1. Types of drills

Under Chapter III of the SOLAS Convention ships are legally required to carry out regular fire and abandon ship drills. The Convention details what these must cover and how often they must be carried out. Since every ship must have a copy of SOLAS on board. In addition, some national Administrations have even more detailed regulations and recommendations covering fire and abandon ship drills.

Other types of drill will include:

• Man overboard

• Rescue from an enclosed space

• Rescue of an injured crew member

• Emergency steering

• Excessive list

• Emergencies arising from the carriage of dangerous goods

Again, this is not intended to be a comprehensive list. There should be a logical, planned programme for carrying out all of the necessary drills, statutory and non-statutory. This programme should take into account training for emergencies, because training and drills are not the same thing.

It is a legal requirement that every crew member who is assigned to emergency duties is familiar with those duties BEFORE THE SHIP SAILS. This requirement may also be found in the STCW Convention and in the requirements of the ISM code.

1.1. Fire drills general

This type of drills must be carried out once per month and should be exercised in various locations in the ship each time, including but not limited to, accommodation, engine room, pump room, cargo tank/hold etc.

Fire drills and other emergency drills should be planned in such a way that the ship’s teams obtain regular practice in dealing with all types of foreseeable emergencies in different areas of the ship. The drills should be as complete as possible and reflect the likely progress of a real emergency. Whenever practicable the types of unexpected difficulties that a real emergency might bring should be simulated – lack of visibility, restricted access, missing crew members, failed equipment, failed communications etc.

The Chief Engineer is in charge of all damage control activities.

Duties of personnel should be rotated, in order for everyone to benefit from training as well as for personnel redundancy purposes.

Sounding of fire alarm should be followed by an announcement from vessel's general public announcement system (to be repeated thrice) indicating following:

• Drill (that it is a drill, not an actual fire incident).

• Location of fire.

A fire drill should be held within 24 hours of the vessel sailing after a port call or crew change of more than 75% of crew complement. Fire drills should consist of simulated incidents and must include:

1) Checking the muster list.

2) Manning fire stations, equipment and apparatus.

3) Testing the fire pump by starting it and spraying water, testing nozzles at full pressure.

4) Recording complete details of drills including response time in the ship’s official log and the safety report.

Following points must be stressed during fire fighting training i.e.:

• Person who initially detects fire should:

• Immediately inform bridge of location and (if known) type of fire (e.g. electrical, fuel etc, in order for OOW to sound fire alarm).

• Isolate ventilation and electrical circuits associated with compartment where fire did occur (if he knows how/it is possible)

• Act to limit or eliminate fire if possible (e.g. by use of fire extinguisher).

• Remain in vicinity of fire (if safe to do so) and keep bridge informed of sequence of events until arrival of damage control team.

Following must be carried out as soon as possible after fire alarm has sounded and fire drill has been announced:

• Fire parties must assemble at their predetermined stations and wait for further orders.

• Engine Room OOW must ensure that:

• Fire pumps in machinery spaces are in a standing by status and ready to be operated.

• Fire main system is under full operating pressure.

• Emergency pumps are started.

• Damage Control Party (DCP) consisting of an officer and some crewmembers proceed to scene of (simulated) fire.

• Fire hoses in vicinity of fire are laid out and water discharged through them using appropriate fire nozzles (to check operational status).

• A number of fire extinguishers must be readily available for immediate use. Crewmembers should be instructed to use appropriate type of fire extinguishers to specific nature of fire. One extinguisher should be discharged to test operability (fire extinguishers should be tested on rotational fashion and re-filled as soon as possible after conclusion of drill).

• Safety lamps, flashlights and axes should be carried by designated crewmembers during fire drills.

Note: Members of damage control party must familiarize themselves with following:

• Isolating electrical circuits and ventilation system of various areas onboard (e.g. locating switches / de-energizing circuits, operating doors, ports, ventilators etc.).

• Location of remote controls associated with fuel oil pumps, ventilators etc.

• Use of emergency equipment (e.g. fireman's outfit, breathing apparatus etc.).

• First aid and lifting of injured and/or unconscious personnel from confined spaces.

When there is extensive crew change (25% of complement or more) this type of drills must be carried out within a day (24 hours) after departure.