References: English for Maritime Students; www.google.com
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I. OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:
a. correctly identify emergency situations at sea
b. correctly use message markers
c. make an emergency drill on given situations
II. DISCUSSION
English has been the universal language for all types of transport the world over. But problems do arise when it comes to understanding the language for native non-speakers. The shipping industry is not an exemption to this problem. Almost in every ship, it is often that only the captain and/or one of his officers are fluent in the English language. Thus, a universal coding and decoding system is needed to be applied on different situations.
Legible communication is crucial in every ship’s voyage as it entails the safety of both the passengers and crew on board.
"In times of crisis, it can be a life-saver, that all too many seamen are urgently in need of," says Trenkner, who is based in the German Baltic Sea port of Warnemuende
A. Emergencies at Sea
a. The following are the major types of emergencies on board:
Collisions | Vessel coming into destructive contact, are said to be in collision. |
Stranding | The condition of a vessel that has run on a strand or a beach. |
Grounding | The condition when a vessel touches the bottom. |
Main Engine Failure | Breakdown in operation of the main engine. |
Fire and/or Explosion | These can be caused by failure or faulty operation of equipment, by self-ignition caused by carelessness with open fire or smoking in a non-smoking area. |
Foundering | Vessel is in danger of sinking. |
b. The minor types are:
1. Flooding
2. Listing
3. Capsizing
4. Man overboard
5. Gas leakage
6. Oil spill
7. Electrical accident
8. Accident in an enclosed place
B. Emergency Response Procedures
a. Instructions to follow during emergency situations are:
1. Immediately upon boarding the vessel, each person should familiarize himself with his assigned location in the event of an emergency.
2. All crew members should be thoroughly familiar with the duties they are assigned to perform in the event of an emergency.
3. All persons should participate in emergency drills and should be properly dressed including a properly donned life preserver or exposure suit.
4. In all passenger-carrying vessels, the Steward Department shall be responsible for warning passengers, seeing that passengers are properly dressed and have correctly donned their life preservers or exposure suits, assembling and directing passenger movement and ensuring that a supply of blankets be taken to the lifeboats.
5. The proper chain of command is indicated by the sequential numbers assigned to each department. Should a key person become disabled the next senior member of that department must take over the disabled person’s place.
6. The Chief Mate should be responsible for the maintenance and readiness of life saving and fire fighting appliances and equipment above the main deck. The First Assistant Engineer must be responsible for the maintenance and readiness of all lifesaving and firefighting appliances and equipment on the main deck and below.
b. Response procedures to specific emergency situations are as follows:
Fire or Explosion | a. Barricade the scene and keep passengers away from it and from disaster team working and fighting the fire b. Don’t open the hot doors. All automatic door shutters will activate. |
Collision | a. Don’t attempt to rush outside as the impact might throw you out or bump on sailings and bulkheads. b. Stay in your cabin and wait for instructions from the wheelhouse coming out in your loudspeaker or loud hailer in the corridor. |
Sinking or Listing | a. Once trapped inside, call for help. b. Don’t open portholes as water will enter through, filling up your room and downing you. c. Wear lifejacket. d. Proceed to lifeboat station with care. e. Board lifeboat upon instruction. f. Stay calm and watch your step. g. Don’t jump or push other people. |
Grounding | a. Hold on to railings or on secured tables. b. Brace yourself for any explosion that might follow when ship hits bottom. c. Don’t rush outside’ wait for instructions. |
Abandon Ship | a. Upon hearing the announcement through loud hailer to abandon ship, listen carefully to instructions for lifeboat assignments of passengers by station bill notice. b. Follow markings for passenger exit points. These marks are illuminated and have light indicators. c. When the main electrical power goes out, the emergency electrical source will automatically activate to give lights along the corridors and exit points. Always exit up. d. Wear your lifejacket. e. Embark on lifeboats in an orderly manner. All persons/passengers occupying cabins at the portside are assigned to embark on lifeboats at the portside. Those occupying cabins at the starboard side should embark on lifeboats at the starboard side. |
Emergency of unknown nature | a. Upon hearing emergency alarms, stay calm. Don’t panic. b. Wait for instructions. c. Follow instructions carefully. |
There should always be a control team on board to response to any of these types of emergencies that would consist of:
1. Medical team
- Provides first aid kit, blanket, warm water, stretchers and prepares to assist injured persons.
2. Disaster Brigade Team
- Assesses the situation, draws action plan, musters personnel and displays brigade members.
3. Casualty Reporting Team
- Responsible for head counts, burial at sea, preservation of expired bodies and submission of marine protest to port authorities.
C. Message Markers
To ensure that messages transmitted and received are accurate, additional measures are taken like the use of message markers. This helps a lot in ensuring the safety of the passengers and crew on board especially on emergencies.
External communication messages may be preceded by the following message markers:
ADVICE indicates that the following message implies the intention of the sender to influence the recipient/s by a recommendation.
Example:
ADVICE: Keep your present course.
ANSWER indicates that the following message is the reply to a previous question
Example:
ANSWER: My position is degrees 36 minutes north 64 degrees 31 minutes west.
INFORMATION indicates that the following message is restricted to observed facts
Example:
INFORMATION: The pilot service is suspended.
INSTRUCTION indicates that the following message implies the intention of the sender to influence the recipient/s by regulation
Example:
INSTRUCTION: Reduce speed before waypoint number three.
INTENTION indicates that the following message informs others about immediate navigational actions intended to be taken
Example:
INTENTION: I intend to reduce speed.
QUESTION indicates that the following message is of interrogative character
Example:
QUESTION: What is your position?
REQUEST indicates that the contents of the following message are asking for action from others with respect to the ship
Example:
REQUEST: Please deliver the stores before time: one four three zero local.
WARNING indicates that the following message informs other specific participants about dangers
Example:
WARNING: The icebreaker is aground.
D. Survival At Sea
In an uneventful occurrence of a disaster, every passenger and crew should be equipped and ready. Survival at sea is a difficult task to carry more so if one is devoid of the necessities. If the situation requires abandoning the ship and time allows, everyone should be provided additional safety items as follows:
a. Emergency transmitter, emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB)
b. Search and Rescue Radar Transponder (SART)
c. Additional water supplies and food
d. Spare blankets
e. Lifebelts and additional lifejackets
f. Medical supplies
Once embarked on the survival craft, everyone must be seated and strapped into position. Everybody must be alert and vigilant, and unless one has something significant and relevant to share, must keep quiet to avoid commotion. A survival craft should have the following items and equipment:
a. Rescue line – one buoyant orange rescue quoit, attached to 100 feet of buoyant orange line which is stored in a convenient place and ready for immediate use.
b. Knife – rafts which are to accommodate not more than 12 persons are supplied with one knife, stowed in a convenient place and ready for immediate use. Raft fits to accommodate 13 or more persons are supplied with two knives.
c. Bailer – this may be made of plastic and rigid material and is collapsible. One bailer will be supplied in rafts of up to 12 persons, and two bailers in rafts for 13 or more persons.
d. Sponges – two sponges, which are sometimes compressed and look like pieces of hardboard, however, on soaking they become good sponges. Sponges are supplied for mopping up purposes.
e. Sea anchor – two sea anchors, one permanently attached to the raft, stowed near the opening and ready for immediate use, another spare one stowed in the kit. Sea anchors are made of nylon cloth, look somewhat like parachutes, and are provided with a tow line of 30 feet long and a swivel. Tripping lines are not provided. When using two sea anchors, stream them on different lengths of line to avoid fouling.
f. Repair Outfit – comprising of a number of composition plugs, which are used temporarily to plug small tears and rubber patching and solutions, so that the raft may be repaired in the same manner as the inner tube of a tire. Full instructions are contained in the outfit. (Repair outfits are not required to be included in rigid rafts). When plugging a leak, use the smallest suitable plug and do not screw it in too tightly for it may tear the fabric.
g. Plump or Bellows – three safety tin openers for use in opening the water tins.
h. First Aid Outfit – includes Omnopon, and a set of instructions in a waterproof case.
i. Drinking Vessel – rustproof and graduated in ½, 1 and 2 ozs.
j. Electric Torch – waterproof and suitable for signaling, complete with one spare set of batteries and a spare bulb, in waterproof container.
k. Daylight Signaling Mirror – as required in a lifeboat.
l. Paddles – two buoyant paddles.
m. Pyrotechnics – two parachute distress rocket signals, and six handheld distress flares, similar to those contained to be sufficiently visible from the air without additional smoke signals.
n. Fishing Lines and Six Hooks
o. Rescue Signal Table
p. Instruction Manual on “How To Survive” printed in English
q. Anti-seasickness Tablets – six per person the raft is deemed to accommodate.
r. Radio Equipment – requirements for life rafts are the same for lifeboats per 1988 Amendments to SOLAS.
s. Heliograph
t. Fishing tackle
u. Food and water rations
v. Thermal protective aid
III. EXERCISES
A. Write the suitable message marker on the blank before each sentence:
1. _______________ : Proceed to the nearest safe anchorage.
2. _______________ : The visibility is very poor.
3. _______________ : What is the depth in the other fairway?
4. _______________ : Please permit me to enter the restricted zone.
5. _______________ : Stop immediately.
6. _______________ : The ship ahead of you is not under command.
7. _______________ : I do not intend to sail today.
8. _______________ : Keep clear for five minutes.
9. _______________ : What is my berth number?
10. ______________ : Please arrange the documents before I arrive.
B. Circle the word or expression that best fits the type of obligation expressed in the sentence:
1. All regulations concerning the ship’s routine (could, may, will) be observed at all times.
2. Passengers (should, may, could) be taught how to act in cases of emergencies.
3. You (must, will, may) inform the officer if you cannot attend the meeting.
4. The doctor (may, could, ought to) treat the casualties.
5. The work (may, should, will) be finished by 1500 hours.
6. You (had better, should, would) not touch the electric wire.
7. Tools (may, would, should) not be left lying about.
8. You (are to, can, may) answer all questions.
9. Doors (must, may, could) be kept closed.
10. You (had better, are to, would) see the doctor before it’s too late.
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