MUSTER LIST & DRILLS – SOLAS REGULATIONS

Muster list and emergency instructions

1 This regulation applies to all ships.

2 Clear instructions to be followed in the event of an emergency shall be provided

for every person on board. In the case of passenger ships these instructions shall
be drawn up in the language or languages required by the ship's flag State and in
the English language.

3 Muster lists and emergency instructions complying with the requirements of

regulation 37 shall be exhibited in conspicuous places throughout the ship including
the navigation bridge, engine-room and crew accommodation spaces.

4 Illustrations and instructions in appropriate languages shall be posted in

passenger cabins and be conspicuously displayed at muster stations and other
passenger spaces to inform passengers of:

.1 their muster station;

.2 the essential actions they must take in an emergency; and

.3 the method of donning lifejackets.

Regulation 37 of SOLAS

Muster list and emergency instructions

1 The muster list shall specify details of the general emergency alarm and public
address system and also action to be taken by crew and passengers when this
alarm is sounded. The muster list shall also specify how the order to abandon ship
will be given.

2 Each passenger ship shall have procedures in place for locating and rescuing
passengers trapped in their staterooms.

3 The muster list shall show the duties assigned to the different members of the
crew including:

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.1 closing of the watertight doors, fire doors, valves, scuppers, side scuttles,
skylights, portholes and other similar openings in the ship;

.2 equipping of the survival craft and other life-saving appliances;

.3 preparation and launching of survival craft;

.4 general preparations of other life-saving appliances;

.5 muster of passengers;

.6 use of communication equipment;

.7 manning of fire parties assigned to deal with fires; and

.8 special duties assigned in respect to the use of fire-fighting equipment and

installations.

4 The muster list shall specify which officers are assigned to ensure that life-saving
and fire appliances are maintained in good condition and are ready for immediate
use.

5 The muster list shall specify substitutes for key persons who may become
disabled, taking into account that different emergencies may call for different
actions.

6 The muster list shall show the duties assigned to members of the crew in relation
to passengers in case of emergency. These duties shall include:

.1 warning the passengers;

.2 seeing that they are suitably clad and have donned their lifejackets correctly;

.3 assembling passengers at muster stations;

.4 keeping order in the passageways and on the stairways and generally

controlling the movements of the passengers; and

.5 ensuring that a supply of blankets is taken to the survival craft.

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7 The muster list shall be prepared before the ship proceeds to sea. After the
muster list has been prepared, if any change takes place in the crew which
necessitates an alteration in the muster list, the master shall either revise the list or
prepare a new list.

8 The format of the muster list used on passenger ships shall be approved.

Important features of a Muster List

1) It specifies various types of emergencies and the Alarm for the same.
2) Instructions to follow in various emergencies.
3) Common muster point for all crew and an alternate muster point.
4) Crew list along with assigned life boats.
5) Assigned duties in case of abandon ship.
6) Different teams with assigned duties for each individual for various
emergencies.
7) Ship specification and emergency communication equipments.
8) Special & General instructions from the Master.
9) Name of the officer in charge of LSA/FFA maintenance.

How to Assign Duties:- Division of crew into emergency teams:

Command Team:-

1. Should be one group with master or senior officer in charge.

2. Should be in control of the response to emergency.
3. Should have means of internal and external communications.

Emergency Team:-

1. Should be under the command of a senior officer.

2. Assess the emergency and report to the command team on the situation.
3. Should advice what action to take and what assistance to provide.
4. Fight/deal with the emergency.

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Back up / support team:-

1. Under the command of an officer.

2. Should standby to assist the emergency team as instructed by the command
team.
3. Provide back-up services like medical services, equipments, stores etc.

Engine room emergency team:-

1. Under the command of a senior engineer officer.

2. Should be in control of E/R emergencies.
3. Keep the command team informed.

DRILLS - Regulation 19 of SOLAS

Emergency training and drills

1 This regulation applies to all ships.

2 Familiarity with safety installations and practice musters

2.1 Every crew member with assigned emergency duties shall be familiar with
these duties before the voyage begins.

2.2 On a ship engaged on a voyage where passengers are scheduled to be on

board for more than 24h, musters of the passengers shall take place within 24h
after their embarkation. Passengers shall be instructed in the use of the
lifejackets and the action to take in an emergency.

2.3 Whenever new passengers embark, a passenger safety briefing shall be

given immediately before sailing, or immediately after sailing. The briefing shall
include the instructions required by regulations and shall be made by means of
an announcement, in one or more languages likely to be understood by the
passengers. The announcement shall be made on the ship's public address
system, or by other equivalent means likely to be heard at least by the
passengers who have not yet heard it during the voyage. The briefing may be
included in the muster required by paragraph 2.2 if the muster is held

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immediately upon departure. Information cards or posters or video programmes

displayed on ships video displays may be used to supplement the briefing, but
may not be used to replace the announcement.

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 24h 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 Abandon ship drill

3.3.1 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;

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.6 starting and operating the lifeboat engine;

.7 operation of davits used for launching life rafts;

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

.9 instructions in the use of radio life-saving appliances.

3.3.2 Different lifeboats shall, as far as practicable, be lowered in compliance

with the requirements of paragraph 3.3.1.5 at successive drills.

3.3.3 Except as provided in paragraphs 3.3.4 and 3.3.5, each lifeboat shall be
launched, and maneuvered in the water by its assigned operating crew, at least
once every three months during an abandon ship drill.

3.3.4 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
maneuvered 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 Organization.*

3.3.5 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.

3.3.6 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

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crew aboard and maneuvered in the water. In all cases this requirement shall be
complied with at least once every three months.

3.3.7 If lifeboat and rescue boat launching drills are carried out with the ship
making headway, such drills shall, because of the dangers involved, be practiced
in sheltered waters only and under the supervision of an officer experienced in
such drills.1"

3.3.8 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.

3.3.9 Emergency lighting for mustering and abandonment shall be tested at

each abandon ship drill.

3.4 Fire drills

3.4.1 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.

3.4.2 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;

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.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.

3.4.3 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.

Benefits of Drills:-

1. Help crew respond rapidly and effectively to emergency in an organized

manner.
2. Help crew prepare to make decisions under pressure.
3. Help us identify how our procedures might be improved.
4. Help new crew become familiar with vessel, equipments and procedures.
5. Help develop teamwork and self confidence.
6. Gives us opportunity to check LSA FFA is working and fix them if required.
7. Records show that you are thinking about safety.

Importance of De-Briefing after the drill:-

 You discuss what went well during the drill and why.
 You discuss what could have been done better.
 Compare the last drill records to see if you performed better.
 We get reports on the status and readiness of LSA FFA equipments.
 Everyone understands and evaluates their individual performances and
mistakes during the drill.
 Reaction time to a particular situation can be analyzed and improved upon.

How to conduct a drill as per SOLAS

 A fire or other emergency drill shall as far as practicable be conducted as if it

were an actual emergency.

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 Fire or other emergency drill should be held simultaneously with the first
stage of the abandon ship drill.
 For the purpose of a fire drill an outbreak of fire should be assumed to have
occurred in some part of the ship and fire control measures simulated as
appropriate. The complete cooperation of the personnel of all departments is
essential in fire fighting. The type and position of the supposed fire should be
varied from time to time and can include:

o (1) Cargo fires in holds or other spaces;

o (2) Fires involving oil, gas or chemical cargoes as appropriate;

o (3) Fires in engine, pump or boiler rooms;

o (4) Fires in crew or passenger accommodation; and

o (5) Fires in galleys due to burning oil or cooking fats.

 The engine room staff should ensure that the fire pumps in the machinery
spaces are prepared for operation, started, and that full water pressure is on
the fire mains. Where there is an emergency fire pump situated outside the
machinery space, this pump should be started up as indicated below. The fire
party or parties at the scene of the assumed fire should lay out hoses and
where practicable water should be played through them, the water being
supplied first from the machinery space pump and then from the emergency
pump only, with the machinery space isolating valve closed. A number of
portable fire extinguishers should be available and members of the fire party
should be instructed in the use of the type of fire extinguisher for a particular
type of fire.
 The crew should be exercised as appropriate in the closing of openings, ie
side scuttles, deadlights, doors, ventilating shafts, fire doors, the annular
space around the funnel, etc both to reduce the supply of air to a fire and
isolate it from other parts of the ship, especially stairways and lift shafts. As
many of the crew as possible and particularly the officers should be made
familiar with the position of remote controls for ventilation fans, oil fuel

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pumps and oil tank valves and be instructed in the method of operation
thereof.
 Fixed installations for extinguishing fire , such as Halon, CO2, foam, or water
spray in the machinery spaces, CO2, inert gas, steam or drencher systems in
the cargo spaces, and sprinkler systems in passenger accommodation
together with fire alarm and detection systems should be tested with as
much realism as practicable. The fire party should also be exercised in the
use of the breathing apparatus and protective clothing and such emergency
appliances as axes and safety lamps, which should be brought out, checked
and deployed by appointed members of the party at all fire drills. Where the
number of sets of breathing apparatus permits, it is recommended that
persons using them should practice in pairs.
 It is important that members of the crew who are not allocated to fire parties
are familiar with the use of and can identify the types of fire extinguisher
they will encounter in the accommodation and in their work areas. Such crew
members should be instructed in the use of the type of extinguisher
appropriate to the kind of fire, eg those discharging water, foam, dry powder,
CO2, etc.
 At each fire drill at least one extinguisher should be discharged by a different
crew member in order that both crew members in fire parties and other crew
members gain experience in using fire extinguishers. Crew members should
also be familiar with the location and means of activating the fire alarms in
the accommodation and in their working areas. It is also important that all
crew members and particularly those whose place of work is in a machinery
space are familiar with the escape routes from any part of the ship they are
likely to be in when on or off duty. Such familiarity should enable escape to
be made in darkness or through smoke and should include familiarity with
the location and the means of opening any emergency escape windows or
hatches.
 All fire protection systems and appliances should at all times be in good order
and available for immediate use during the voyage and in port. Compressed
air bottles of breathing apparatus and fire extinguishers should be refilled

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after any drill. Where refilling facilities are not available on board additional
equipment may be carried to facilitate training. Discharged equipment should
be clearly marked and stored for refilling when in port. Equipment dedicated
for training purposes should be marked ‘for training purposes only’.
 Participation in fire drills may not necessarily imply direct involvement with
fighting a fire and may include back-up to fire parties, being a member of the
first aid party or controlling passengers at their assembly or muster station
(as appropriate) stations while the fire fighting part of the drill is being
undertaken. On the other hand, on cargo ships with small crews it will
usually be necessary for every member of the crew to be familiar with all
aspects of fire-fighting and the use of all the fire-fighting equipment provided
on board the ship.
 Instruction should cover fire prevention, particularly in galleys, machinery
spaces, cargo compartments, pump rooms and accommodation spaces. On-
board instruction in fire-fighting is supplementary to training available at
firefighting courses ashore and is primarily concerned with the particular
equipment available on board and the nature of on-board fire hazards.
 Fire or other emergency drills should be followed by the second stage of the
abandon ship drill i.e. the muster and drill at the survival craft stations. This
stage of the abandon ship drill should be announced by the abandon ship
signal or by the particular means by which abandon ship is announced, or by
a signal used for the purpose of summoning crew members to their survival
craft stations.

Training manual and on-board training aids

1 This regulation applies to all ships.

2 A training manual complying with the requirements shall be provided in each

crew mess room and recreation room or in each crew cabin.

3 The training manual, which may comprise several volumes, shall contain
instructions and information, in easily understood terms illustrated wherever
possible, on the life-saving appliances provided in the ship and on the best methods

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of survival. Any part of such information may be provided in the form of audio-
visual aids in lieu of the manual. The following shall be explained in detail:

.1 donning of lifejackets, immersion suits and anti-exposure suits, as

appropriate;

.2 muster at the assigned stations;

.3 boarding, launching, and clearing the survival craft and rescue boats,
including, where applicable, use of marine evacuation systems;

.4 method of launching from within the survival craft;

.5 release from launching appliances;

.6 methods and use of devices for protection in launching areas, where

appropriate;

.7 illumination in launching areas;

.8 use of all survival equipment;

.9 use of all detection equipment;

.10 with the assistance of illustrations, the use of radio life-saving appliances;

.11 use of drogues;

.12 use of engine and accessories;

.13 recovery of survival craft and rescue boats including stowage and securing;

.14 hazards of exposure and the need for warm clothing;

.15 best use of the survival craft facilities in order to survive;

.16 methods of retrieval, including the use of helicopter rescue gear (slings,
baskets, stretchers), breeches-buoy and shore life-saving apparatus and
ship's line-throwing apparatus;

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.17 all other functions contained in the muster list and emergency instructions;
and

.18 instructions for emergency repair of the life-saving appliances.

4 Every ship fitted with a marine evacuation system shall be provided with on-
board training aids in the use of the system.

5 The training manual shall be written in the working language of the ship.

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