Small Vessels
Purpose
- To prepare for, and if necessary, carry out an orderly evacuation
Responsibility
- The Master is responsible for verifying that this procedure is followed.
Procedure
| Step | Abandon Ship |
|---|---|
| 1 | Inform the crew to prepare to abandon ship. |
| 2 | Advise authorities that you are preparing to abandon ship. |
| 3 | Crew advises passengers to gather on main deck, warmly dressed, and put on lifejackets. Keep them as sheltered as possible. Do not allow lifejackets to be worn inside. |
| 4 | Crew checks that all persons on board are accounted for. |
| 5 | Crew readies liferaft for launching and gets medical kit, blankets, food and EPIRB ready to be placed in the liferaft. |
| 6 | Review with crew and passengers how the evacuation will be carried out. Assign able-bodied people to assist elderly, children… |
| 7 | Review cold shock symptoms and how to counteract them. |
| 8 | If the situation deteriorates, call for abandon ship. |
| 9 | Throw liferaft over the side and inflate it, leaving the painter attached to the vessel. |
| 10 | Assist passengers into the liferaft. (Should there be a crewmember in the raft to help them down?) |
| 11 | Keep the liferaft attached to the vessel so long as it is safe to do so. |
| 12 | Cast off if it appears the vessel will sink or capsize, or if staying alongside poses other hazards. |
Version 1.0
Procedure – Abandon Ship
(PDF, 108 KB)