Emergencies in Port

FIRE OR EXPLOSION ON A VESSEL ALONGSIDE

Method of Raising the Alarm:

Using VHF on Channel 16 to call the Harbour

Office and/or Pilot Office
Sounding the vessels whistle continuously until
acknowledged
Reporting the emergency
 Emergencies in Port
Actions which can be Taken When
Emergencies Arise in Port
Action by Master
Having raised the alarm, responsibility for fighting
any fire and dealing with other emergency situations
will rest with the master or officer in charge of the
vessel concerned until the Fire Brigade arrives.
A check of all personnel on board must be taken to
account for all members. This must be reported to
Harbour Master and Fire Brigade Officer.
 Emergencies in Port
Actions which can be Taken When
Emergencies Arise in Port
Action by Master
Loading and unloading operations will cease and
other measures to
contain the emergency must be taken.
 Emergencies in Port
Actions which can be Taken When
Emergencies Arise in Port
Action to be taken by shore personnel:-
Setting off the fire alarm in the vicinity of the vessel
or shed

Alerting the vessel by any available means

 Emergencies in Port
Actions which can be Taken When
Emergencies Arise in Port
Set of fire control plans is stored and readily available
for the assistance of shore-side fire-fighting personnel
 Emergencies in Port
Actions which can be Taken When
Emergencies Arise in Port
Adjacent ships nearby shall be aware of the situation
taking into consideration the possibility of spread of fire
Assisting a Vessel in Distress

Measures for Assisting a Vessel in Distress

Section 265(1) of the Navigation

Act, 1912 requires the Master of a
vessel to render all possible
assistance to any persons from or
on a vessel or aircraft that are or
the Master has reason to believe
are in need of assistance.
Assisting a Vessel in Distress

Limits Of Responsibility
The primary aim of a Master of a vessel rendering
assistance is saving life.
 
Assisting a Vessel in Distress

Measures for Assisting a Vessel in Distress

As a seafarer, you may have to recover people in

distress at sea
Assisting a Vessel in Distress

Calm Water Transfer

If circumstances allow you to go alongside the other
vessel, ensure that all movable gear are swung inboard
so as to avoid getting tangled or damaged, and see that
the same precautions are taken aboard the other vessel

Position the heaviest fenders you can muster along

the vessel's side at gunwale height along the points of
the vessels side that will come into contact with the
other vessel, judging from its shape, etc
Assisting a Vessel in Distress

Calm Water Transfer

Do not fasten your vessel to the stricken vessel as the

circumstances of the other vessel may change
suddenly, jeopardising the safety of the whole operation

Maintain your vessel's position utilising her engines,

backing off and coming back again as often as
necessary until the operation is completed
Assisting a Vessel in Distress

Calm Water Transfer and Approach

Assisting a Vessel in Distress

Rough Water Transfer

Rough weather presents a totally different picture, and

you will usually have to combine ingenuity with good
seamanship if the transfer is to be effected safely.
you can position yourself up-wind and beam-on to
the other vessel, and thereby create a lee of some
sort between you
Assisting a Vessel in Distress

Rough Water Transfer

Tow a buoyed line across the bow or stern of the

other so that it can be recovered by the other vessel
with a boathook as it streams past
you can position yourself up-wind and beam-on to the
other vessel, and thereby create a lee of some sort
between you
Assisting a Vessel in Distress
Rough Water Transfer
Unless all survivors come across in the first haul,
however it is made, it is essential that a messenger line,
secured to the rope or raft, is paid out from the
distressed vessel to haul it back for the subsequent trips.
Assisting a Vessel in Distress

Taking in Tow/Salvage

This may be the best and safest method of effecting a

rescue - that is your  decision - but it is in no way
incumbent upon you to do so, and the safety of your
own vessel and her personnel must be your first
consideration.
Assisting a Vessel in Distress
Taking in Tow/Salvage

Before passing a tow you should:

be satisfied that your vessel is large and powerful

enough to handle the tow
decide what sort of risk there is to the safety of
your own vessel
ensure that you have sufficient fuel, with the added
drag of the tow and the slow anticipated progress,
to make your destination;
Assisting a Vessel in Distress

Taking in Tow/Salvage
Before passing a tow you should:

advise your owners of your intentions (they may well

veto the operation)
establish that the operation does not invalidate your
insurance
establish beyond any argument with the Master or
owners of the other vessel the salvage basis on
which you are carrying out the tow