Ship Safety Bulletins (SSB)
Date (Y-M-D): 1990-11-02
Subject: Ship-To-Ship Personnel Transfers
Immersion suits have, on occasion, been used to effect direct personnel transfer from vessel to vessel.
The transfers in question have been carried out by putting a person in an immersion suit, and then pulling the person through the water to the other vessel by messenger line. Some crew members being transferred by this method have had the frightening experience of being rotated face down by the tow and suffering breaking seas over the head.
Masters are reminded that immersion suits are carried for emergency evacuation purposes, and that they should only be used for direct vessel to vessel transfers in emergency cases. Should the master decide that the transfer is an emergency, use should only be made of the immersion suit when that method of transfer is in his opinion clearly and unquestionably the safest method of transfer.
Keywords: Questions concerning this bulletin should be addressed to:
2. Personnel Transfer
Marine Safety
Tower C, Place de Ville
11th Floor, 330 Sparks Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N8
To add or change your address, contact us at: marinesafety@tc.gc.ca
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