Emergency Response, Fire Prevention and Safety of Life at Sea
Fire theory and systems
The fire tetrahedron is fuel, oxygen, heat and chain reaction. Classes A (solids), B (liquids), C (gases), D (metals) and F (cooking oils). Fixed systems include CO2, foam, water mist and inert gas on tankers; the fire main, hydrants, hoses, international shore connection, main and emergency fire pumps. Boundary cooling, closing openings and stopping ventilation precede any decision to release fixed CO2, which requires everyone out and accounted for.
Life-saving appliances and drills
Lifeboats, liferafts, immersion suits, EPIRB, SART, line-throwing appliance and muster list duties. Abandon ship, fire, collision, grounding, man overboard and enclosed space rescue drills. Know the SOLAS drill intervals, the records required and the training manual.
Response management
On-scene coordination, IAMSAR search patterns, the emergency organisation and shipboard command team, damage control, flooding boundaries and residual stability after damage.
Trap: water on electrical or metal fires, foam on alcohol fires (use alcohol-resistant foam), CO2 released into an occupied space.
Rule of thumb: for fire - stop the ship, close up, cool the boundaries, then re-enter only with breathing apparatus and a charged hose.