Beating the Odds: Onboard Emergency Drills

Summary

This training video emphasizes the importance of emergency preparedness for fishermen, focusing on four critical drills: fire on board, man overboard, flooding and damage control, and abandoning ship. The video highlights how regular safety drills enhance crew readiness, improve response times, and can save lives. Crew members must know their duties, familiarize themselves with emergency equipment, and practice under varied conditions. The video underscores the value of hands-on experience and debriefing after drills to refine skills, reinforce teamwork, and ensure effective emergency responses, ultimately boosting survival chances at sea.

Takeaways

• 😀 Safety drills are essential for preparing crews to respond effectively to emergencies at sea, improving their chances of survival.
• 😀 Regular fire, man-overboard, flooding, and abandon-ship drills are mandatory for fishing vessels, ensuring that all crew members are trained and prepared.
• 😀 Emergency drills should be realistic and hands-on, helping to develop muscle memory and automatic responses to emergencies.
• 😀 Every fishing vessel should have emergency instructions, including safety orientation and a station bill, to clarify each crew member's duties in case of an emergency.
• 😀 Fishing vessels are required to conduct monthly safety drills, ensuring crew members are trained in tasks like launching survival craft, using distress signals, and operating emergency equipment.
• 😀 Drills should be varied and conducted under different conditions (day/night, calm/moderate weather) to prepare the crew for all potential situations.
• 😀 Fire safety drills should involve finding and controlling simulated fires, shutting off power and ventilation, and ensuring proper use of fire suppression equipment.
• 😀 Man-overboard drills focus on quickly and safely recovering a person who falls into the water, with an emphasis on clear communication and coordination among the crew.
• 😀 Flooding drills simulate water intake due to damage, teaching the crew how to stop the flooding, operate dewatering pumps, and manage vessel stability.
• 😀 Abandon-ship drills prepare the crew for evacuating the vessel, accounting for all crew members, and using immersion suits and survival equipment.
• 😀 Debriefing after drills is crucial for evaluating performance, improving response plans, and identifying areas for better equipment or training.

Q & A

Why are regular emergency drills important for fishermen?

Regular emergency drills are crucial because they prepare the crew to respond effectively and quickly in emergencies, improving their chances of survival. Studies show that people are more likely to survive when they’ve been trained to handle emergencies, as it helps avoid panic and ineffective behavior.

What should be included in a safety orientation on a fishing vessel?

A safety orientation should cover the location and use of survival equipment, the crew's emergency duties, and safe practices on the vessel. It must also include instructions for donning immersion suits and issuing a Mayday signal.

What is the significance of a station bill on a fishing vessel?

The station bill outlines the emergency duties of each crew member, specifying who is responsible for what tasks in a particular emergency. This ensures that everyone knows their role and can act efficiently when an emergency arises.

How should emergency drills be conducted to be most effective?

Emergency drills should be realistic, interesting, and true to the vessel's specific needs. Drills should be done under different circumstances (e.g., day/night, calm/moderate weather), and scenarios should include varying levels of difficulty to build confidence and muscle memory in the crew.

What are the four required monthly emergency drills for fishing vessels?

The four required monthly drills are fire on board, man overboard, flooding or damage control, and abandoning ship. These drills are designed to ensure that all crew members can respond effectively in various emergency situations.

Why is it essential to practice man overboard drills regularly?

Man overboard drills are essential because fishing vessels have a high risk of fatalities from people falling overboard. Regular practice increases the likelihood of a quick and safe recovery, as crew members will be familiar with the correct procedures and can respond swiftly.

What is the role of a messenger during a man overboard drill?

The messenger’s role is to relay the location of the person who fell overboard and communicate what the crew is doing, including steering directions, to help the crew recover the person safely.

How can a flooding drill improve crew readiness?

A flooding drill improves crew readiness by training them to identify the source of flooding, use available resources to slow the flooding rate, and operate pumps to remove water. It also reinforces the importance of preparing for survival in case the flooding leads to abandoning the ship.

What should be done during an abandoned ship drill?

During an abandoned ship drill, the crew should simulate a Mayday call, gather necessary survival equipment (such as flares, food, and water), secure watertight doors and hatches, and ensure all crew members can don immersion suits within 60 seconds. The drill ensures the crew is prepared for an emergency evacuation from the vessel.

How can a crew ensure that they are using the correct firefighting equipment during a fire drill?

The crew should ensure that firefighting gear, such as extinguishers and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), is accessible, in good working order, and located away from potential fire hazards. They should also know how to isolate the fire by shutting off fuel and ventilation.