Annex C - Emergency Training and Drills

C1 - Life-Saving Appliances and Arrangements

Duties, Musters and Briefings

(1) On a ship engaged on a voyage where passengers are scheduled to be onboard for more than 24 hours, musters of newly-embarked passengers shall take place prior to or immediately upon departure. Passengers shall be instructed in the use of the lifejackets and the action to take in an emergency.

(2) Whenever new passengers embark, a passenger safety briefing shall be given immediately before departure, or immediately after departure. The briefing shall be made by means of an announcement, in one or more languages likely to be understood by the passengers. The announcement shall be made on the ship's public address system, or by other equivalent means likely to be heard at least by the passengers who have not yet heard it during the voyage. The briefing may be included in the muster required by paragraph (1). Information cards or posters or video programmes displayed on ships video displays may be used to supplement the briefing, but may not be used to replace the announcement.

(3) The briefings referred to in subsection (2) may be delivered using alternative communication methods of conveying the required information provided that such alternative is at least as effective.

(4) Crew members with enclosed space entry or rescue responsibilities shall participate in an enclosed space entry and rescue drill to be held onboard the ship at least once every two months. It is recommended that new seafarers shall attend a dedicated course for entry into dangerous spaces^footnote.

Emergency Drills

(5) Drills shall, as far as practicable, be conducted as if there were an actual emergency.

(6) Every crew member shall participate in at least one abandon ship drill and one fire drill every month and-

(a) where more than 25% of the crew have not participated in abandon ship and fire drills onboard that particular ship in the previous month the drills of the crew shall take place within 24 hours of the ship leaving a port;
(b) where a ship enters service for the first time, after modification of a major character or when a new crew is engaged, the drills shall be held before the vessel sails,
provided that the Administration may accept other arrangements that are at least equivalent where this is impracticable.

(7) Each abandon ship drill shall include-

(a) summoning of passengers and crew to muster stations with the general emergency alarm followed by drill announcement on the public address or other communication system and ensuring that they are made aware of the order to abandon ship;
(b) reporting to stations and preparing for the duties described in the muster list;
(c) checking that passengers and crew are suitably dressed;
(d) checking that lifejackets are correctly donned;
(e) lowering of at least one lifeboat after any necessary preparation for launching;
(f) starting and operating the lifeboat engine;
(g) operation of davits used for launching liferafts;
(h) a mock search and rescue of passengers trapped in their staterooms; and
(i) instruction in the use of radio life-saving appliances.

(8) Different lifeboats shall, as far as practicable, be lowered in compliance with the requirements of subsection (7)(e), at successive drills.

(9) Except as provided in subsections (10), each lifeboat shall be launched, and manoeuvred in the water by its assigned operating crew, at least once every three months during an abandon ship drill.

(10) The Administration may allow ships operating on short international voyages not to launch the lifeboats on one side if their berthing arrangements in port and their trading patterns do not permit launching of lifeboats on that side provided that all such lifeboats shall be lowered at least once every three months and launched at least annually.

(11) As far as is reasonable and practicable, rescue boats other than lifeboats which are also rescue boats, shall be launched each month with their assigned crew aboard and manoeuvred in the water and in any case this requirement shall be complied with at least once every three months.

(12) If lifeboat and rescue boat launching drills are carried out with the ship making headway, such drills shall, because of the dangers involved, be practiced in sheltered waters only and under the supervision of an officer experienced in such drills.

(13) If a ship is fitted with marine evacuation systems-

(a) drills shall include exercising of the procedures required for the deployment of such a system up to the point immediately preceding actual deployment;
(b) this aspect of drills shall be augmented by regular instruction using the on-board training aids in the use of the system; and
(c) every system party member shall, as far as practicable, be further trained by participation in a full deployment of a similar system into water, either onboard a ship or ashore, at intervals of not longer than three years; provided that this training can be associated with the rotational deployments required by Annex I1(21).

(14) Emergency lighting for mustering and abandonment shall be tested at each abandon ship drill.

Fire Drills

(15) Fire drills shall be planned in such a way that due consideration is given to regular practice in the various emergencies that may occur.

(16) Each fire drill shall include-

(a) reporting to stations and preparing for the duties;
(b) starting of a fire pump, using at least the two required jets of water to show that the system is in proper working order;
(c) checking of fireman's outfit and other personal rescue equipment;
(d) checking of relevant communication equipment;
(e) checking the operation of watertight doors, fire doors, fire dampers and main inlets and outlets of ventilation systems in the drill area; and
(f) checking the necessary arrangements for subsequent abandoning of the ship.

(17) The equipment used during drills shall immediately be brought back to its fully operational condition and any faults and defects discovered during the drills shall be remedied as soon as possible.

Enclosed space entry and rescue drills

(18) Enclosed space entry and rescue drills shall be planned and conducted in a safe manner, taking into account, as appropriate, the guidance provided in the recommendations developed by the Organisation^footnote.

(19) Each enclosed space entry and rescue drill shall include:

(a) checking and use of personal protective equipment required for entry;
(b) checking and use of communication equipment and procedures;
(c) checking and use of instruments for measuring the atmosphere in enclosed spaces;
(d) checking and use of rescue equipment and procedures; and
(e) instructions in first aid and resuscitation techniques.

On-board Training and Instructions

(20) On-board training in the use of the ship's life-saving appliances, including survival craft equipment, and in the use of the ship's fire-extinguishing appliances shall-

(a) subject to paragraph (b), be given as soon as possible but not later than two weeks after a crew member joins the ship;
(b) if the crew member is on a regularly scheduled rotating assignment to the ship, such training shall be given not later than two weeks after the time of first joining the ship;
(c) include instructions in the use of the ship's fire-extinguishing appliances, life-saving appliances, and in survival at sea, which shall be given at the same interval as the drills;
(d) Incorporate individual instruction covering different parts of the ship's life-saving and fire-extinguishing appliances, such that all the ship's life-saving and fire-extinguishing appliances shall be covered within any period of two months.

(21) Every crew member shall be given instructions which shall include but not necessarily be limited to-

(a) the operation and use of the ship's inflatable liferafts;
(b) the problems of hypothermia, first-aid treatment for hypothermia and other appropriate first-aid procedures;
(c) any special instructions necessary for use of the ship's life-saving appliances in severe weather and severe sea conditions;
(d) the operation and use of fire-extinguishing appliances; and
(e) risks associated with enclosed spaces and onboard procedures for safe entry into such spaces which shall take into account, as appropriate, the guidance provided in recommendations developed by the IMO^footnote.

(22) On-board training in the use of davit-launched liferafts shall take place at intervals of not more than Four months on every ship fitted with such appliances. Whenever practicable this shall include the inflation and lowering of a liferaft. This liferaft may be a designated liferaft intended for training purposes only, which is not part of the ship's life-saving equipment; such a designated liferaft shall be conspicuously marked.

Records

(23) The date when musters are held, details of abandon ship drills and fire drills, enclosed space entry and rescue drills, drills of other life-saving appliances and onboard training shall be recorded in such log-book as may be prescribed by the Administration; provided that if a full muster, drill or training session is not held at the appointed time, an entry shall be made in the log-book stating the circumstances and the extent of the muster, drill or training session held.

Training Manual and On-board Training Aids:

(24) A training manual complying with the requirements contained in subsections (25) to (27) shall be provided in each crew mess room and recreation room or in each crew cabin.

(25) Subject to subsection (26), the training manual, which may comprise several volumes, shall contain instructions and information, in easily understood terms, illustrated wherever possible, on the life-saving appliances provided in the ship and on the best methods of survival.

(26) Any part of such information as is contained in the manual may be provided in the form of audio-visual aids in lieu of the manual.

(27) The following shall be explained in detail in the manual or through the audio-visual aids, as the case may be-

(a) donning of lifejackets, immersion suits and anti-exposure suits, as appropriate;
(b) muster at the assigned stations;
(c) boarding, launching, and clearing the survival craft and rescue boats, including, where applicable, use of marine evacuation systems;
(d) method of launching from within the survival craft;
(e) release from launching appliances;
(f) methods and use of devices for protection in launching areas, where appropriate;
(g) illumination in launching areas;
(h) use of all survival equipment;
(i) use of all detection equipment;
(j) with the assistance of illustrations, the use of radio lifesaving appliances;
(k) use of drogues;
(l) use of engine and accessories;
(m) recovery of survival craft and rescue boats including stowage and securing;
(n) hazards of exposure and the need for warm clothing;
(o) best use of the survival craft facilities in order to survive;
(p) 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;
(q) all other functions contained in the muster list and emergency instructions; and
(r) instructions for emergency repair of the life-saving appliances.

(28) Every ship fitted with a marine evacuation system shall be provided with on-board training aids in the use of the system.

(29) The training manual shall be written in English and, where the working language of the crew is not English, in such working language as appropriate.

Drills on Part B vessels

(30) An abandon ship drill and fire drill shall take place weekly. The entire crew need not be involved in every drill, but each crew member shall participate in an abandon ship drill and a fire drill each month. Passengers shall be strongly encouraged to attend these drills.

(31) For Part B vessels, in addition to the requirement of section C1(15) to (17), fire drills shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of section C1(30) having due regard to notification of passengers and movement of passengers to muster stations and embarkation decks.

(32) A damage control drill shall take place at least every three months. The entire crew need not participate in every drill, but only those crew members with damage control responsibilities.

The damage control drill scenarios shall vary each drill so that emergency conditions are simulated for different damage conditions and shall, as far as practicable, be conducted as if there were an actual emergency

Each damage control drill shall include:

for crew members with damage control responsibilities, reporting to stations and preparing for the duties described in the muster list required by SOLAS III/8.

use of the damage control information and the on-board damage stability computer, if fitted, to conduct stability assessments for the simulated damage conditions.

establishment of the communications link between the ship and shore-based support, if provided;

demonstrating proficiency in the operation of watertight doors (sliding and hinged) and other watertight closures;

demonstrating proficiency in the use of the flooding detection system, if fitted, in accordance with muster list duties;

demonstrating proficiency in the use of cross-flooding and equalization systems, if fitted, in accordance with muster list duties; operation of bilge pumps and checking of bilge alarms and automatic bilge pump starting systems; and

instruction in damage survey and use of the ship's damage control systems.

At least one damage control drill each year shall include activation of the shore-based support, if provided in compliance with SOLAS II-1/8-1.3, to conduct stability assessments for the simulated damage conditions

Every crew member with assigned damage control responsibilities shall be familiarized with their duties and about the damage control information before the voyage begins.

A record of each damage control drill shall be maintained in the same manner as prescribed for the other drills in SOLAS III/19.5.

C2 - Construction - Fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction

Instructions, On-board Training and Drills:

(1) The purpose of this Section is to mitigate the consequences of fire by means of proper instructions for training and drills of persons onboard in correct procedures under emergency conditions and for this purpose, the crew shall have the necessary knowledge and skills to handle fire emergency cases, including passenger care.

(2) Crew members shall receive instruction on fire safety onboard the ship.

(3) Crew members shall receive instructions on their assigned duties.

(4) Parties responsible for fire extinguishing shall be organised and such parties shall have the capability to complete their duties at all times while the ship is in service.

(5) Crew members shall be trained to be familiar with the arrangements of the ship as well as the location and operation of any fire-fighting systems and appliances that they may be called upon to use.

(6) Training in the use of the emergency escape breathing devices shall be considered as part of on-board training.

(7) Performance of crew members’ assigned fire-fighting duties shall be periodically evaluated by conducting on-board training and drills to identify areas in need of improvement, to ensure competency in fire-fighting skills is maintained, and to ensure the operational readiness of the fire-fighting organisation.

(8) On-board training in the use of the ship's fire-extinguishing systems and appliances shall be planned and conducted in accordance with the provisions of C1(20)

(9) Fire drills shall be conducted and recorded in accordance with the provisions of section C1(15) to (17) & C1(23)

(10) A training manual shall be provided in each crew mess room and recreation room or in each crew cabin.

(11) The training manual shall be written in the working language of the ship.

(12) The training manual, which may comprise several volumes, shall contain the instructions and information required in subsection (13) in easily understood terms and illustrated wherever possible; any part of such information may be provided in the form of audio-visual aids in lieu of the manual.

(13) The training manual shall explain the following in detail-

(a) general fire safety practice and precautions related to the dangers of smoking, electrical hazards, flammable liquids and similar common shipboard hazards;
(b) general instructions on fire-fighting activities and fire-fighting procedures, including procedures for notification of a fire and use of manually operated call points;
(c) meanings of the ship's alarms;
(d) operation and use of fire-fighting systems and appliances;
(e) operation and use of fire doors;
(f) operation and use of fire and smoke dampers; and
(g) escape systems and appliances.

(14) General arrangement plans^footnote shall be permanently exhibited for the guidance of the ship's officers, showing clearly for each deck the control stations, the various fire sections enclosed by "A" class divisions, the sections enclosed by "B" class divisions together with particulars of the fire detection and fire alarm systems, the sprinkler installation, the fire-extinguishing appliances, means of access to different compartments, decks, etc., and the ventilating system, including particulars of the fan control positions, the position of dampers and identification numbers of the ventilating fans serving each section; provided that as an alternative, at the discretion of the Administration, the aforementioned details may be set out in a booklet, a copy of which shall be supplied to each officer, and one copy shall at all times be available onboard in an accessible position and in any case plans and booklets shall be kept up to date; any alterations thereto shall be recorded as soon as practicable and the description in such plans and booklets shall be in English.

(15) A duplicate set of fire control plans or a booklet containing such plans shall be permanently stored in a prominently marked weathertight enclosure outside the deckhouse for the assistance of shore-side fire-fighting personnel^footnote.

(16) An onboard means of recharging breathing apparatus cylinders used during drills shall be provided or a suitable number of spare cylinders shall be carried onboard to replace those used.