Introduction to

Maritime Safety
WORKPLA Presented by
CE SAFETY Ramil C. Manlunas

Source: Pre-Baccalaureate Maritime Source: Pre-Baccalaureate Maritime

INTRODUCTION TO MARITIME SAFETY 12 INTRODUCTION TO MARITIME SAFETY
Copyright 2017 First Edition
The Phoenix Publishing House Inc. Copyright 2016
2M Junal O. Gatungay Jr., and JJACK WISDOM PUBLISHING
2M Edelwina Reniedo-Kutukovs Emeterio Abanan Jr.
 TECHNICAL TERMS
• crew - the personnel of the ship who executes the workload during its operations

• deck - a permanent covering over a compartment or a hull of a ship; on a ship, the horizontal
structure that forms the roof for the hull that strengthens the hull and serves as a primary working
surface

• emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) - a device used to transmit signal to
alert immediate response from search and rescue centers in emergency cases on board

• International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972 (COLREGS) - also

coined as "The Rules of the Road"; guide that contains navigational rules followed by ships and other
vessels at sea to prevent collisions between two or more vessels

• master - ship's captain

• officer of the watch (OOW) - the representative of the ship's master and has the total
responsibility for the safe and efficient navigation of the ship for a specific period of time

Ramil C. Manlunas

Saint Michael College of Caraga

 What is an
“emergency”?
A situation is classified as an emergency every time a severe and/or destructive situation turns
out unexpectedly. The existence of a concrete, detailed plan is very important in handling an
emergency, as to any situation that calls for immediate response..

Because ships are isolated and most of the time so far from land, emergency situations on board are
likely to be more critical and dangerous.

It becomes essential and a requirement for all the crew on board to identify different scenarios that
will require emergency response.

And with the abundance of both external, (e.g., storms, shallow water, ice bergs, etc.), and internal,
(e.g., machinery breakdown, work hazards, hazardous tasks, etc.), factors, it is a must to be able to
immediately identify potential emergency scenarios.
 • For any emergency response to be effective and organized, all
crew and/ or passengers undergo a safety familiarization upon
boarding the vessel, and emergency drills are occasionally
carried out.
• During the safety familiarization and emergency drills,
everyone on board must familiarize themselves with the
following emergency procedures and equipment.

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND EQUIPMENT:

1. Muster List
2. Alarm System
3.Public Address
4.Emergency Exit
5.Muster Station
Ramil C. Manlunas

Saint Michael College of Caraga

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND EQUIPMENT:

Muster List

A muster list, also called a station bill, is a list that is displayed in prominent areas of the
vessel so that every crew member and/or passenger on board can read it in one go.

Although reading it is quite impractical during emergency situations, it is required to be

familiar with it immediately upon boarding the ship.

A muster list varies depending on the type of vessel, operation, and number of crew and/or
passengers.
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND EQUIPMENT:

1. Muster List
Information: Details

-Types of emergency and different alarms Main emergencies like fire, man overboard, abandon ship, oil spill, etc. are written together
with the corresponding visual and audible alarms
-Instruction to follow in case of different types of emergency This includes immediate instruction and actions to be done in case the alarm for a
particular emergency is activated.
-Common muster point for all the crew This indicates the location for mustering of the crew on different types of emergency.
-Crew list of all crew members with assigned lifeboat This shows the complete names and ranks of the crew along with their lifeboat
- assignments during abandon ship.
-Assigned duties and responsibilities This includes all crew specific duties and responsibilities during different emergencies. It
also includes carrying tools and equipment, personal protective equipment, and survival
provisions.
-Different teams with assigned duties for the individuals of Different teams are made to tackle emergencies like fire, flooding, etc. These are:
the team for emergencies -Command team.
-On scene emergency team.
-Support team.
-Engine room team.
-Ship specification and emergency communication equipment This contains ship's details and specifications detrimental for an and emergency effective
emergency situation. It also underlines who among the communication equipment crew
uses a communication equipment and how this communication equipment should be used.
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND EQUIPMENT:

2. Alarm System
The alarm system is an integral part of the ship's emergency procedure. Because emergency can
happen anytime and anywhere, alarms are located on strategic locations on board for easy access and
notification.

These alarms notify the crew with an audible and visible notification when triggered. This is done to
ensure that crew members working in areas where seeing a visual alarm is not possible can at least
hear an audible alarm and vice versa.

It has been a common practice in the international maritime industry to use the same alarm signal
for a specific emergency to make it easy for seafarers to recognize these alarms regardless of the
location of the ship or the company it belongs to.

Types of Alarm System: a. General Alarm b. Visual Alarm

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND
EQUIPMENT:

2. Alarm System
General Alarm
The general alarm on a ship is recognized by seven short ringings of bell followed by a long
ring or seven short blasts on the ship's horn followed by one long blast. The general alarm
bell is sounded to make aware the crew on board that an emergency has occurred.

The general alarm will be sounded in the events of:

>Abandon ship >Fire >Collision >Grounding

>Man overboard >Oil spill >Any other event that calls for emergency action
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND
EQUIPMENT:

2. Alarm System
Visual Alarm
Aside from general alarm bell, there also visual alarms posted at strategic locations.

These emergency red lights will automatically turn on together with the emergency alarm
bell.

Visual alarms are installed to guarantee that a crew can notice the alarm when working in
an area where hearing an audible alarm is not probable, like the engine room.

No matter in which seas all the ships navigate or to which company or country they are
registered, both audible and visual alarm signals, for an exact warning is alike in all vessels,
as it is the customary practice in the international maritime industry.
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND
EQUIPMENT:

3. Public Address
After the sounding of the general alarm, a verbal announcement in public address (PA)
system from the master will follow, stating the nature of the alarm.

It should be noted that the master is the person on board to give the verbal announcement
during emergency especially when announcing abandon ship.

It is important that every emergency alarm be followed with a verbal announcement in the
PA to indicate the specific course of action of the crew and passengers. In the absence of
the captain, any of the officers present on the command station (normally the navigational
bridge) could take charge and make the announcement.
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND
EQUIPMENT:

4. Emergency Exit
In every emergency, escape routes are just as important as knowing the emergency alarms.
Locations on board may look the same if you are not well acquainted with the different rooms
and levels.

For this reason, alleyways, walkways, and walls are marked with green arrows and doors with exit
signs for easy evacuation.

It should be noted that emergency exits could be locked or restricted on some situations,
especially if the area is prone to illegal entry by unauthorized persons like stowaways, thieves,
or pirates and terrorists.

Therefore, it is important to verify the status of the nearest emergency exits on your workplace
and your cabin.
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND
EQUIPMENT:

4. Emergency Exit
In every emergency, escape routes are just as important as knowing the emergency alarms.
Locations on board may look the same if you are not well acquainted with the different rooms
and levels.

For this reason, alleyways, walkways, and walls are marked with green arrows and doors with exit
signs for easy evacuation.

It should be noted that emergency exits could be locked or restricted on some situations,
especially if the area is prone to illegal entry by unauthorized persons like stowaways, thieves,
or pirates and terrorists.

Therefore, it is important to verify the status of the nearest emergency exits on your workplace
and your cabin.
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND
EQUIPMENT:

5. Muster Station

A muster station is an area of the ship where the crew and/or passengers assemble during the
emergency.

Here, the crew does a roll call to make sure everyone is present and accounted for, especially for
abandon ship situation.

The location of the muster station varies from ship to ship, and the kind of emergency. It is
therefore vital for every crew to know their respective muster station.
DIFFERENT
EMERGENCY
SITUATIONS
ON BOARD
Different Emergency
Situations on Board
Incidences can get worse when swift judgments are made and unwarranted conclusions are
drawn. Constant training and realistic drills or exercises on board ships should be accomplished
to proficiently deal with emergency situations.
It has been noticed, on the other hand, people get panic attacks and eventually do not do what
is expected of them in an emergency situation although there are sufficient preparation and
trainings.
To tackle different emergency situations, seafarers on board must be given a brief instruction
guide or an emergency situation guide, such as the following, so that officers and crew may be
familiarized carefully with the fire training manual and the training manual on lifesaving
appliances of the ship.
Different Emergency
Situations on Board
The following are the most common emergency situations on board:

>Abandon Ship >Fire and/or explosion

>Breakdown >Flooding

>Capsizing >Grounding

>Collission >Man Overboard

>Oil Spill or Pollution >Sinking

Different Emergency Situations on Board
ABANDON SHIP

>Abandoning ship in the open sea is an action of last resort.

>Only when there is no reasonable chance of saving the ship will the order be given to abandon it.

>The decision to abandon ship is made only by the Master, or in the Master’s incapacity, the senior
member of the chain of command.

>When the order is given to abandon ship, all hands will proceed to their assigned life raft muster
station.
Different Emergency Situations on Board
ABANDON SHIP
Abandon Ship

It is the moment that the ship is no longer safe for the crew to be on board. It is when an emergency
situation goes out of hand, and no further actions can be done to keep people's lives safe on board.

Cause:
Failure of all emergency procedures to prevent an incident from getting worst

Immediate action of crew or passengers:

>All hands shall proceed to their assigned life raft muster stations.
>If with passengers, they must be rescued first using life jackets and lifeboats.
>Ship personnel must be the last ones to leave the vessel after that no one is left on the abandoned
ship.
Different Emergency Situations on Board
BREAKDOWN

Breakdown
It occurs when steering or essential equipment fails to operate and major motor or equipment
refuses to start.

Cause:
>>Poor maintenance practice
>> Failure to keep motors well maintained
Immediate action of crew or passengers:
>If the motor is unable to start, drop your anchor to hold your position, if possible.
>If you drift into danger and/or come to require emergency assistance, make a Pan-Pan or Mayday call
over the radio.
>Call sea rescue for assistance.
Different Emergency Situations on Board
CAPSIZING

It is a moment when the vessel is turning upside down from its upright position due to elements of
flooding and/or floundering.

Cause:
>> Gross overloading >>Poor distribution of load
>>Free surface effect due to water in the boat or shifting load
>>Poor driving technique >>Caught by wind and waves
Immediate action of crew or passengers:>Life jackets must be worn.
>When in the water, make sure all passengers and/or crew stay on the boat or vessel.
>Never swim away from a capsized boat.
Different Emergency Situations on Board
COLLISION

This is a structural impact between two moving ships.

Causes:
>> Bad decisions by Officer of the Watch - OOW
>>Disregarding International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972 (COLREGS)
Immediate action of crew or passengers:
>If motor is unable to start, drop your anchor to hold your position
>If drifting into danger or come to require emergency assistance, make a Pan-Pan or Mayday call over
the radio
>General Alarm must be raised
>Call rescue for assistance
Different Emergency Situations on Board
Fire / Explosion

Fire and / or Explosion

Fire at sea, no matter how small a fire it can become a life-threatening situation

At sea, everyone aboard ship, be they crew or passenger, is a member of the fire
department.

When the General Alarm sounds, everyone has a specific emergency billet
assignment, and each person is relied upon by all others aboard to carry out that
assignment
Different Emergency Situations on Board
Fire / Explosion

Fire and / or Explosion

Fire and Explosion can occur anywhere on board, even on the most controlled spaces and especially
on areas where it is least expected.
Causes:
>> overheated oil on galley stove >>Overloaded or incorrectly wired electrical system
>>Poor Engine room housekeeping >>Rags in contact with turbocharger or exhaust system
>>Leaking fuel or gas lines >>Compartment with poor ventilation
Immediate action of crew or passengers:
>Raise the alarm. >Make a Pan-Pan (Possible Assistance Needed) radio call.
>Put out the fire using extinguisher, fire blanket, water bucket, or whatever is appropriate.
>Inform officer on watch. >Remove the passenger as far as possible from the fire.
Different Emergency Situations on Board
Flooding

Flooding
This is the unwanted ingress of seawater in large quantities either on the engine room, cargo spaces,
or ship's accommodation. It is called also as taking on water.
Causes:
>>Collision >> Ice damage
>>Overwhelming typhoons or hurricanes
Immediate action of crew or passengers:
>>Master and chief engineer must be informed immediately.
>>All precautions must be taken to contain the flooding.
>>General alarm must be raised.
Different Emergency Situations on Board
Grounding
Grounding
This is an unintentional impact of a ship on seabed or waterway side.
Causes:
>Tide and current >Visibility and darkness >Wind and waves
>Depth and geometry of waterway >Human and organizational factor
>OOW not knowing where the boat should be and where the boat is >OOW not keeping a good lookout
>Poor passage planning >Disregarded navigational marks
>OOW unable to identify or in doubt of a navigational aid
Immediate action of crew or passengers:
>Assess the damage of the vessel. >Check leakage on the boat.
>Check if propeller is damaged >Assess the type of the sea bottom.
>Look after the passengers or crew who might have gotten injured due to the sudden stop of the ship.
>If the boat appears to be serviceable, check for the depth of the water surrounding the boat.
Different Emergency Situations on Board
Man Overboard
Grounding
This is a situation in which a person has fallen from a ship into the water and is in need of rescue.
Causes:
>A person might have been struck by a part of the ship
>Lose footing due to a slippery deck or an unexpected movement of the ship
>Deliberately jumped for a suicide attempt
Different Emergency Situations on Board
Man Overboard

Immediate action of crew or passengers:

>Whoever sees the accident should shout "Man overboard!"
>This one person should do nothing other than stand and point at the casualty maintaining continuous visual
contact (if located).
>Rush to the deck, and locate the crew member fallen in the water (in case the person is not seen at once). tub
>Throw a life buoy or any floatation equipment such as a floating smoke signal near the casualty, and inform deck
and officer on watch.
>The most direct action is to put the vessel into a quick stop or crash stop.
>A man overboard alert should be triggered on whatever electronic gear is available including GPS receivers and
DSC radio transmitters.
Different Emergency Situations on Board
Man Overboard

Witness Man Overboard

1. Call out for assistance and throw a life ring buoy into the water, preferably one equipped
with strobe light. Pass the word to the bridge by any means possible.

2. Wait about 1 minute and throw a second life ring buoy (at night – one equipped with
strobe light) into the water. This will create a visual range for lookouts, aiding the search
effort.

3. Keep the victim under the surveillance, if at all possible, but do not delay passing the
word to the bridge.
Different Emergency Situations on Board
Man Overboard

Unwitnessed Man Overboard

>If a crew member or passenger is unaccounted for; it will be presumed that the said
individual has been lost overboard. Need for SEARCH and RESCUE.

1. Initial action is to notify the Marine Operations Center, and notify the nearest Rescue
Coordination Center for assistance.

2. Search operations will be conducted with the advice and guidance of SAR professionals.
Different Emergency Situations on Board
Oil Spill or Pollution
Oil Spill
This is an accident wherein oil leaks on deck during loading, dis- charging, or bunkering operations.
Oil pollution happens when the oil spilled on deck goes overboard, which is the more dangerous one.

Causes:
>Overflow of oil from internal transfer of oil through vent or sounding pipe of the tank
>Leak during bunkering operation
>Spill out during sludge discharge operation
Different Emergency Situations on Board
Oil Spill or Pollution

Immediate action of crew or passengers

>Immediately close ship side scuppers, and alarm ship staff by shouting and contacting OOW and the
engine room.
>Stop all transfer immediately, and locate affected tank and its sounding pipe and vent position.
>Immediate action should be taken according to the vessel's Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan
(SOPEP).
>Lower the quantity of spilled tank to a safer level in any other permissible tank.
>Put saw dust over the scupper plugs to give an additional barrier to prevent oil from going
overboard. >In case oil goes overboard, the master shall immediately inform the coastal authority.
>Limit the area of spill in the water by using oil booms.
>Efforts must be done on board to not further allow oil to go overboard
Different Emergency Situations on Board
Sinking
Sinking
Sinking happens when there is an event that offsets the stability of the ship.
Causes:
>Cargo hold flooding >Engine room flooding
>Weather condition >Overloaded cargo

Immediate action of crew or passengers:

>Wear a life jacket or immersion suit
>Attempt to send a distress call by radio
>Put on more clothing but do not remove any
>activate EPIRB –emergency position indicating radio beacon once in water
>Adopt a huddle position to keep everybody together and conserve body heat
Quiz 1.1 Book page 8
1. Which of the following choices best describes an incident of a serious or harmful nature that happens all
of a sudden?
a. Drill b. Emergency c. Routine d. Accident
2. Which of the following choices is not one of the important factors in dealing with an emergency situation?
a. Prompt action b. Sharp mind c. Lack of fear d. Solid action plan
3. Efficient tackling of emergency situations on board ships can be achieved by the following approach,
except:
a. Continuous training b. Practical drills c. Situational Awareness
4. When does every ship’s crew familiarize themselves with the Fire and Lifesaving Training Manual of the
ship?
a. As soon as possible, after joining the ship
b. On the day of joining the ship
5. The decision to abandon ship is made only by the Master, but in the latter’s incapacity, who among the
chain of command does it?
a. Chief Engineer b. Chief Officer c. Chief Radio Officer
Quiz 1.1
6. What ship's record will be crucial for search planning, as will the hourly weather observations immediately,
the Weather Log?
a. Navigation b. Engine c. Radio d. Weather
7. In case of engine room flooding, who should be called immediately and which alarm should be raised?
a. Chief Engineer / General Alarm b. Chief Engineer / Emergency Alarm
8. In case of cargo hold flooding, who must be informed immediately?
a. Master b. Port Control c. Chief Officer d. Shipowner
9. In case of any oil spill/pollution, immediate action should be taken according to which of the vessel’s
plans?
a. SOPEP b. MARPOL c. MARDEP d. SODEP
10. What shipboard emergency restricts the vessel's capability to maintain its intended/charted course?
a. Steering casualty b. Steering jeopardy c. Steering flat
1.Answer: b. Emergency
2.Answer: c. Lack of fear
3.Answer: c. Situational Awareness
4.Answer: a. As soon as possible, after joining the ship
5.Answer: b. Chief Officer
6.Answer: d. Weather
7.Answer: a. Chief Engineer / General Alarm
8.Answer: c. Chief Officer
9.Answer: a. SOPEP (Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan
10.Answer: a. Steering casualty
THANK
YOU
RAMIL C. MANLUNAS