Guidelines for Health and Safety on Board Small Fishing Boats

An emergency situation may be so bad that it is necessary to abandon the vessel in order to save the life of the crew.

It is often a difficult decision that should not be made too early or left too late.

Someone who gets into the liferaft relatively dry, with warm clothing, food and water has a greater chance of survival. If you are dealing with an emergency (fire or flooding) and it seems likely that you will have to abandon ship, the skipper should despatch one crew member to prepare to launch the raft and gather food, water clothing and other things you need.

Action Points

• The order for “Abandon ship” must only be given by the skipper once it is clear that continued presence on the vessel will be a risk to human life.
• If there is time;
• Radio a Mayday call giving vessels position.
• Collect portable radio.
• Collect warm clothing & blankets.
• If possible activate EPIRB and tie to raft or to your person.
Collect food and water.
• Gather extra flares
• Launch liferaft and use Painter line to activate inflation of the raft and pull it to the side of the vessel.

Once everyone is in the raft get it clear of the vessel.

Try to stay as dry as you can when you get into the raft. If you are dry, this helps to prevent the on set of hypothermia.

Once the raft has been cleared as much as possible of water:

• Close all liferaft openings to reduce chill.
• Stream sea anchor to keep raft in vicinity of last known position of vessel.
• If the vessel is still afloat keep clear in case it tips over or a mast falls.
• Erect reflector sheets if fitted.
• Take sea sickness tablets!

If unable to get into the raft dry squeeze the water out of your clothing and bail out as much water as soon as you can.

When there is no time to launch a liferaft

You will have to spend some time in the water until you are rescued or until the liferaft is hydrostatically released.

• Swim clear of the vessel.
• Once clear of vessel conserve energy.
• Keep together and huddle together in water to maximise body warmth and make a bigger object for searchers to find.
• If you are alone, pull your body into your chest as shown below.
• Keep talking to each other.
• Watch out for the liferaft or other floating objects emerging from the water.

For skippers:

Things you have to do during normal operations

• Maritime Rules require that vessels conduct an abandon ship drill once a month”.

Maintenance points to remember.

• Make sure liferafts are stowed properly. Rafts should float free once the hydrostatic release mechanism releases them. The Painter line must be secured to the vessel (via a weak link) so the raft stays close until survivors board it and cut the line.
• Make sure EPIRBS are stowed properly. So they are free to float once the hydrostatic release mechanism releases them.
• Keep all hydrostatic release mechanisms serviced or “in date’.
• Get posters showing deployment of liferaft and put around vessel in prominent positions. The supplier of the vessel’s raft should be willing to provide these to you.
• Keep your liferafts in good condition.
• Ensure the crew know how to up-right a liferaft. Display posters around vessel.

Encourage crew to do a survival course.