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SOLAS, emergencies and communication

SOLAS, emergencies and communication. Adapted from Skračić ,T., „ Waypoint ”.

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SOLAS, emergencies and communication

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  1. SOLAS, emergenciesandcommunication AdaptedfromSkračić,T., „Waypoint”

  2. Glossary: emergency, mandatoryregulations, non-compliance, fatality, prosecution, fine (n.), jailsentence, maidenvoyage, treaty, life-savingsignals, dangermessage, graveandimminentdanger, distress signal, respond to, forecastupdates, distressflares, red flare, orangesmoke, downwind, red parachuterocket, VHF distressandemergencysignals, urgencycall.

  3. SOLAS stands for Safetyof Life At Sea. The SOLAS Conventioninitssuccessiveformsis generallyregarded as the most importantof all internationaltreatiesconcerningthesafetyofmerchantships. Thefirstversionwasadoptedin 1914 inresponse to thesinkingofthelinerTitanicon her maidenvoyagein April 1912.

  4. Since then there have been a number of SOLASconventions covering many aspects of safety at sea including: • Construction of vessels, machinery and electrical installations • Fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction • Life-saving appliances and arrangements • Radio communications • Safety of navigation including Collision regulations, GMDSS, DSC, and EPIRBsystems • Carriage of cargoes and dangerous goods • Nuclear ships • International Safety Management (ISM) Code • International Ship and Port Facilities Security Code (ISPS Code) • International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL)

  5. Some ofthemandatoryregulations. • Here are some ofthe SOLAS regulationsrelevant to pleasurevesselsunder 150 GT: • Radar reflectors • Ifitis possible to fit a radar reflector on yourboatthenyoushould use one. • Life savingsignals • Anillustrateddiagramdepictingthesesignals must bereadilyavailableon board. Thesignals are to beusedbyanyship or personindistress, whencommunicatingwith SAR units. It is importantthatmariners, whetherengagedincommercial or leisureactivities, are familiarwiththem.

  6. Dangermessages • Allskippershave a duty to reporttothecoastguardanythingthatmightbe a serious hazard to navigation. Examplesofnavigationaldangersincludedangerousobstructions, tornadoes, storms, etc. • Distresssignals • Skippershaveanobligation to respondtodistresssignalsfromanysourceand to assist as besttheycan. Ifthevesselreceivingthedistressalert is unable or, inthespecialcircumstancesofthecase, considersitunreasonable or unnecessary to proceedtotheassistanceofthepersonsindistress, themaster / skipper must informtheappropriatesearchandrescueservice.

  7. Distresssignals – misuse • The use of a signal for anythingotherthananemergencyis prohibited. Distresssignalshave a lifesaving role andshouldnotbemisusedas thiscould put your own or someoneelse's life at risk. • Voyage / Passageplanning • Allmariners are expected to make a carefulassessmentofanyproposedvoyagetakingintoaccount all dangers to navigation, weatherforecasts, tidalpredictionsandotherrelevantfactorsincludingthecompetenceofthecrew (thepassageplanninghasbeendiscussedearlierinthistextbook). • Environment • As far as possible, alwaysavoidanyaction or activitythatmightbeharmfulto theenvironment.

  8. In Great Britain, sailorswhofail to complywiththe SOLAS regulations, mandatory for all leisurecraftusersfrom 1 July 2002, riskprosecutionandfinesofup to ₤5000. Also, ininstanceswhereit is provedthatfatalitieshaveoccurredbecauseofnon-compliance, a jail sentence couldbeimposed.

  9. Calling for assistanceusingflares • There are threemaintypesofdistressflare, all withdifferentignitionsystems. A skippershouldreadtheinstructionsandfamiliarisehimselfwitheachtypeofflarebefore he needs to use theminanemergencyandensurethatthey are in-date – oldflaresbecomeveryunreliable.

  10. - Hand-held red:Theskippershould use itday or nightwhennear to theshore or to assistrescuecraft to seehim. He shouldwearglovesifpossible, hold at arm’s lengthdownwindanddoesn’t look directly at theflare. • - Orange smoke:These are hand-held or buoyanttypes. They are useful to helprescuehelicoptersidentifytheskipper’s positionand to assesswinddirection. • - Red parachuterocket:Itcanbeseen for up to 25 milesingoodvisibility. Itrisesto about300 metres, thenfallsslowlyundertheparachute. Itshouldbefiredvertically or • slightlydownwind. Neverfire a parachuteflareifahelicopter is approaching.

  11. Red flaresandorangesmoke are used to attractattentionincaseofdifficultyandtopinpointyourposition for searchingrescuecraft. White flares are notdistresssignals – theyareonlyusedto warnothersofdangersofcollision. • A tip: It is better to fireflaresin groups oftwo – they are more likely to beseenthansingly. • Flaresshouldbehelddownwindandoutboardsothatanyburningdrossfallsclearoftheboat.

  12. VHF emergencysignals • A distress signal is only to beusedwhenthere is graveandimminentdanger to a vessel or personandimmediateassistance is required. Do nothesitate to send a distress signal ifyourvesselis sinking, ifthere is a firethatyou are unable to put out, ifyou are not sure thatyouwillrecoverthepersonwhofelloverthe side, ifyourengine or steeringgearhasfailedinheavyweather…

  13. Switchon the radio, selectchannel 16, andtransmit on highpower: • 1. Mayday – Mayday – Mayday • 2. This is – Nameofvesselsthreetimes • 3. Mayday – Nameofvesselonce • 4. Giveyourposition • 5. State the nature oftheemergency • 6. Typeofassistancerequired • 7. Giveanyotherhelpfulinformation • 8. Over– endofmessage

  14. Iftheemergencydoesnotwarrant a fullMaydayalert (or ifindoubt) theurgencycallmaybeusedinstead. Send a PanPanalertifyouneedmedicalassistance, ifyouhaveanengine, steering, fire, or some other problem, but there is no imminentdanger to thevesselor people: 1. PanPan– PanPan – PanPan 2. Allstations – Allstations – Allstations 3. Thisis – Nameofvesselthreetimes 4. Giveyourposition 5. State the nature oftheemergency 6. Typeofassistancerequired 7. Over– endofmessage

  15. Otherrecognisedsignals for assistance are: • - SOSin Morse codebylight or sound. • - Letters NCbyflag or Morse code. • - A ballshapedisplayedover or under a squareshape. • - Continuoussoundingoffoghorn.

  16. Safetymessage • A sécuritécall is animportantnavigational or meteorologicalwarning. Ifyou spot a largefloatingobject, anoilspill, anapproaching tornado, a lightbuoythat is not lit, or anythingthat is a threat to safenavigation or environment, transmit a sécuritémessage.

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