Emergency Response and Safety
Preparedness and drills
You must understand the muster list, the emergency stations and the duties assigned to each crew member. Know the procedures for fire, abandon ship, man overboard, collision, grounding and flooding. Understand the purpose of drills and the requirement to record them. Know the operation of life-saving appliances, the immersion suit, the lifebuoy with light and smoke, and the rescue boat. Understand the fire triangle and the classes of fire and the appropriate extinguishing media.
Traps
A frequent trap is assuming that water is suitable for all fires; it must never be used on electrical or oil fires. Another is confusing the abandon ship signal with the fire signal. Watch for questions on the meaning of 'muster station' and on the requirement for a headcount. Also be alert to the hazards of enclosed space rescue and the need for breathing apparatus.
Worked rule of thumb
For fire, use the mnemonic of the fire triangle: remove heat, fuel or oxygen. For an electrical fire, isolate the power and use CO2 or dry powder, never water. For man overboard, the immediate actions are to throw a lifebuoy, press the MOB button, alter course to clear the person, and post a lookout. For abandon ship, the order is given only by the master; the crew musters with immersion suits and the survival craft is launched according to the muster list.