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HK Coxswain Grade 3 study materials
HK Coxswain Grade 3 study resources

HK Coxswain Grade 3: Safety of life at sea: emergency procedures, distress signals, firefighting, life-saving appliances and abandon-ship drills

HK Coxswain Grade 3 · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.

All guide sections

Safety of life at sea: emergency procedures, distress signals, firefighting, life-saving appliances and abandon-ship drills

What the exam tests

Safety questions test emergency procedures, distress signalling, firefighting, life-saving appliances and abandon-ship drills on small local craft. The examiner wants practical priorities and correct distress communications.

Core rules and concepts

  • Distress: MAYDAY on VHF Channel 16, with DSC on Channel 70 if fitted. Urgency: PAN PAN; safety: SÉCURITÉ. Give identity, position, nature of distress, persons on board and assistance required. Use 999 as well when in Hong Kong waters if time permits.
  • Distress signals include red parachute flares, red hand flares, orange smoke, dye marker, EPIRB, SART, SOS and waving arms. Never use them for testing.
  • Fire needs heat, fuel and oxygen. For fuel or electrical fire, stop the engine, shut off fuel and batteries, and use dry powder, foam or CO2 as appropriate. Do not open an engine hatch fully; aim at the base of the fire; keep an escape route.
  • Lifejackets must fit, be fastened and have a crotch strap where fitted. Know the location of liferaft, grab bag, flares, radio and first-aid kit. Abandon ship only when staying aboard is more dangerous.
  • Person overboard: shout, throw a buoy, keep visual contact, turn back into wind and current, approach slowly and recover over the lowest side with engine neutral.
  • Fire, flooding or abandon-ship drill should include mayday, position, lifejackets, raft, water and signalling.

Worked example

You smell smoke from the engine box near Lamma. You stop the engine, shut off fuel and battery, keep passengers forward and send a MAYDAY on Channel 16 with position and persons. You discharge dry powder through the access port without fully opening the hatch. The fire flares again, so you prepare lifejackets and the liferaft, keep the VHF on, and head for the nearest safe shelter. You do not use water on burning fuel and do not abandon into the water while the craft is still afloat and stable.

Traps

Delaying MAYDAY until the situation is hopeless; using water on fuel fire; opening the engine hatch fully; leaving the vessel too early; not fitting lifejackets; and failing to keep a radio watch after the first call.