18.5 Emergency instructions and drills
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - International Codes - HSC 2000 Code - International Code of Safety for High-Speed Craft, 2000 – Resolution MSC.97(73) - Chapter 18 - Operational requirements - PART A - GENERAL - 18.5 Emergency instructions and drills

18.5 Emergency instructions and drills

  18.5.1 The company shall ensure that the emergency instructions and drills referred to in 18.5.1 to 18.5.10 are implemented, and the master shall be responsible for the enforcement of these instructions and drills on board. On or before departure, passengers shall be instructed in the use of lifejackets and the action to be taken in an emergency. The attention of the passengers shall be drawn to the emergency instructions required by 8.4.1 and 8.4.3.

  18.5.2 Emergency fire and evacuation drills for the crew shall be held on board the craft at intervals not exceeding one week for passenger craft and one month for cargo craft.

  18.5.3 Each member of each crew shall participate in at least one evacuation, fire and damage control drill per month.

  18.5.4 Crew members with enclosed space entry or rescue responsibilities shall participate in an enclosed space entry and rescue drill, to be held on board the craft, at least once every two months.

  18.5.5 On-board drills shall, as far as practicable, be conducted to simulate an actual emergency. Such simulations shall include instruction and operation of the craft's evacuation, fire and damage control appliances and systems.

  18.5.6 On-board instruction and operation of the craft's evacuation, fire and damage control appliances and systems shall include appropriate cross-training of crew members.

  18.5.7 Emergency instructions including a general diagram of the craft showing the location of all exits, routes of evacuation, assigned assembly stations, emergency equipment, life-saving equipment and appliances and illustration of lifejacket donning shall be available to each passenger and crew member in appropriate languages. It shall be placed near each passenger and crew seat and conspicuously displayed at assembly stations and other passenger spaces.

  18.5.8 Records

  18.5.8.1 The date when musters are held, details of abandon craft drills and fire drills, drills of other life-saving appliances, enclosed space entry and rescue drills, and onboard 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. A copy of such information shall be forwarded to the operator's management.

  18.5.8.2 The master shall ensure, before the craft leaves the berth on any voyage, that a record is made of the time of the last closing of the accesses referred to in 2.2.4.2 and 2.2.4.3.

  18.5.9 Evacuation drills

  18.5.9.1 Evacuation drill scenarios shall vary each week so that different emergency conditions are simulated.

  18.5.9.2 Each evacuation craft drill shall include:

  • .1 summoning of crew to assembly stations with the alarm required by 8.2.2.2 and ensuring that they are made aware of the order to abandon craft specified in the muster list;

  • .2 reporting to stations and preparing for the duties described in the muster list;

  • .3 checking that crew are suitably dressed;

  • .4 checking that lifejackets are correctly donned;

  • .5 operation of davits if any used for launching liferafts;

  • .6 donning of immersion suits or thermal protective clothing by appropriate crew members;

  • .7 testing of emergency lighting for mustering and abandonment; and

  • .8 giving instructions in the use of the craft's life-saving appliances and in survival at sea.

  18.5.9.3 Rescue boat drill

  • .1 As far as is reasonable and practicable, rescue boats shall be launched each month as part of the evacuation drill, 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.

  • .2 If rescue boat launching drills are carried out with the craft 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

  18.5.9.4 Individual instructions may cover different parts of the craft's life-saving system, but all the craft's life-saving equipment and appliances shall be covered within any period of one month on passenger craft and two months on cargo craft. Each member of the crew shall be given instructions which shall include but not necessarily be limited to:

  • .1 operation and use of the craft's inflatable liferafts;

  • .2 problems of hypothermia, first-aid treatment of hypothermia and other appropriate first-aid procedures; and

  • .3 special instructions necessary for use of the craft's life-saving appliances in severe weather and severe sea conditions.

  18.5.9.5 On-board training in the use of davit-launched liferafts shall take place at intervals of not more than four months on every craft 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 craft's life-saving equipment. Such a special liferaft shall be conspicuously marked.

  18.5.10 Fire drills

  18.5.10.1 Fire drill scenarios shall vary each week so that emergency conditions are simulated for different craft compartments.

  18.5.10.2 Each fire drill shall include:

  • .1 summoning of crew to fire stations;

  • .2 reporting to stations and preparing for the duties described in the muster list;

  • .3 donning of firefighter's outfits;

  • .4 operation of fire doors and fire dampers;

  • .5 operation of fire pumps and fire-fighting equipment;

  • .6 operation of communication equipment, emergency signals and general alarm;

  • .7 operation of fire-detection system; and

  • .8 instruction in the use of the craft's fire-fighting equipment and sprinkler and drencher systems, if fitted.

  18.5.11 Damage control drills

  18.5.11.1 Damage control drill scenarios shall vary each week so that emergency conditions are simulated for different damage conditions.

  18.5.11.2 Each damage control drill shall include:

  • .1 summoning of crew to damage control stations;

  • .2 reporting to stations and preparing for the duties described in the muster list;

  • .3 operation of watertight doors and other watertight closures;

  • .4 operation of bilge pumps and testing of bilge alarms and automatic bilge pump starting systems; and

  • .5 instruction in damage survey, use of the craft damage control systems and passenger control in the event of an emergency.

  18.5.12 Enclosed space entry and rescue drills

  18.5.12.1 Enclosed space entry and rescue drills should be planned and conducted in a safe manner, taking into account, as appropriate, the guidance provided in the recommendations developed by the Organizationfootnote.

  18.5.12.2 Each enclosed space entry and rescue drill shall include:

  • .1 checking and use of personal protective equipment required for entry;

  • .2 checking and use of communication equipment and procedures;

  • .3 checking and use of instruments for measuring the atmosphere in enclosed spaces;

  • .4 checking and use of rescue equipment and procedures; and

  • .5 instructions in first aid and resuscitation techniques.

  18.5.12.3 The risks associated with enclosed spaces and onboard procedures for safe entry into such spaces which should take into account, as appropriate, the guidance provided in recommendations developed by the Organizationfootnote.

Parent topic: PART A - GENERAL
Copyright 2022 Clasifications Register Group Limited, International Maritime Organization, International Labour Organization or Maritime and Coastguard Agency. All rights reserved. Clasifications Register Group Limited, its affiliates and subsidiaries and their respective officers, employees or agents are, individually and collectively, referred to in this clause as 'Clasifications Register'. Clasifications Register assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable to any person for any loss, damage or expense caused by reliance on the information or advice in this document or howsoever provided, unless that person has signed a contract with the relevant Clasifications Register entity for the provision of this information or advice and in that case any responsibility or liability is exclusively on the terms and conditions set out in that contract.