Personal Survival Techniques and Life-Saving Appliances
Scope
Personal Survival Techniques and Life-Saving Appliances tests abandon-ship procedures, lifejackets, immersion suits, lifeboats, liferafts, pyrotechnics, EPIRB, SART and survival at sea. The exam tests what you do in the first minutes.
Core rules
- Muster on the alarm, take headcount, warm clothing and the abandon-ship signal.
- Don lifejacket on deck, not inside an enclosed space; secure the crotch strap.
- Lifebuoy with light and smoke for man overboard; bridge keeps visual contact.
- EPIRB transmits distress; SART shows on radar; pyrotechnics are used only on order.
- In a liferaft: secure the painter, board dry, cut free only when necessary, stream sea anchor, ration water.
Worked example
At night, abandon ship is ordered. The correct sequence is: muster at the station, take the EPIRB and SART if assigned, don lifejacket, board the raft, count persons, secure the canopy, start survival actions. Do not inflate a lifejacket inside a cabin or raft because it restricts movement and can trap you.
Traps
Jumping into water without checking, drinking seawater, lighting flares for comfort, and leaving the raft unsecured are dangerous. Hypothermia is more likely than drowning after boarding; keep dry and huddled.