Regulation 3 - Abandon ship training and drills

  (1) Practice musters and drills

• (a) Each member of the crew shall participate in at least one abandon ship drill and one fire drill every month. However, on vessels less than 45 m in length, the Administration may modify this requirement, provided that at least one abandon ship and one fire drill is held at least every three months. The drills of the crew shall take place within 24 h of the vessel leaving a port if more than 25% of the crew have not participated in abandon ship and fire drills on board that particular vessel in the previous muster. The Administration may accept other arrangements that are at least equivalent for those classes of vessel for which this is impracticable.

• (b) Each abandon ship drill shall include:

  • (i) summoning of crew to muster stations with the general emergency alarm and ensuring that they are made aware of the order to abandon ship specified in the muster list;

  • (ii) reporting to stations and preparing for the duties described in the muster list;

  • (iii) checking that crew are suitably dressed;

  • (iv) checking that lifejackets are correctly donned;

  • (v) lowering of at least one lifeboat after any necessary preparation for launching;

  • (vi) starting and operating the lifeboat engine;

  • (vii) operation of davits used for launching liferafts.

• (c) Each fire drill shall include:

  • (i) reporting to stations and preparing for the duties described in the fire muster list;

  • (ii) starting of a fire pump, using at least the two required jets of water to show that the system is in proper working order;

  • (iii) checking of fireman's outfit and other personal rescue equipment;

  • (iv) checking of relevant communication equipment;

  • (v) checking the operation of watertight doors, fire doors, fire dampers and means of escape;

  • (vi) checking the necessary arrangements for subsequent abandoning of the vessel.

• (d) Different lifeboats shall, as far as practicable, be lowered in compliance with the requirements of subparagraph (b)(v) at successive drills.

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

• (f) Each lifeboat shall be launched with its assigned operating crew aboard and manoeuvred in the water at least once every three months during an abandon ship drill.

• (g) 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. In all cases this requirement shall be complied with at least once every three months.

• (h) If lifeboat and rescue boat launching drills are carried out with the vessel making headway, such drills shall, because of the dangers involved, be practised in sheltered waters only and under the supervision of an officer experienced in such drills.^footnote

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

• (j) The drills may be adjusted according to the relevant equipment required by those regulations. However, if equipment is carried on a voluntary basis, it shall be used in the drills and the drills shall be adjusted accordingly.

  (2) On-board training and instructions

• (a) On-board training in the use of the vessel's life-saving appliances, including survival craft equipment, shall be given as soon a possible but not later than two weeks after a crew member joins the vessel. However, if the crew member is on a regularly scheduled rotating assignment to the vessel, such training shall be given not later than two weeks after the time of first joining the vessel.

• (b) Instructions in the use of the vessel's life-saving appliances and in survival at sea shall be given at the same intervals as the drills. Individual instruction may cover different parts of the vessel's life-saving system, but all the vessel's life-saving equipment and appliances shall be covered within any period of two months. Each member of the crew shall be given instructions which shall include but not necessarily be limited to:

  • (i) operation and use of the vessel's inflatable liferafts, including precautions concerning nailed shoes and other sharp objects;

  • (ii) problems of hypothermia, first-aid treatment for hypothermia and other appropriate first-aid procedures;

  • (iii) special instruction necessary for use of the vessel's life-saving appliances in severe weather and severe sea conditions.

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

  (3) Records

 The date when muster are held, details of abandon ship drills and fire drills, drills of other life-saving appliances and on-board training shall be recorded in such log-book as may be prescribed by the Administration. 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.

  (4) Training manual

• (a) A training manual shall be provided in each crew messroom and recreation room or in each crew cabin. 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 vessel and on the best methods of survival. Any part of such information may be provided in the form of audio-visual aids in lieu of the manual. The following shall be explained in detail:

  • (i) donning of lifejackets and immersion suits, as appropriate;

  • (ii) muster at the assigned stations;

  • (iii) boarding, launching, and clearing the survival craft and rescue boats;

  • (iv) method of launching from within the survival craft;

  • (v) release from launching appliances;

  • (vi) methods and use of devices for protection in launching areas, where appropriate;

  • (vii) illumination in launching areas;

  • (viii) use of all survival equipment;

  • (ix) use of all detection equipment;

  • (x) with the assistance of illustrations, the use of radio life-saving appliances;

  • (xi) use of drogues;

  • (xii) use of engine and accessories;

  • (xiii) recovery of survival craft and rescue boats including stowage and securing;

  • (xiv) hazards of exposure and the need for warm clothing;

  • (xv) best use of the survival craft facilities in order to survive;^footnote

  • (xvi) methods of retrieval, including the use of helicopter rescue gear (slings, baskets, stretchers), breeches-buoy and shore life-saving apparatus and vessel's line-throwing apparatus;

  • (xvii) all other functions contained in the muster list and emergency instructions;

  • (xviii) instructions for emergency repair of the life-saving appliances.

• (b) On vessels of less than 45 m in length the Administration may permit relaxation of the requirements of subparagraph (a). However, appropriate safety information shall be carried on board.