1 GENERAL
1.1 Introduction
1.1.1 It is essential that seafarers are familiar with the life-saving
appliances on board their ships and that they have confidence that the appliances
provided for their safety will work and will be effective in an emergency. Frequent
periodic shipboard drills are necessary to achieve this.
1.1.2 Crew training is an important component of drills. As a supplement
to initial shore-based training, onboard drills and training will familiarize crew
members with the ships' appliances and the associated procedures. The objective of
drill and training is to develop appropriate crew competencies, enabling effective
and safe utilization of the equipment required by the 1974 SOLAS Convention, as
amended (SOLAS). The time limits set out in SOLAS
for ship abandonment should be considered as a secondary objective when conducting
drills.
1.2 Drill frequency
Experience has shown that holding frequent drills makes the crew more
familiar with the life-saving appliances on board their ships and increases their
confidence that the appliances will work and will be effective in an emergency.
Drills give the opportunity to gain experience in the use of the safety equipment in
cooperation. The ability to cope with an emergency and handle the situation is
improved by frequent drills. However, frequent crew changes sometimes make it
difficult to ensure that all on board have the opportunity to participate in drills
when the minimum required drills are conducted only. Therefore, consideration needs
to be given to scheduling drills as necessary to ensure all on board have an early
opportunity to become familiar with the ship appliances and systems.
1.3 Drills must be safe
1.3.1 Abandon ship drills should be planned, organized and performed in
accordance with relevant shipboard requirements of occupational safety and health so
that the recognized risks are minimized.
1.3.2 Drills provide an opportunity to verify that the life-saving
appliances are working and that all associated equipment is in place, in good
working order and ready for use.
1.3.3 Before conducting drills, it should be checked that the lifeboat
and its equipment have been maintained in accordance with the ship's maintenance
manuals and any associated technical documentation, as well as noting all the
precautionary measures necessary. Abnormal conditions of wear and tear or corrosion
should be reported to the responsible officer immediately.
1.4 Emphasis on learning
Drills should be conducted with an emphasis on learning and be viewed as
a learning experience, not just as a task to meet a regulatory requirement to
conduct drills. Whether they are emergency drills required by SOLAS
or additional special drills conducted to enhance the competence of the crew
members, they should be carried out at safe speed. During drills, care should be
taken to ensure that persons on board familiarize themselves with their duties and
with the equipment. If necessary, pauses should be made during the drills to explain
especially difficult elements. The experience of the crew is an important factor in
determining how fast a drill or certain drill elements should be carried out.
1.5 Planning and organizing drills
1.5.1 SOLAS requires that drills shall, as far as practicable, be
conducted as if there was an actual emergency.footnote This means that the entire drill should, as far as
possible, be carried out, while ensuring that the drill can be performed in such a
way that it is safe in every respect. Consequently, elements of the drill that may
involve unnecessary risks need special attention or may be excluded from the drill.
1.5.2 In preparing for a drill, those responsible should review the
manufacturer's instruction manual to ensure that a planned drill is conducted
properly. Those responsible for the drill should ensure that the crew is familiar
with the guidance provided in the life-saving appliances instruction manuals.
1.5.3 Lessons learned in the course of a drill should be documented and
made a part of the follow-up shipboard training discussions and the planning of the
next drill session.
1.5.4 The lowering of a boat with its full complement of persons is an
example of an element of a drill that may, depending on the circumstances, involve
an unnecessary risk. Such drills should only be carried out if special precautions
are observed.
2 ABANDON SHIP DRILLS
2.1 Introduction
It is important that the crew who operate safety equipment on board are
familiar with the functioning and operation of such equipment. SOLAS requires that
sufficiently detailed manufacturers' training manuals and instructions be carried on
board, which should be easily understood by the crew. Such manufacturers' manuals
and instructions should be accessible for everyone on board and observed and
followed closely when preparing and conducting drills.
2.2 Guidance to the shipowner
2.2.1 The shipowner should ensure that new safety equipment on board the
company's ships has been approved and installed in accordance with the provisions of
SOLAS and the International Life-Saving Appliances (LSA) Code.
2.2.2 Procedures for holding safe drills should be included in the Safety
Management System (SMS) of the shipping companies. Detailed procedures for elements
of drills that involve a special risk should be evident from workplace assessments
adjusted to the relevant life-saving appliance.
2.2.3 Personnel carrying out maintenance and repair work on lifeboats
should be qualified accordingly.footnote
2.3 Lifeboats lowered by means of falls
2.3.1 During drills, everyone participating should be alert for
potentially dangerous conditions or situations and should bring them to the
attention of the responsible person for appropriate action. Feedback and
recommendations to the shipowner, the Administration and the system manufacturer are
important elements of the marine safety system.
2.3.2 When drills are to be performed with persons on board the lifeboat,
it is recommended that the boat be lowered and recovered without any persons on
board first to ascertain that the arrangement functions correctly. In this case, the
boat should then be lowered into the water with only the number of persons on board
necessary to operate the boat.footnote
2.3.3 To prevent lashings or gripes from getting entangled, proper
release should be checked before swinging out the davit.
2.4 Free-fall lifeboats
2.4.1 The monthly drills with free-fall lifeboats should be carried out
according to the manufacturer's instructions, so that the persons who are to enter
the boat in an emergency are trained to embark the boat, take their seats in a
correct way and use the safety belts; as well as being instructed on how to act
during launching into the sea.
2.4.2 When the lifeboat is free-fall launched as part of a drill, this
should be carried out with the minimum personnel required to manoeuvre the boat in
the water and to recover it. The recovery operation should be carried out with
special attention, bearing in mind the high-risk level of this operation. Where
permitted by SOLASfootnote, simulated launching should be carried out in
accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, taking due note of the Guidelines
for simulated launching of free-fall lifeboats, as set out in the appendix.