3 Drills
Clasification Society 2023 - Version 9.37

3 Drills

  3.1 Drills shall, as far as practicable, be conducted as if there were an actual emergency.

  3.2 Every crew member shall participate in at least one abandon ship drill and one fire drill every month. The drills of the crew shall take place within 24 h of the ship leaving a port if more than 25% of the crew have not participated in abandon ship and fire drills on board that particular ship in the previous month. When a ship enters service for the first time, after modification of a major character or when a new crew is engaged, these drills shall be held before sailing. The Administration may accept other arrangements that are at least equivalent for those classes of ships for which this is impracticable.

  3.3 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 ship at least once every two months.

3.4 Abandon ship drill

3.4.1 Each abandon ship drill shall include:

  • .1 summoning of passengers and crew to muster stations with the alarm required by regulation 6.4.2 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;

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

  • .3 checking that passengers and crew are suitably dressed;

  • .4 checking that lifejackets are correctly donned;

  • .5 lowering of at least one lifeboat after any necessary preparation for launching;

  • .6 starting and operating the lifeboat engine;

  • .7 operation of davits used for launching liferafts;

  • .8 a mock search and rescue of passengers trapped in their staterooms; and

  • .9 instruction in the use of radio life-saving appliances.

3.4.2 Different lifeboats shall, as far as practicable, be lowered in compliance with the requirements of paragraph 3.4.1.5 at successive drills.

3.4.3 Except as provided in paragraphs 3.4.4 and 3.4.5, 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.

3.4.4 In the case of a lifeboat arranged for free-fall launching, at least once every three months during an abandon ship drill the crew shall board the lifeboat, properly secure themselves in their seats and commence launch procedures up to but not including the actual release of the lifeboat (i.e., the release hook shall not be released). The lifeboat shall then either be free-fall launched with only the required operating crew on board, or lowered into the water by means of the secondary means of launching with or without the operating crew on board. In both cases the lifeboat shall thereafter be manoeuvred in the water by the operating crew. At intervals of not more than six months, the lifeboat shall either be launched by free-fall with only the operating crew on board, or simulated launching shall be carried out in accordance with the guidelines developed by the Organizationfootnote.

3.4.5 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. However, all such lifeboats shall be lowered at least once every three months and launched at least annually.

3.4.6 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.

3.4.7 If lifeboat and rescue boat launching drills are carried out with the ship 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.

3.4.8 If a ship is fitted with marine evacuation systems, drills shall include exercising of the procedures required for the deployment of such a system up to the point immediately preceding actual deployment of the system. This aspect of drills should be augmented by regular instruction using the on-board training aids required by regulation 35.4. Additionally 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 on board a ship or ashore, at intervals of not longer than two years, but in no case longer than three years. This training can be associated with the deployments required by regulation 20.8.2.

3.4.9 Emergency lighting for mustering and abandonment shall be tested at each abandon ship drill.

3.5 Fire drills

3.5.1 Fire drills should be planned in such a way that due consideration is given to regular practice in the various emergencies that may occur depending on the type of ships and the cargo.

3.5.2 Each fire drill shall include:

  • .1 reporting to stations and preparing for the duties described in the muster list required by regulation 8;

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

  • .3 checking of fireman's outfit and other personal rescue equipment;

  • .4 checking of relevant communication equipment;

  • .5 checking the operation of watertight doors, fire doors, fire dampers and main inlets and outlets of ventilation systems in the drill area; and

  • .6 checking the necessary arrangements for subsequent abandoning of the ship.

3.5.3 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.

3.6 Enclosed space entry and rescue drills

3.6.1 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.

3.6.2 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.

Parent topic: Regulation 19 - Emergency training and drills
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