from "hypother- mia".

Ship abandonment

Records show that many ships sink in less than 15 min- utes. This affords little time to formulate a plan of action, so careful preplanning is essen- tial to be ready in an emergen- cy. Here are some sound pointers for you to remember when abandoning ship: 1 Put on as much warm

clothing as possible, mak- ing sure to cover head, neck, hands and feet.

2 If an immersion suit is available put it on over the warm clothing.

3 If the immersion suit does not have inherent flotation, put on a lifejacket and be sure to secure it correctly.

4 All persons who know that they are likely to be af- fected by seasickness should, before or imme- diately after boarding the survival craft, take some recommended preventive tablets or medicine in a dose recommended by the manufacturer. The inca- pacitation caused by sea- sickness interferes with your survival chances; the vomiting removes pre- cious body fluid, while sea- sickness in general makes you more prone to hypoth- ermia.

5 Avoid entering the water if possible, e.g. board davit- launched survival craft on the embarkation deck. If davit-launched survival crafts are not available, use over-side ladders, or if necessary lower yourself by means of a rope or fire

6 Unless it is unavoidable do not jump from higher than 5 metres into the water. Try to minimize the shock of sudden cold immersion. A sudden plunge into the cold water can cause rapid death or an uncontrollable rise in breathing rate may result in an intake of water into the lungs. On occa- sions it may be necessary to jump into the water; if so, you should keep your elbows to your side, cover your nose and mouth with one hand while holding the wrist or elbow firmly with the other hand. One should not jump into the water astern of the liferaft in case there is any re- maining headway on the ship.

7 Once in the water, whether accidentally or by ship abandonment, orientate yourself and try to locate the ship, lifeboats, life- rafts, other survivors or other floating objects. If you were unable to pre- pare yourself before enter- ing the water, button up clothing now. In cold water you may experience vio- lent shivering and great pain. These are natural body reflexes that are not dangerous. You do, however, need to take ac- tion as quickly as possible before you lose full use of your hands; button up clothing, turn on signal lights, locate whistle, etc.

Part: o Title: . , , . , . . Pa9e: O -4

G Abandoning the ship o. I. A.08

In more serious cases, where the survivor is not shivering and is semi-conscious, uncon- scious, or apparently dead, immediate first aid measures will be necessary to preserve life while awaiting medical ad- vice on more detailed manage- ment procedures. The recom- mended first aid measures for such an immersion survivor are as follows: 1 On rescue always check the

survivor's breathing; 2 If the survivor is not

breathing, ensure the air- way is clear and start artifi- cial respiration immediately (mouth to mouth or mouth to nose);

3 Attempts at resuscitation should be continued for at least 30 minutes if medical advice is not available.

4 If the survivor is breathing but unconscious, lay him in the unconscious position as illustrated.

5 Avoid all unnecessary man- handling; do not even re- move wet clothes; do not massage.

6 Prevent further heat loss through evaporation and from exposure to the wind. Wrap the patient in blankets and transfer him imme- diately below decks to a compartment at between 15°C and 20°C, preferably keeping him horizontal, slightly head down.

7 Seek advice by radio on fur- ther treatment; advice on rewarming and decisions with regard to further treat- ment should then be given by a doctor.

The above basic guidelines on first aid treatment are illus- trated diagrammatically:

Cold injury

Another problem confronting a survivor in cold environ- ments is the threat of acquir- ing a cold injury. Such injuries usually result from prolonged exposure to low ambient tem- peratures, especially when wind speeds are high. Cold in- juries may be of a freezing or nonfreezing variety.

1

Freezing cold injury (frostbite)

Frostbite is the term given to the condition when tissue flu- ids freeze in localized areas of the body; the hands, face and feet are particularly suscept- ible. Cause Exposure, particularly of bare skin to subzero temperatures especially when combined with air movement. Look-outs in liferafts or survivors in open boats are particularly prone to this injury. Accordingly, con- sideration should be given to the length of watch period.

Diagnosis The signs are: 1 extreme waxy pallor of the

skin;

2 initial local tingling and stiff- ness when it is difficult to wrinkle the face or wriggle affected toes or fingers;

3 complete absence of sen- sation in the area affected; and

4 local hardness due to freez- ing of the flesh.

Be watchful for the early signs of frostbite in yourself and in others.

Prevention If bare skin has to be exposed to the elements, the periods of exposure should be kept to a minimum and freezing winds particularly avoided. Moderate exercise and massage at an early stage will help to prevent the onset of cold injury. DO NOT smoke; smoking reduces the blood supply to the hands and feet.

Treatment On detection of the above signs, immediate steps should be taken to re-warm the frozen part before permanent damage occurs. Get out of the wind. Re-warm the frozen areas by applying them to a warmer part of the body e.g. hands under armpjts, cupped hand over cheek, nose, ear, etc. Once freezing has oc- curred DO NOT rub or mas- sage affected areas.

2

Non-freezing cold injury (immersion foot)

This is a term given to the con- dition when the temperature of local tissues in the limbs (usu- ally the feet) remains sub-nor- mal but above freezing for a prolonged period. It is com- monly encountered by ship- wreck survivors who have been adrift and cold for seve- ral days. Usually the feet have been wet and immobile, but this injury can occur in dry conditions. Other contributory factors are tight footwear and sitting still with the feet down, as when sitting in a chair for prolonged periods.

Diagnosis Feet become white, numb, cold and frequently are slightly swollen. When returned to the warmth the feet become hot, red, swollen and usually pain- ful.

Prevention Every effort should be made by survivors to keep their feet warm and dry. Shoe laces should be loosened; the feet should be raised and toe and ankle exercises encouraged several times a day. When possible, shoes should be re- moved and feet kept warm by placing them under the armpits, but outside the clothing, of an adjacent occu- pant. Alternatively, unwanted spare clothing may be wrap- ped round the feet to keep them warm. Smoking should be discouraged.

Treatment After rescue every effort should be made to avoid rapid rewarming of the affected limbs. Care should be taken to avoid damaging the skin or breaking blisters. DO NOT massage affected limbs.

Summing up

We have briefly explained how your body responds to cold, what you can do to help ward off the harmful effects of cold, and finally, how to administer aid to an immersion survivor. We will now sum up the story with a number of important re- minders. Follow them, for your life may depend on them!

1 Plan your emergency moves in advance! Ask yourself what you would do if an emergency arose. Where is your nearest exit to the deck for escape ? Where is the nearest available im- mersion suit, lifejacket, or raft? How would you quickly get to your foul weather gear, insulated clothing, insulated gloves, distress signal, etc. ?

2 Know how your survival equipment works. The time of the emergency is not the time to learn.

3 Even in the tropics, before abandoning ship, wear many layers of clothing to offset the effects of cold. Wear an immersion suit if available.

4 Put on a lifejacket as soon as possible in an emergen- cy situation.

5 When abandoning ship, try and board the lifeboat or raft dry if you can.

6 If immersion in water is ne- cessary, try to enter the water gradually.

7 Swimming increases body heat loss. Swim only to a safe refuge nearby.

8 To reduce your body heat loss, float in the water with your legs together, elbows to your side and arms across your chest.

9 In a survival situation, you must force yourself to have the will to survive. This will very often make the dif- ference between life and death.

In conclusion, advance plan- ning, preparation, and thought on your part can be the most significant factors in your struggle with cold water im- mersion and in your survival. Familiarize yourself with the contents of this guide.

3.3

Precautions when launching survival craft

Depending on the individual vessel, there may be certain precautions to which particu- lar attention should be paid before launching the survival craft.

The following information may be relevant. - Emergency lighting in the

embarkation area: position operation

- Special hazards when launching: stabilizer finns overboard discharge

- Sprinkling of embarkation area on tankers where the survival craft are posi- tioned in the tank area.

Embarkation area is the deck area from which survival craft are boarded.

Launching when the vessel is underway

SOLAS stipulates that all res- cue boats and in addition life- boats on cargo ships of 20,000 GRT and above must be launchable while the ship is making up to 5 knots head- way through calm water. In connection with this sti- pulation it is important to note that:

- The requirement applies to the construction of the launching appliances i.e. the design and strength of davits, painters, etc.

- No demands are made on training or exercises in the launch of boats when the ship is underway.

- When launching takes place when the ship is underway it should be carried out in ac- cordance with the below in- structions prepared by the IMO, and the exercise should be carried out only if the boat is approved for this purpose by the Danish Mar- itime Authority.

- Even for an experienced crew, a certain element of risk is involved in the launching of boats from a ship which is underway.

Guidelines for training crews for the purpose of launching lifeboats and rescue boats from ships making headway through the water

(Annex to IMO Resolution A.624(15))

1. Chapter III of the 1974 SOLAS Convention, as modified by the 1983 amendments, contains no mandatory training require- ments for launching life- boats and rescue boats from ships making head- way through the water. However, if such training is undertaken, the Guidelines should be followed.

2. These Guidelines apply to the launching drills referred to in regulation 111/18.3.9 of the 1983 SOLAS amend- ments, undertaken with lifeboats and rescue boats capable of being safely launched with the ship making headway at speeds of up to 5 knots in calm water, as prescribed in re- gulations 111/16.3 and III/ 28.2, and therefore apply to new cargo ships of 20,000 tons gross tonnage and up- wards, other new ships fit- ted with rescue boats, and any other ship fitted with lifeboats or rescue boats having on-load release

gear adequately protected against accidental or pre- mature use.

3. These Guidelines supple- ment the procedures to be followed for the particular equipment provided on board a ship as described in the instructions and in- formation found in the ship's training manual re- quired by regulation 111/18.2 (i.e. this training manual). This will include instruc- tions on launching and re- covery, the use of the re- lease gear, clearing the boat from the ship and, where applicable, the use of a painter. The boat's crew should be instructed in the procedures to be fol- lowed before the drill com- mences.

4. Drills should be carried out either on board a ship at anchor or alongside where there is a suitable relative movement between ship and water, or at a suitable shore establishment where similar conditions prevail. Alternatively, at the mas- ter's discretion, drills may be carried out on board a ship when making head- way in sheltered waters. For safety purposes, it is not necessary when train- ing to exercise at the max- imum design 5 knots head- way launching capability of the equipment. Drills should be carried out with a low relative water speed particularly where inex- perienced personnel are in- volved. When planning the drill, consideration should be given to ensuring that, as far as practicable, the re- letive water speed will beat a minimum when recover- ing the boat.

5. None of the provisions in these Guidelines are inten- ded to inhibit launching drills carried out on ships where such drills are car- ried out on a frequent and regular basis with fully trained and experienced boat crews.

6. When planning for and car- rying out the launching drills referred to in regula- tion 111/18.3.9, the following precautions should be taken:

1. Drills should only be carried out under the supervision of an of- ficer experienced in such drills and under calm and clear condi- tions.

2. Provisions should be made for rendering as- sistance to the boat to be used in the drill in the event of unforeseen cir- cumstances; for example, where practicable a second boat should be made ready for launching.

3. When practicable, the drill should be carried out when the ship has minimal freeboard.

4. Instructions as to pro- cedures should be given to the boat's crew by the officer in charge before the drill com- mences.

5. The number of crew members in the boat should be the minimum compatible with the training to be carried out.

6. Lifejackets and, where appropriate, immersion suits should be worn.

7. Except in the case of totally enclosed boats, head protection should be worn.

8. For the purposes of the drill, skates, where fit- ted, should be removed unless they are de- signed to be retained under all launch condi- tions.

9. In the case of totally en- closed boats, all open- ings should be closed except for the helms- man's hatch which may be open to provide a better view for launch- ing.

10. Two-way radiotele- phone communications should be established between the officer in charge of lowering, the navigating bridge and the boat before lower- ing commences, and be maintained through- out the exercise.

11. During lowering and re- covery and while the boat is close to the ship, steps should be taken to ensure that the ship's propeller is not turning, if practicable.

12. The boat's engine should be running be- fore the boat enters the water.

13. The launching and re- covery should be fol- lowed by a de-briefing session to consolidate the lessons learned.

screwed on. If the survivors have become wet, their clothes should be taken off at once, first down to the waist. Wring it thoroughly - wet clothes are better than none at all.

Drogue and line The drogue and line, which is secured to the lower buoyan- cy tube should be set imme- diately (the release cord/ painter being cut first). The drogue stabilizes the raft, thus reducing the risk of cap- sizing. It also reduces drifting from the position which may have been stated over the ra- dio. The emergency pack contains a spare drogue and line.

Closing Entrances and Checking Top Lights Close the entrances (see in- structions mounted to the can- opy at the entrances inside the raft). A light (top light) has been mounted outside at the top of the life raft, another has been placed inside the raft. Both lights switch on automatically when the raft is inflated and comes into contact with water. If one or both lights are out of operation, try to locate the fault if possible. Inside the raft, close by the light, there is an on/off switch so you may put out the light and save power by daylight.

Lifemft equipment

- Operational Instructions - 2 Sea anchors and cord - 2 Paddles - Rescue quoit with line - Bellows - Repair kit - 2 bouyant safety knives - 4 rocket parachute flares - 6 hand flares - 2 bouyant smoke signals - Electric torch with spare

bulb and batteries - Whistle - Signalling mirror - Scissors - Instruction for survival - Illustrated table of life

saving signals - 1 bailer, 2 in rafts for more

than 12 persons - 2 sponges - Emergency ration, 10,000

kJ per person - Drinking water, 1.5 litre per

person - 1 drinking vessel - 3 tin openers - Fishing tackle - Medicine box - Anti-seasickness medicine,

6 doses per person - Seasickness bag, 1 per

person

Lifeboat equipment

- 1 set of oars - 1 set of crutches - 2 boat-hooks - 1 bailer - 2 buckets - 1 survival manual - 1 compass in binnacle - 1 sea-anchor - 2 painters - 2 hatchets - 3 litres of fresh water per

person - 1 rustproof dipper with

lanyard - 1 rustproof, graduated cup - 1 ration of provision with at

least 10.000 kJ for each person

- 4 parachute flares - 6 hand flares - 2 smoke signals - 1 flashlight (Morse) with

spare batteries and bulb - 1 signal mirror - 1 copy of rescue signals - 1 whistle - 1 medicine chest 4 - 6 doses of anti-seasick-

ness medicine for each person

- 1 seasickness bag for each person

- 1 pocket knife with lanyard - 3 can openers - 2 rescue quoits with line - 1 manual pump - 1 set of fishing tackle - 1 fire-extinguisher - 1 searchlight - Thermal protection aid - 1 efficient radar reflector - 1 set of tools for minor

adjustments of the engine, (SM "B" Chapter III Reg. 41.8.27.)

The above applies to ships built after July 1st, 1986.

Distress signals 1. The following signals, used or exhibited either together or separately, indicate distress and need of assistance: a) a gun or other explosive

signal fired at intervals of about a minute;

b) a continuous sounding with any fog-signalling ap- paratus;

c) rockets or shells, throwing red stars fired one at a time at short intervals;

d) a signal made by radiotele- graphy or by any other sig- nalling method consisting of the group • • ---------- (SOS) in the Morse Code;

e) a signal sent by radi- otelephony consisting of the spoken word »May- day«;

f) the International Code Sig- nal of distress indicated by N.C.;

g) a signal consisting of a square flag having above or below it a ball or any- thing resembling a ball;

h) flames on the vessel (as from a burning tar barrel, oil barrel, etc.);

i) a rocket parachute flare or a hand flare showing a red light;

j) a smoke signal giving off orange-coloured smoke;

k) slowly and repeatedly rais- ing and lowering arms out- stretched to each side;

I) the radiotelegraph alarm signal;

m) the radiotelephone alarm signal;

n) signals transmitted by emergency positioning in- dicating radio beacons.

2. The use or exhibition of any of the foregoing signals ex- cept for the purpose of indicat- ing distress and need of assis- tance and the use of other sig- nals which may be confused with any of the above signals is prohibited.

3. Attention is drawn to the rel- evant sections of the Interna- tional Code of Signals, the Merchant Ship Search and Rescue Manual and the fol- lowing signals:

a) a piece of orange-coloured canvas with either a black square and circle or other appropriate symbol (for identification from the air);

b) a dye marker.

Start 1. Activate the decompres-

sion.' 2. Turn the engine rapidly

about 20 revolutions. 3. Release the decompres-

sion and note where the starting handle is placed in the compression stroke. If the handle is on its way down, turn it half a turn in the daw so that you oper- ate against the compres- sion.

4. Now activate the de- compression again and turn the engine up to as many revolutions as possi- ble.

5. Release the decompres- sion handle at the same time as you operate the starting handle vigorously.

6. The engine starts.

After start 1. Check the lube oil pressure

on the oil pressure gauge in the instrument panel. The lube oil pressure must be between 2 and 4 kg/cm2

(must never be lower than 1 kg/cm2).

2. Engage the gear in ahead or reverse when idling.

3. Adjust the revolutions at the number wanted.

4. A fter some minutes of navi- gation check that the cool- ing water temperature is normal 75-85°C (in case of keel cooling the boat must move through the water at higher load).

5. Various rescue

situations

5.1 Rescue by helicopter 5.2 Shore rescue 5.3 Line-throwing appliance 5.4 Man overboard situation

.1 Use of rescue boat .2 Recovery of rescue/

lifeboat .3 Lifebuoys

Introduction

There are several types of final rescue, dependent on the situa- tion at hand. This part of the training manual describes methods and equip- ment you should make yourself familiar with in the context of various rescue operations.

5.4.3 Lifebuoys

A certain number of lifebuoys must be carried in every ship. The number is dependent on length and purpose of the ship (cargo or passenger ship).

This ship carries

_ _ lifebuoys!

The lifebuoys are placed in such a way that they are easily accessible on both sides of the ship. The lifebuoys must be ready for being rapidly cast off. They must by no means be permanently fastened.

Be aware of the placing of the lifebuoys!

The lifebuoys have to be equipped with reflection tapes and the name and port of regi- stry of the ship shall be mark- ed on each lifebuoy in legible block letters.

6. Special rescue equipment for specialized ships

On specialized ships there may be a need for special rescue equipment due to the nature of the cargo or the operation of the ship. One example is the use of escape breathing appara- tus in gascarriers. Instructions on the use of this equipment if available is inserted here.