NIMASA STCW PST key terms

The designated place on board where crew and passengers assemble when the general emergency alarm sounds, so that heads can be counted and instructions given before any abandonment.

The posted roster that assigns every person on board a specific duty, survival craft and assembly point during an emergency; also called the station bill.

The audible signal of seven or more short blasts followed by one long blast on the ship's whistle and internal alarms, meaning all persons must go to their muster stations.

The verbal order, given only by the master, to leave the vessel; it is normally accompanied by the general emergency alarm and followed by boarding survival craft.

The specific tasks written against a person's name on the muster list, such as closing watertight doors, mustering passengers, preparing lifeboats or bringing radio equipment.

The physical counting of people at the muster station or in a survival craft, compared with the muster list, to confirm that nobody has been left behind.

The person, usually a senior officer, who takes charge at the scene of an emergency and directs rescue, firefighting or abandonment actions until relieved.

The master and watchkeeping officers who coordinate the emergency from the bridge, handling communications, manoeuvring and distress alerts while the crew works elsewhere.

A transmission sent on maritime distress frequencies or via satellite systems to tell rescue authorities that a vessel or person is in grave and imminent danger and needs immediate help.

An automated digital distress message sent on VHF channel 70 or an MF/HF distress frequency, which transmits the vessel's identity and position to coast stations and other ships.

Emergency position-indicating radio beacon: a float-free transmitter that, once activated in the water, sends a satellite distress signal with the vessel's identity to a rescue coordination centre.

Search and rescue transponder: a portable radar transponder carried in a survival craft that, when interrogated by a searching radar, shows a line of dots on that radar screen.

Very high frequency radiotelephone equipment used for short-range ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore communication, including channel 16 for distress, safety and calling.

A ring-shaped flotation device thrown to a person in the water to keep them afloat and mark the position; it is often fitted with a light and a line.

A personal flotation device worn on the body that turns an unconscious wearer face-up in the water and keeps the airway clear; it must be fitted and fastened correctly.

A protective suit that reduces body heat loss in cold water, worn by crew of rescue boats and often by all persons when abandoning into cold seas.

A waterproof bag or blanket used to wrap a survivor in a survival craft, reducing heat loss by convection and evaporation when an immersion suit is not available.

A rigid or partly enclosed survival craft carried on davits, designed to be launched with its full complement of persons and to keep them alive after abandonment.

An inflatable survival craft stowed in a rigid container, which inflates automatically when the painter is pulled or the ship sinks, and provides shelter for survivors.

The crane-like structure on deck that supports and lowers a lifeboat or rescue boat into the water, usually controlled by a brake and wire falls.

The rope that connects a liferaft container to the ship; pulling it activates the inflation gas and then holds the inflated raft alongside until boarding is complete.

A device that frees a liferaft or EPIRB from its cradle when the ship sinks to a set depth, allowing the item to float free and activate automatically.

The controlled process of entering a lifeboat or liferaft, keeping order, helping the injured and jumping or stepping safely without landing on other survivors.

One of the steel wire ropes that connect a lifeboat to its davit and lower it; both falls must be unhooked together after the boat is waterborne.

A person who has fallen into the sea from the vessel; the response is to shout the alarm, throw a lifebuoy, mark the position and begin recovery manoeuvres.

The sudden exposure of the body to cold sea water, causing gasping, rapid breathing and rapid heat loss that can quickly lead to drowning or hypothermia.

The involuntary gasp, hyperventilation and increased heart rate triggered by sudden immersion in cold water, which can cause water inhalation and cardiac strain within the first minute.

A fall in deep body temperature below about 35 degrees Celsius, producing shivering, confusion, loss of coordination and eventually unconsciousness if the person is not warmed.

The HELP position, in which a person in the water pulls the knees to the chest and folds the arms across the lifejacket to reduce heat loss from the body's core.

A group survival technique in which several people in the water press closely together, arms linked, to share warmth and reduce heat loss while awaiting rescue.

Death by suffocation after water enters the airway and lungs; rescue breathing and CPR started immediately after recovery from the water greatly improve the chance of survival.

Chest compressions combined with rescue breaths, given to a person who is not breathing normally and shows no signs of life, to maintain circulation until help arrives.

A stable side-lying posture used for an unconscious person who is breathing, keeping the airway open and allowing fluid to drain from the mouth.

The actions taken after abandonment to stay alive: protecting the airway, conserving body heat, rationing water, keeping a lookout and maintaining morale until rescue.

Items worn to protect against injury during drills and emergencies, such as a helmet, gloves, boots, eye protection, lifejacket and, where needed, breathing apparatus.

The precautions taken during musters and exercises, including briefing, supervision, safe launching procedures and stopping the drill if conditions become dangerous.

The short instruction given to passengers and crew before a drill or emergency, explaining alarm signals, muster stations, lifejacket use and survival craft boarding.