3.1 The ship’s master or the officer in
charge of any lifeboat lowering or lifting operation should ensure
that, where provided, lifeboat FPDs are properly in place before commencing
any drill, testing, inspection or maintenance where persons are in
the lifeboat.
3.2 The ship’s operating crew should be
familiar with the operation of the FPD fitted to the lifeboat on their
ship. The procedure to be followed should be contained in the ISM
Code documentation and the ship’s training manual.
3.3 Those conducting training drills and drafting
ISM Code procedures should take into account that with certain types
of ship such as oil, gas or chemical tankers it may not be possible
to use an FPD in an abandon ship situation where the release mechanism
of the device is not inside the lifeboat. In such cases, the master
should take this into account when considering application of paragraphs
2.1.9 or 2.2.8. Where a different procedure is followed during routine
drills compared with an abandon ship situation, this should be clearly
described in the ISM Code documentation and training manual.