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

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.

Drill regulations

Abandon Ship Signal: Verbal command (by Master) “Abandon Ship!” 10 mins for cargo 30 mins for passenger (8000)

General Emergency Signal: Seven or more short blasts followed by one long blast on the ships whistle or bells • • • • • • • ————

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!

CUT

CLOSE

STREAM

MAINTAIN

Initial Actions On Boarding.

GET CLEAR – Lifeboat or Paddle

Aboard Survival Craft.

!  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

Initial actions lead to…

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

"   Prevention !  Reduced intake !  Anti-seasickness pills !  First Aid !  Resting !  Keep cool

"   Supply !  Rations !  Rainwater ! Condensation ! Solar still

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

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

Handflare

Buoyant Smoke

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 Do not deploy upwind of your raft Lasts on average 3 mins Seen from 3 NM

Man overboard marker

Some provide 15 mins of

smoke & 2hrs light

Can be dropped from 50m

Would be attached to a

lifebuoy with a line

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

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

#  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.

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.