Guiding Principles
- Ensure weekly, monthly, annual, and 5-year maintenance and inspection routines are conducted in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions and SOLAS III/20 (Operational readiness, maintenance, and inspections).
- Check the integrity of structural connections in the weekly/monthly inspections. Report any defects and temporary repairs to Class and Flag.
- Consider additional safety measures such as Fall Preventer Devices.
- Train crew in their abandon ship and rescue boat responsibilities. The time limits set out in SOLAS for ship abandonment should be considered as a secondary objective when conducting drills. Drills must be conducted safely.
- Supervise lifeboat exercises with experienced officers.
- Hold a debrief after each drill and reflect on what went well, and what needs improvement.
- Supplement practical training with Learning Engagement Tools.
- Establish, implement, and audit HSE procedures covering the maintenance and operation of lifeboats and their launching appliances. Ref. ISM Code 7, and ISM Code 10. This includes risk assessment. Ref. ISM Code 1.2.2.
- Hold an abandon ship drill at each Superintendent visit to verify crew readiness and safe working practices.