VESSEL SAFETY & FITNESS

SAR Crew Manual Chapter 3

Introduction

Vessel Fitness and Safety

• The rescue vessel and crew shall be kept in a full state of readiness by:

1. Regular inspection and thorough periodic surveys

2. Preventive maintenance and timely repair

3. On board emergency drills

4. Navigation and boat handling training

5. Search and rescue training

Search and Rescue Cycle

1. Alert, and safely proceed to vessel

2. Crew dons gear and performs personal equipment check

3. Crew performs pre departure check

4. Pre-departure briefing

5. Vessel departs

6. Vessel safely navigates to scene

7. Vessel resolves or stabilises incident

Search and Rescue Cycle

8. Vessel returns to base

9. Crew de-briefs

10. Check vessel, and prepare for next mission with refuelling, restocking and repairs

Briefing

Briefing

On being alerted the coxswain will telephone Joint Rescue Coordination Centre to be briefed on the mission, and initial action plan.

Briefing

• In briefing the crew, the coxswain should use:

1. Situation

2. Mission

3. Execution

4. Administration - any questions?

5. Communications - check understanding

Situation

• Nature of the distress• Where the report came from• What sort of vessel and description• Number of persons, appearance and dress• PFDs

Mission

• Position or area of mission• Action to be taken (search, rescue, recover)

Execution

• Assignment of roles of crew• Estimated time of arrival on scene• Decide on route• Any other rescue resources involved• Preparations en route

Administration

• Estimated duration of incident• Will a relief crew be required• Will refuelling be required• Weather information and forecast• Tides• Any special equipment needed• Telephone numbers available• Log Books

Communications

• Call signs of other rescue resources• Working VHF frequencies• Situation Report (SITREP) times• Radio checks• Contact telephone numbers

Briefing of Passengers• Should it be necessary to carry non CCGA P

personnel to an incident, they must be properly outfitted, and given a PFD.

Briefing of Passengers

• They must be briefed with regards to:

1. Flares and emergency equipment

2. Their physical position in the boat and the need to to be holding on securely at all times when underway

3. Keep arms and legs inboard at all times

4. Warn of physical effects

5. What their duty is in an emergency on the rescue vessel

Pre Departure Check

Pre Departure Check

• Regular inspections of the vessel ensures that the pre departure check holds no surprises.

• It primarily involves a check of the critical systems on board

Pre Departure Check 1

• Kill switch operation• Personal protective equipment being worn• Tubes properly inflated• Fuel and oils levels topped up• Navigation, illumination and instrumentation

lights operational• Searchlights operational • Bilges dry and pump operational

Pre Departure Check 2

• Self bailing ports, scuppers and freeing ports clear

• SAR equipment ready• Safety equipment ready• Navigational systems set up and operational• Machinery and steering operational• Tools and spares• Rigging tight

Pre Departure Check 3

• Self righting equipment connected and ready• Communications operational• Weather forecast and tide conditions known

Emergencies

Emergencies

• All volunteers must be ready for emergencies which could occur to their own vessel at any time.

• There must preplanned responses to foreseeable emergencies that may occur.

Emergencies• These will include:

1. Man overboard

2. Grounding

3. Flooding, capsize or sinking - crew in water survival

4. Collision

5. Fire - machinery or electrical

6. Machinery or steering failure

7. Failure of navigational equipment

Man Overboard

1. Spotter to keep sight of person in water, and indicate when they can see that person by waving their arm in the person’s direction.

2. If they lose sight, arm to stay pointing but not waving.

3. Head into the wind

4. Conduct SAP

Man Overboard

5. Decide on recovery method and set up.

6. Run in slowly, turn across wind, downwind of the person in the water, and put engines in neutral for final approach.

7. Bring person in on upwind side of vessel.

8. Best method for anyone who has been in the water for any time is “parbuckling”.

Man Overboard

Man Overboard

• On recovering the person from the water, they should be treated for hypothermia.

• Severely hypothermic persons are to be treated as stretcher patients even if they are able to walk.

• Insulate against further heat loss.• Apply heat to the body core. Use a heat treat

unit to inject warm air through a face mask if available.

Man Overboard

• Do not over stimulate the cold limbs, as the return of cold blood to the heart, will cause greater distress to the heart.

• Get to medical attention as soon as possible.• If a casualty appears to have succumbed,

continue to give cardio-pulmonary resusitation and continue warming the body core.

Capsize

• In the event of the rescue vessel being swamped or capsized, the crew must be clear as to the procedures that are to be followed for that type of vessel

• Capsize or swamping is most likely to happen with the seas from astern or large breakers on the beam.

• The safest way to point the boat in heavy seas is with the bow into the seas.

Capsize

Capsize

• Some RHIBs are equipped with self righting gear - know how to operate yours.

Capsize

1. Assemble crew at transom.

Capsize2. Deploys safety line, crew to end of line

coxswain stay at transom.

Capsize

• 3. Coxswain activates righting system by pulling firmly on handle, and then moves away on safety line.

Capsize

4. The boat should right in less than 10 seconds.

Capsize

5. After righting the crew can reboard the vessel on the windward side.

Cold Water Survival

• If you vessel is not self-righting or fails to right, and you are not in danger, stay with the boat.

• Get anyone who is trapped under the boat out from underneath.

• Collect all distress flares and EPIRB. Activate the EPIRB.

Cold Water Survival

• See separate power point on Cold Water Survival

Fire Fighting

Fire Fighting

• The crew of rescue vessels need to be ready to deal with a fire on one of their vessels at any time.

Fire Fighting

• A fire needs to have four elements to burn.

1. Fuel

2. Heat

3. Oxygen

4. A chain reaction• Remove any of these and the fire will go out.

Fire Fighting

Fire Fighting

• Remove the fuel

Pull out the burning wood

Remove adjacent fuel sources

Cut off fuel supply (e.g liquids or gases)

Fire Fighting

• Remove the oxygen

Smother the flames using an appropriate extinguisher or fire blanket

Prevent oxygen getting to the fire - put a lid on and close ventilators

Fire Fighting

• Remove the heat• Cool the heat source

• Break the Chain Reaction• Use dry chemical or halon fire extinguishing

media that attach the chemical structure of the components of fire

Fire Fighting

• Response time is critical and there will be no time at an emergency to read the instructions on a fire extinguisher to see how best to use it.

• DO IT NOW

Fire Fighting

• When a fire is discovered, the following applies:

FIND Where is the fire and how big

INFORM Tell everyone on board and make distress call

RESTRICT Close off air supply, electrical supply, gas lines EXTINGUISH Put out fire with appropriate equipment or

extinguishing agent

Fire Fighting

• The de-watering pump is available on most SAR vessel.

Fire Fighting

• Fire extinguishers are the prefered fire extinguishing medium on CCGA P Vessels.

• Generally there are two types:

1. Carbon Dioxide

2. Dry Powder

Fire Fighting - CO2

• Carbon dioxide extinguishers push a stream of carbon dioxide gas under pressure out of the nozzle.

• The idea is to place a blanket of the gas over the top of the fuel to prevent the oxygen getting to the fire.

• In small vessels the wind is likely to disperse the gas to quickly unless it is in a confined space.

Fire Fighting - CO2

Fire Fighting - Dry Powder

• These extinguishers may be rated ABC or BC (A = wood, B = flammable liquids or gases, C = electrical fires) and for rescue vessels come in 5 lb. or 10 lb.

• Generally the seal should be broken, the safety pin removed, turn upside down and give a brief shake (the powder can compact with the vibrations from the vessel), and then direct the stream at the base of the fire, using a sweeping motion.

Fire Fighting - Dry Powder

Distress

Distress

• These are laid down in the International Reulations for Preventing Collision at Sea 1972

• There is a separate powerpoint just on Distress Signals.

Vessel Inspection

Vessel Inspection

• Regular inspections must be carried out to ensure the rescue vessel, its machinery, electrical equipment, and loose equipment are all operational.

• This is to ensure the safety of the crew manning it, and the best chance of a timely response to a vessel or persons in distress.

Vessel Inspection 1

• This inspection will include:

Hull and superstructure

Lines and Rails

Mast & Equipment

Anchor and fittings

Moorings

Hull spaces

Vessel Inspection 2

• This inspection will include:

Navigation lights

Searchlights fixed and portable

Instrument lights

Air horn

Loud hailer

Vessel Inspection 3

• This inspection will include:Lifejackets/ PFDs

Fire extinguishers

Distress and illumination flares

Anchor and line made fast to vessel/ Drogue

EPIRB

De watering Pump

Heaving line

‘First Aid Equipment

Vessel Inspection 4

• This inspection will include:

Power

GPS / Chart Plotter / Radar / Depth Sounder

Radio Direction Finder

Fixed and Portable VHFs / cell phone

Vessel Inspection 5

• This inspection will include:

Engine hours

Engines and starting system

State of the bilges

Oil levels and Fuel Levels

Steering mechanism

Bilge pumps and hoses

Vessel Systems Maintenance

Inboard Engines

Vessel Systems MaintenanceInboard Engines

• Gasoline vapours are highly explosive, so that smell should trigger extreme caution.

• Inboard engines and their machinery spaces must be kept clean, tidy and be regularly inspected and maintained as required.

• The origin of any water in the bilge must be tracked.

Vessel Systems Maintenance Inboard Engines

• Check for :

1. water contamination of fuel

2. state of filters

3. ignition system and plugs

4. state of lubrication

5. cooling systems

6. leaks from stuffing box (propeller shaft exit to hull)

Vessel Systems Maintenance

Outboard Engines

Vessel Systems Maintenance - Outboard Engines

• Outboard engines have the same needs as an inboard engine:

1. Fuel

2. Lubrication

3. Ignition

4. Cooling

5. Cleanliness

Vessel Systems Maintenance - Outboard Engines

Vessel Systems Maintenance -Outboard Engines

• Follow the maintenance regime in the Owner Manual supplied with your motors.

Vessel Electrical Systems

Vessel Electrical Systems

• The vessel’s electrical system generally consists of a battery, an engine charging system, the electric starter motor, and switches.

Vessel Electrical Systems

• Electrical problems stem from:

1. Loose fittings

2. Broken connections

3. Corrosion

4. Low battery voltage

Battery Care• The battery must be covered and properly

secured.

1. Do not allow a lead acid battery fully run down. This will degrade it.

2. Provide plenty of air circulation to allow venting off hydrogen gas.

3. Maintain electrolyte levels.

4. Do not overcharge too fast or too long.

5. Keep the battery, tray and terminals clean.

Trouble-Shooting

Trouble-Shooting 1

• Motor won’t start

1. Check fuel level

2. Check fuel line connected, fuel filters and screen

3. Check spark plug wires connected

4. Check throttle is in neutral

5. Kill switch is not activated

Trouble-Shooting 2• Motor hard to start

1. Check fuel level

2. Fuel tank vent is closed

3. Fuel line pinched or needs to be primed

4. Choke malfunction

5. Water or dirt in fuel

6. Loose spark plug wire

7. Dirty or improperly gapped spark plug

Trouble-Shooting 3

• Motor runs rough

1. Water or dirt in fuel

2. Loose spark plug wire

3. Dirty or improperly gapped spark plug

4. Carburetor idle - needle needs adjustment

Trouble-Shooting 4

• Motor suffers loss of power

1. Propeller fouled

2. Not in gear

3. Sheer pin broken on propeller

4. Spun propeller hub

Trouble-Shooting 5

• Motor suffers from vibration

1. Loose mounting clamps

2. Bent propeller

Trouble-Shooting 6

• Motor stops

1. Fuel supply

2. No oil in fuel (for 2 strokes)

3. Loose spark plug wire

4. Water intake blocked or ineffective water pump

5. Kill switch

Fuel

Fuel

• Rescue vessels should aim to keep their fuel tanks as full as possible at all times, so that their range and endurance is maximised during a call.

• The fuel consumption rate should be known by all crew on board.

Fuel• Example

Cruising RPM 2200

Approximate speed at 2200 RPM 20 knots

Fuel consumption at 2200 RPM 50 litres per hour

Fuel Capacity 1000 litres

Maximum hours at 2200 RPM = 1000/50 = 20 hours

20 hours at 20 knots = 400 nm

Basic operating range (safety margin 20%) = 320 nm

Safe Fuelling Practices 1

1. Vessel properly berthed and secured

2. Engines turned off, power off, no open flames

3. Portable tanks moved ashore

4. Non fuelling crew ashore

5. Fire extinguishers ready

6. Close doors and windows

7. Plugs scuppers and anti pollution gear ready

8. Ground nozzle

Safe Fuelling Practices 2

9. Use correct type and grade of fuel (and oil)

10. Fuel slowly when tank is coming to full, and avoid overfilling, - allow for expansion

11. Wipe up spillage

12. Check for vapours or odours

13. Operate bilge blower 2 to 4 minutes before starting