Maritime Safety
Core concepts
Know SOLAS, the ISM Code, fire safety (fire triangle, classes of fire, fixed and portable extinguishers, fire main and pumps), life-saving appliances (lifeboats, liferafts, immersion suits, EPIRB, SART), enclosed space entry, permit-to-work systems, and personal protective equipment. Understand muster lists, drills and training requirements, and the meaning of the safety management system.
Traps
- Using water on electrical or oil fires; know extinguisher classes and media.
- Forgetting that enclosed space entry requires atmosphere testing, a permit, a standby person and rescue equipment.
- Confusing EPIRB (satellite distress alerting) with SART (radar location at scene).
- Assuming drills can be logged without being held; records must reflect actual drills.
- Overlooking that the fire main must be kept pressurised and pumps tested regularly.
Worked example / rule of thumb
Rule of thumb: test the atmosphere for oxygen (20.9 % normal, entry above 20 %), flammable gas (below 1 % LFL) and toxic gas before entry. Never enter an enclosed space without a permit, a standby person at the entrance, and communications. For fire, remember the fire triangle: remove fuel, oxygen or heat.