STCW 95. Sea Survival

STCW 95. Sea Survival

Hypothermia at sea Body thermal conductivity in water is 26 times faster than when exposed to air. 50F (10C) degree water equals 15 minutes before incapacity and/or unconsciousness with life jacket on. (Av UK water temp) 50F degree water equals 9 minutes before incapacity and/or unconsciousness without a life jacket. Stage 1- Hypothermia drop from 98.6 to 95F casualty shivvers, drowsiness, slurred speech, disorientation. Stage 2 Below 95F, diminished shivering, depressed respiration, body no longer able to heat itself, start to gasp in water without a life jacket. Stage 3 Muscle ridgity & loss of consciousness = death with no lifejacket on

Drill regulations Each member of crew must take part in 1 fire drill & 1 abandon ship drill every month or within 24hrs of leaving port if over 25% of the crew have not undertaken a drill that month Drills will involve : 1 - Summoning of passengers and crew to muster stations with the general emergency alarm. 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; 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 - Instruction in the use of radio life-saving appliances.

General Emergency Signal: Seven or more short blasts followed by one long blast on the ships whistle or bells Abandon Ship Signal: Verbal command (by Master) Abandon Ship! 10 mins for cargo 30 mins for passenger (8000)

Actions Prior To Abandonment Warm Clothing Lifejacket Extra survival aids- Water, clothing Blankets etc. Remain calm & Help others

Personal Ditch Kit Water Life jacket GPS EPIRB Personal reverse osmosis pump Waterproof otter box Personal first aid Sea sickness tabs Heliograph Mini flare Day/night flare Firefly strobe TPA/Space blanket

Immersion Suits. General requirements: - Unpacked & donned within 2 mins Cover the whole body, except the face Minimise or remove trapped air in legs Restrict any ingress of water Offer thermal protection (body core drops <2 C) Top tip, when donning put plastic bags on feet.

In water action for survivors. H.E.L.P. - Individual Survival Circle - Group Don t swim unless other survivors/survival craft Conserve energy Always swim on the back wearing lifejacket

Manual (Throw over) - Launching Operation. " Release securing arrangements " Check Painter is secure " Double check the Painter " Check overside " Launch raft into the water " Pull Painter to full extent to inflate liferaft

Boarding the Liferaft. " Always board dry if possible " Jump into the entrance, never on top! " If you are in the water swim to the raft ASAP " Get hold of the raft and don t let go " Use the boarding ladder and handholds " Assist each other!

Initial Actions On Boarding. CUT GET CLEAR Lifeboat or Paddle STREAM CLOSE MAINTAIN

Aboard Survival Craft. Initial actions lead to! Secondary actions " Seasick remedy " Treat injuries " Bail-out dry with sponge " Warm-up " Congregate liferafts/boats " Post lookouts-look for survivors " Read survival handbook " No rations in first 24hours injured may require earlier

Subsequent Action. " Routine! Establish a routine! Roll call! Duties! Watches " Raft Management! Cold climates! Hot climates! Location! Rations

SOLAS/MCA A Pack Liferaft Equipment.! Anti-seasickness pills! First Aid kit! Immersion suit /Thermal Protective Aids! Seasick bags! Buoyant rescue quoit & 30 metres of line! Set of fishing tackle

SOLAS/MCA A Pack Liferaft Equipment.! Set of survival instructions! Bailer/sponges! Repair outfit/leak stoppers! Topping-up pump! Sea anchor! Safety knife! Paddles

SOLAS/MCA A Pack Liferaft Equipment. Location Aids! 4 red hand flares (B) 4 X flares! 4 red parachute rockets (B) 4 x rockets! 2 buoyant smoke signals (B) 2 x smoke! 4 white hand flares (B) 4 x red! Signalling mirror! Torch, a set of spare batteries & bulb! Copy of lifesaving signals (SOLAS No.2)! Inflatable radar reflector! Whistle! Drouge /sea anchor

Average person - 3 to 5 days without water, 40 days food. In colder or warmer temperatures, the need for water is greater. The need for water also increases with exercise. In hot, dry, or cold weather. 4 to 6 liters of water or other liquids are generally required each day to function normally. 1.5 L issued in pack! Food & Water

Methods of water collection Solar Still 30 cm of plastic cover = 2ltrs in 5hrs Reverse Osmosis pump 0.5 to 5 litres per hour depending on size

Post Immersion Problems Delayed effects up to 120 hrs. " Post immersion collapse lowered blood pressure after rescue " Lung infections and inflammation, pneumonia-like symptoms " Secondary drowning " Lack of sufficient oxygen " Swelling of the brain

Water in Survival Situation. " Losses! Urine! Vomit! Bleeding! Breathing! Sweat " Supply! Rations! Rainwater! Condensation! Solar still " Prevention! Reduced intake! Anti-seasickness pills! First Aid! Resting! Keep cool Minimum water requirement at rest half litre water per person per day Do not issue in the first 24hrs DO NOT DRINK SEA WATER OR URINE UNLESS YOU ARE BEAR GRYLLS

Food. Eat only the rations provided Do not eat fish, turtles or sea-birds unless FRESH WATER is plentiful

Location. Stay in area Congregate survival craft Use location aids

Location Aids Day & Night Flares Ridged to locate flare end / Smoke at the other Smokes for 18 Seconds Flare for 20 seconds (10,000 candela) Visable 5m by day 10m by night Water resistant to 30m Good personal flare Twist clockwise line up arrows and hit base White for attention Red for emergency Handflare Burns for 60 seconds (15,000 Candela) Can be immersed to 1m for up to 60 mins Can be seen 5m by day 10m at night

Buoyant Smoke Man overboard marker Deploy on sight of rescuing aircraft during day, to pinpoint location No good at night and limited for location identification to vessells, better for aircraft Some provide 15 mins of smoke & 2hrs light Can be dropped from 50m Do not deploy upwind of your raft Lasts on average 3 mins Would be attached to a lifebuoy with a line Seen from 3 NM

Parachute rocket Operated by pull cord or strike, burns for 40 sec from 300m Aim with wind giving better flight Seen at 8NM by day 25Nm at night Best form of location flare, only fire when passing aircraft seen and deploy a second if it tips wings or changes course

# 121 Mhz now defunct for routine monitoring as of Feb 2009 only monitored by passing aircraft. SAR response to this signal can be between 4 to 12 hrs especially if unregistered. # 121 beacons only give 15 to 20mile location of position. EPIRBS & Homing Devices.! Float free EPIRB s 406 MHz sending a digital to COPASS & SARSAT # Polar orbiting satellites 10min or less message pick up on registered beacons # World-wide coverage # Positional accuracy approx. 5km but with HEX code GPS position to 15metres

Search And Rescue Transponder Triggered by another ships radar 96hrs standby 8hrs transmitting 5-10 m range from ship 30m from aircraft

STCW.95 Sea Survival courses available throughout the year, go to www.maritimesurvivalsolutions.co.uk to book.