The Merchant Shipping (Musters, Training and Decision Support Systems) Regulations 1999

Abandon ship drills

10.—(1) Each abandon ship drill required by these Regulations shall include–

(a) summoning passengers and crew to assembly or muster stations (as appropriate) with the general emergency alarm signal followed by drill announcement on the public address system or other equivalent communication system and ensuring that they are made aware of the order to abandon ship specified in the muster list;

(b) reporting to stations and preparing for the duties described in the muster list;

(c) checking that passengers and crew are suitably dressed;

(d) checking that lifejackets are correctly donned;

(e) where practicable, lowering of at least one lifeboat after any necessary preparation for launching;

(f) starting and operating each lifeboat engine;

(g) operation of davits used for launching liferafts;

(h) a mock search and rescue of passengers trapped in their staterooms; and

(i) instruction in the use of radio life-saving appliances.

(2) Different lifeboats shall, as far as practicable, be lowered in compliance with the requirements of paragraph (1)(e) at successive abandon ship drills.

(3) An abandon ship drill shall, as far as practicable, be conducted as if there were an actual emergency.

(4) Subject to paragraph (5) below, each lifeboat shall be launched with its assigned operating crew aboard and manoeuvred in the water at least once every 3 months during an abandon ship drill.

(5) If the berthing arrangements in port and the trading patterns of a ship operating on short international voyages make the launching of lifeboats as required by paragraph (4) above on one side impracticable then launching of lifeboats on that side shall not be required.

(6) All such lifeboats as are referred to in paragraph (5) above shall be lowered at least once every 3 months and launched at least annually.

(7) Subject to paragraph (8) below, where carried, rescue boats, other than lifeboats which are also rescue boats, shall be launched with their assigned crew aboard and manoeuvred in the water–

(a) as far as practicable, each month; and

(b) in any event, at least once every 3 months.

(8) A lifeboat arranged for free-fall launching may be lowered into the water if–

(i) free-fall launching is impracticable; and

(ii) subject to paragraph (9) below, the lifeboat is free-fall launched with its assigned operating crew aboard and manoeuvred in the water at least once every 6 months.

(9) If it is impracticable to free-fall launch a lifeboat within a period of 6 months, the Secretary of State, on the owner’s application, may, subject to paragraph (10) below, approve an extension of the period to 12 months.

(10) Without prejudice to any other conditions the Secretary of State may impose, an approval pursuant to paragraph (9) above shall be on condition that the lifeboat in respect of which it is given shall be subjected to simulated launchings at intervals not exceeding 6 months.

(11) On a ship fitted with a Marine Evacuation System (“the system”), the drills required by this regulation shall include exercising of the procedures required for the deployment of the system up to the point immediately preceeding its actual deployment.

(12) The exercising of the system required by paragraph (11) above shall be augmented by–

(a) regular instruction of the crew using the on-board training aids carried pursuant to regulation 54(3) or 75(3) of the 1999 Regulations; and

(b) training of each system party member, as far as practicable, by participation in a full deployment of a similar system into water, either on-board a ship or ashore, at intervals not exceeding 2 years or, if this is impracticable, not exceeding 3 years.

(13) The training required by paragraph (12)(b) above may be carried out in association with the rotational deployments required by regulation 84(8) of the 1999 Regulations.

(14) If lifeboat and rescue boat launching drills are carried out with the ship making headway or anchored or moored in a tideway or current such drills shall, because of the dangers involved, be practised in sheltered waters only under the supervision of an officer experienced in such drills, and in accordance with the guidance specified in Merchant Shipping Notice No. MSN 1722 (M & F).

(15) Emergency lighting for mustering and abandonment shall be tested at each abandon ship drill.