NIMASA STCW PSSR cheat sheet

SOLAS lifeboat capacity rule: total complement must be stowed so each side holds 100% of persons; a liferaft may be substituted for one side's shortfall only where the Administration permits.

Lifeboat buoyancy: rigid boats need built-in buoyancy in watertight compartments; totally enclosed lifeboats must self-right with full complement when released from any attitude.

Fire-protected totally enclosed lifeboat: water spray system, compressed-air supply for at least 10 minutes, and internal temperature kept survivable during a 8-minute flame engulfment test.

Lifeboat equipment: buoyant oars, boat hook, bailer, bucket, knife, torch, signalling mirror, whistle, first-aid kit, seasickness tablets, jack-knife, fire extinguisher, and a manual pump.

Food and water scale: 3 litres of fresh water per person and 1 kg of food per person; water containers must be corrosion-resistant with drinking cups.

Rescue boat criteria: minimum 3 m length, capable of at least 6 knots, carry at least 5 seated persons plus one stretcher position, and be fast to launch and recover.

Rigid rescue boat buoyancy: sufficient built-in buoyancy to float when flooded and loaded with full complement of persons and equipment.

Life raft: inflatable, automatically inflated by gas cylinder, with a weak link that breaks at 2.2 +/- 0.4 kN to release from a sinking ship at depth.

Retro-reflective tape and a lifeboat light: white light visible for at least 2 nautical miles for 12 hours; interior light for at least 12 hours.

On-load release gear must be capable of releasing the lifeboat when loaded with its full complement and when the boat is waterborne, and of being reset without going into the water.

Fall preventer devices: where fitted, they must be strong enough to hold the lifeboat and must be removed before the boat is waterborne, never left engaged during normal lowering.

Davits: gravity davits must be able to lower the lifeboat against a list of 20 degrees either way and a trim of 10 degrees; the boat must reach the water under gravity.

Winch brake: holding capacity must be at least 1.5 times the maximum working load; brake test is done at 1.1 times the total mass of the lifeboat with full complement and equipment.

Wire falls: must be renewed when deteriorated, and in any case at intervals not exceeding 5 years; end-for-ending is permitted only if the wire is in good condition.

Limit switches: davit limit switches must stop the winch before the lifeboat reaches the davit head, and must be tested at each inspection.

Release gear inspection: annual inspection by a competent person and a thorough examination at 5-year intervals; records must be kept on board.

Launching drill requirement: each lifeboat must be launched with its assigned crew and manoeuvred in the water at least once every 3 months.

Free-fall lifeboat: launching requires the boat to be secured, crew seated with seat belts and head restraints, and the release handle operated only from the helmsman's seat.

Heavy weather lowering: keep the boat's bow into the wind and sea, lower on the lee side, and use the sea painter to hold the bow while clearing the ship's side.

Painter handling: the sea painter must be led forward and made fast well ahead of the boat so the boat is towed clear and does not drift back alongside.

Recovery in rough seas: use a bowsing-in line and steadying lines; the boat must be bowsed tight to the ship before hooking on for hoisting.

Release from the falls: release both hooks simultaneously when the boat is waterborne; never release one hook while the other is under load.

Heavy weather helming: in following seas reduce speed and keep the boat on the back of the wave; in head seas reduce speed to avoid slamming.

Broaching risk: a boat running before a heavy sea can broach; use a drogue or sea anchor from the bow to keep the boat stern-to the sea.

Beaching: approach the shore bow-on with the engine tilted up, and abandon the boat only when the boat grounds or the water becomes too shallow.

Free-fall launching: release with the boat's bow raised and the crew braced; after water entry, clear the area quickly and head away from the ship.

Recovery of the boat: hook on only when the boat is directly under the davit falls, with the release gear fully reset and the crew clear of the hooks.

Abandon ship order: only the master can give the order; the signal is verbal plus the general emergency alarm (seven short blasts and one long blast on the whistle).

Muster station: crew proceed with warm clothing, lifejacket, and immersion suit if required; the muster list names each person's boat station and duties.

Abandon ship sequence: launch boats on the lee side, clear the ship's side, and stand off at least 200 m; keep boats together and account for all persons.

Survival at sea priorities: protect against cold, provide drinking water, and maintain morale; water ration is 0.5 litre per person per day until rescue is likely.

Water discipline: do not drink seawater; it increases dehydration; urine and alcohol also worsen dehydration.

Life raft boarding: enter the raft from the ship's side, or swim to it and board over the tube; keep the raft's canopy closed to retain heat.

Lookout and signalling: post a lookout, keep a radio watch on the distress frequency, and use flares, torch, and mirror to attract attention.

Drift and current: a life raft drifts with the current, so keep a sea anchor out to reduce drift and stay near the position reported in the distress message.

Man overboard: shout 'man overboard', release the lifebuoy with light and smoke, mark the position, and manoeuvre the ship to return to the person.

Weekly inspection: check lifeboats and rescue boats, their equipment, and launching appliances; check the engine runs and the boat is ready for immediate use.

Monthly inspection: inspect life-saving appliances including liferafts, lifebuoys, lifejackets, and immersion suits; record the inspection in the logbook.

Quarterly: launch and manoeuvre each lifeboat with its assigned crew; check the release gear operation and the boat's equipment.

Annual: thorough inspection of life-saving appliances by a competent person, including the launching appliance and release gear.

Liferaft servicing: inflatable liferafts must be serviced at intervals not exceeding 12 months at an approved service station; extended intervals up to 30 months may be allowed by the Administration.

Hydrostatic release unit: renew or service at intervals not exceeding 12 months; the unit must be marked with its expiry date.

Drill records: every drill must be recorded in the official logbook with date, time, and details of the drill and the persons involved.

Fire drill and abandon ship drill: each crew member must participate in at least one abandon ship drill and one fire drill every month.

Immersion suit and lifejacket: check for damage, check the whistle and light, and stow in an accessible place; donning must be practised in drills.

Rescue boat crew: minimum of three persons, one of whom is the boat's operator; the operator must be trained and hold a certificate.

Launching the rescue boat: keep the boat ready for immediate launching; the boat must be able to be launched within 5 minutes of the order.

Approaching a person in the water: approach from downwind and downsea, keep the person on the lee side, and stop the engine before recovering the person.

Recovery of an unconscious person: use a rescue sling or basket, secure the person to the boat, and bring them aboard horizontally to avoid cold-water shock.

Man overboard recovery: the ship manoeuvres to bring the person alongside, then the rescue boat is launched if needed; keep visual contact at all times.

Casualty handling: check airway, breathing, and circulation; control bleeding; treat for shock; keep the casualty warm and do not give food or drink.

Stretcher handling: secure the casualty in the stretcher with straps, keep the head slightly raised, and lift with even weight on both ends.

Communication: the rescue boat must maintain radio contact with the ship and report the casualty's condition and position.

Rescue boat equipment: buoyant lifeline, heaving line, torch, first-aid kit, radio, and a means of recovering an unconscious person from the water.

Distress signal: MAYDAY on VHF channel 16 or 2182 kHz; give the vessel's name, position, nature of distress, and number of persons.

EPIRB: float-free, operates on 406 MHz, transmits to the COSPAS-SARSAT system; the beacon must be registered with the national authority.

SART: operates on 9 GHz radar band, shows 12 dots on a rescuing ship's radar, and has a range of about 5 nautical miles.

Two-way VHF radiotelephone: carried in survival craft, operates on channel 16, and has a range of about 5 nautical miles; battery must be checked.

Hand flares: red, burn for at least 1 minute, visible for at least 5 nautical miles; use only when a vessel or aircraft is in sight.

Parachute flares: red, reach at least 300 m, burn for at least 40 seconds, visible for at least 10 nautical miles.

Smoke signals: orange, emit dense smoke for at least 3 minutes, used in daylight to mark position for aircraft.

Sound signals: continuous sounding of the whistle or foghorn, or a rocket, indicates distress; a lifeboat whistle is used for attracting attention.

Signalling mirror: use to reflect the sun toward a vessel or aircraft; sweep the horizon and flash toward the target.

Hypothermia: core temperature below 35 degrees C; symptoms include shivering, confusion, slurred speech, and loss of coordination; severe cases stop shivering.

Hypothermia treatment: remove wet clothing, insulate with blankets, and warm gradually; do not rub the limbs or give alcohol.

Cold water immersion: the first minute causes cold shock with gasping and hyperventilation; the person should float and control breathing before swimming.

Drowning: remove the person from the water, check breathing, and start CPR if not breathing; do not attempt to drain water from the lungs.

CPR: 30 chest compressions to 2 rescue breaths for adults; compression depth 5-6 cm at a rate of 100-120 per minute.

Burns: cool with clean water for at least 10 minutes, cover with a sterile dressing, and do not apply ointments or burst blisters.

Shock: pale, cold, clammy skin, rapid weak pulse, and confusion; lay the casualty flat, keep warm, and raise the legs if injuries allow.

Seasickness: give tablets before the onset; in a life raft, keep the person still and encourage looking at the horizon.

Survivor care: give small amounts of water, keep survivors warm and dry, and monitor for hypothermia and dehydration.