Shipboard Safety, Emergency Response and Pollution Prevention
What this domain tests
Drill and training requirements, firefighting and abandon-ship response, enclosed space entry, and the operational side of MARPOL that a chief mate signs for.
Core rules
- SOLAS III: abandon-ship and fire drills monthly, and within 24 h of leaving port if more than 25% of the crew has changed; enclosed space entry and rescue drills every two months; emergency steering drills every three months.
- Fire: raise the alarm, account for all persons, stop fuel and ventilation, boundary cool, then release fixed CO2 only after sealing and confirming the space is clear.
- Lifeboats: capacity for 100% of persons on board on each side of a cargo ship; one immersion suit per person.
- Enclosed spaces (IMO Res. A.1050(27)): test for oxygen (at least 20% by volume), flammable gas (not more than 1% LFL) and toxic gas; continuous monitoring; attendant at the entrance; permit to work.
- MARPOL: Annex I 15 ppm and Oil Record Book Part I; Annex V prohibits all plastics and allows comminuted food waste only beyond 3 nm, non-comminuted beyond 12 nm; Annex VI sulphur limits; SOPEP for oil spill response.
Worked example
A 24-person crew. Each side needs lifeboat capacity for 24, so two boats of at least 24 each, 48 places in total. If the ship carries 24 immersion suits and one is found torn during the weekly inspection, the shortfall must be recorded and corrected before sailing, not deferred to the next port.
Traps
- Releasing CO2 before the space is sealed and everyone is accounted for.
- Opening a hatch or door on a fire to look inside.
- Discharging plastics or untreated food waste inside the prohibited distances.
- Entering an enclosed space on the strength of an old atmosphere test.