Organisation and alarms
Drills and practice alarms
Regular training in abandoning ship and fighting fire. Thanks to the drills, in a real emergency everyone knows their task and does it without thinking twice.
Key facts
- Every crew member takes part in at least one abandon ship drill and one fire drill every month.
- If more than 25% of the crew did not take part in drills on that ship in the previous month, the drills take place within 24 hours of leaving port. After a major conversion or when a new crew is engaged: before sailing.
- Every lifeboat is launched with its assigned operating crew and manoeuvred in the water at least once every 3 months, during an abandon ship drill.
- Free-fall lifeboat: every 3 months the crew boards the boat and goes through the procedures up to the point of release (without releasing), and at intervals of no more than 6 months the boat is launched by free fall or goes through a simulated launch per the IMO guidelines.
- A rescue boat that is not also a lifeboat is launched with its crew every month as far as practicable, and no less often than once every 3 months.
- Every member of the marine evacuation system party takes part in the deployment of a similar system at intervals of no more than 2 years, and in no case longer than 3 years.
- The crew tests the emergency lighting for mustering and abandonment at every abandon ship drill.
Watch out
A fire drill includes, among other things, starting a fire pump with at least two jets of water, checking the fire-fighter’s outfits, the communication equipment, the watertight and fire doors and the fire dampers.
How it looks in practice
- Drills are often combined into one scenario: after a practice fire that "could not" be brought under control comes the abandon ship alarm. Muster, checking the duties from the muster list, and in good weather lowering the boats, usually in port and with the harbour master’s consent.
From the deck: sea practice, not regulation. Details vary with the ship and the owner.
Legal basis
SOLAS III/19 (all ships), III/30 (passenger ships additionally).
This is not a legal text: when in doubt, the current wording of the Convention and the LSA Code decides.