Personal Survival

Techniques

IMO Module 1.19

1
 Timetable
10 13
DAY PERIOD 1 h
PERIOD 2 PERIOD 3 h
PERIOD 4
00 00

1. INTRODUCTION 2. EVACUATION 3. SURVIVAL CRAFTS & 5. SURVIVAL AT

1 - guidance +
B - Video RESCUE BOATS ( Cont )
L SEA
Video - R -Abandon Ship -Life Raft Launching U -Dangers to a
Definition of survival -Extra Supplies -Life Raft Righting survivor
- Principles of survival E -Water Entry Procedure -Hydrostatic Release Unit N -Hypothermia
- Survival requirements -Actions in the water -Initial Actions Upon -Survival time table
- Definition of crafts and
A -Preventing Panic Boarding
C 6.USE OF THE
lifesaving appliances K -Crew Duties in Launching -Life Raft Equipment H EQUIPMENT-
- SOLAS training crafts -Pyrotechnics PRACTICAL
manual -Duties of Coxwains -Rescue Boat DEMONSTRATION
- Emergency situations -The order to abandon ship
& Precautions 4. PERSONAL LIFESAVING 7.EMERGENCY
- Crew expertise & 3. SURVIVAL CRAFTS & APPLIANCES RADIO
Priorities RESCUE BOATS -Lifebuoy EQUIPMENT
- Safety Drills - Video -Life Jacket -Radios
- Muster list -Life Boats (Types) -Immersion Suit -EPIRB
- Escape routes & -Life Rafts -Thermal Protective Aid -SART
Alarms 8. HELICOPTER
ASSISTANCE

9. PRACTICAL 9. PRACTICAL 10. DEBRIEF AND

2 - Donning immersion
B -Actions in the water THEORETICAL
L
suits R -Surface swimming ASSESSMENT U
- Donning lifejackets -Boarding of life raft
- Abandon ship by water E -Actions within the raft N
entry method
A C 2
K H
 Session 1

INTRODUCTION TO SAFETY
&
SURVIVAL

3
 Guidance
 This course consists of theory and practical work.

 At the end of the course you will be assessed both

theoretically as well as practically. This book is your own
property and you are therefore allowed to make notes as the
course progresses.

 Please follow all safety guidance and rules and take care in all
you do especially during practical drills.

 Practical assessment takes place which often leads to

excitement, hence the importance of doing things by order
4
and supervision of the Instructor.
 Survival

What is Survival?
It is the ability to stay alive when
threatened by adverse circumstances

Equipment, Knowledge, Skills and

Attitudes 5
 Principles of Survival at sea

When there is no alternative but to abandon ship

REMEMBER- the ship is your best shelter.
So prevention is always better than cure. 6
 The 4 Principles Of Survival
 In any disaster prioritize the following:

Protection

Location

Water

Food 7
 Protection
 As quickly as possible, protect yourself and your fellow.
 survivors from harsh environment.
 Keep warm.

8
 Location

 Let the world know about your situation.

 Use any available equipment (radios, rockets, lights,
EPIRBs, SART, etc) as appropriate to alert rescuing
services

9
 Water
 In the 24 hours it should NOT be necessary to take any
water except for sick, dehydrated or injured persons.
 When possible try to (bring aboard survival craft) or collect
as much rainwater as possible.

10
 Food
 As for water NO food is to be consumed within 24
hours.
 Any protein (fish, bird flesh, etc.) will require
further fluid.
 Therefore DO NOT eat this type of food unless
fresh water is plentiful.
 Rather take carbohydrates (e.g. glucose).

11
 Survival Requirements

Equipment

The will to
Knowledge
live
12
 Definition, survival craft and
appliances

 The ship itself is the primary means of safety.

 The lifesaving system is intended to provide a secondary

means of safety in case of abandonment until rescues arrives

 Survival crafts: are craft capable of sustaining the lives of

persons in distress from the time of abandoning the ship.

13
 Survival Craft

Life raft
Life boat

14
 Lifesaving appliances
 Survival equipment

 TPA

 Line throwing apparatus

 Hand-held radio

 EPIRB

 SART

 Pyrotechnics 15
 Lifesaving appliances

Flotation Aids

 Lifejacket

 Lifebuoy

 Immersion suit

16
 SOLAS Training manual

 The manual gives all members of the

crew vital information on the types
of lifesaving equipment –
use, location, etc.

 Muster and Emergency

Instructions.

17
Emergencies situations-
Fire
Collision
Foundering
Grounding
18
MOB
 Precautions

Collision
Bad visibility- Keep a better lookout.
Depending on the severity of collision, it may be necessary to
abandon ship almost immediately.
Thus the importance of knowing the location of your life
saving appliances, such as life jackets, EPIRBs etc.

19
 Precautions
Fire
 Easy to prevent by good housekeeping. Careless smoking,
oil soaked rags, inflammable goods such as paraffin and
paint being incorrectly stowed.

 Most of the fire can be contained and extinguished by crew

having a thorough knowledge of use of FFA and their
location, e.g. fire extinguishers, fix installation, fire hoses,
etc.

20
 Precautions
Foundering
 Overloading, insufficient stability, broaching (beam on to
swell) – Good loading, knowledge of how to increase
stability and how to keep a vessel head to sea.
 The importance of a hydrostatic release, in case a vessel
sinks prior to life raft being launched.

21
 Precautions
Grounding
 Can be prevented by the use of an anchor.
 If it’s inevitable, remember that the coastline is very
inhospitable and survival is still a very important issue.
 Finally, abandoning the ship is a last resort.

22
 Precautions

MOB
 Be careful when the net is being launched.
 Maintain good housekeeping.
 When working on deck or areas where there is a possibility
of falling overboard, don means of floatation.

23
 Crew expertise

 The effectiveness of the safety equipment provided depends

largely on the expertise of the personnel operating it.

 This can only be achieved by onboard training and training

courses like this.

24
 The priorities during an
emergency are:

 Save Lives and Avoid injuries

 People are the most important asset
 Save the structure or vessel
 It is your safest haven! You do not want to leave
it unless you have to.

25
 Emergency

INITIAL
EMERGENCY
ACTIONS

3. Send
1. Sound the 2. Muster all
distress
alarm personnel
signal
26
 Actions to take on discovering

MOB
 The person sighting the accident should raise the alarm by
shouting or other means

 A lifebuoy with a smoke floating or light should be released

as quickly as possible.

 The bridge must be informed in order for recovery methods

and efforts to be established and implemented quickly and
safely. Keep eyes on the man in the water at all times.
27
 Action to take on discovering
potential emergency
Foundering

-Alarm will be activated-

28
 Individual actions to take upon
discovering an emergency
Warm
Clothing

Lifejacket Immersion suit

29
Remain calm and controlled
Muster station

30
 Safety drills
The successful control of any emergency is possible
only with a well trained crew that means safety
drills must be carried out at predetermined regular intervals.
Only drills guarantee that everybody on board:

Becomes familiar with their task and is capable

of performing their pre-assigned emergency duties
under pressure.

Is able to handle or use the safety equipment

Learns to act in different situation of danger.

31
-PRACTICE-
 Drills
All crew members shall participate in at least one
abandon ship drill and one fire drill every month
The drills shall take place within 24 h after leaving port if
there was more than 25% crew change
On passenger ships an abandon ship drill takes place
weekly.

32
 Muster list
The duties and responsibilities of each crew
member in an emergency. Contains: -Their
muster station, Details of the alarms and Actions
to be taken on hearing them.

33
 Muster list
 Muster list to be prepared before a ship puts to sea.

 Muster list must be amended accordingly if any changes in

the crew, equipment or procedures.

 Must give clear instruction to be follow in the event of

emergency.

 To be displayed in conspicuous places like bridge, engine,

mess room and crew accommodation
34
 Some of the assigned duties of
the crew may include:
Closing of fire/water tight doors,
scuttles etc.
Equipping the survival craft
Preparing and launching survival
craft
Preparation of other life saving
appliances
Manning of fire parties
Special duties relating to fire fighting
equipment and installations
35
Knowledge of escape routes

36
 Alarms & Signals

General Alarm

Seven or more short rings followed by

One long ring

37
 Alarms & Signals

Man
Overboard

Three continuous long rings

38
 Alarms & Signals

Fire
Alarm

Continuous short rings

39
 Alarms & Signals

Abandon ship

One long ring

40
The order to abandon ship.
Verbal command by the Captain
Wait for the order

41
 Session 2

EVACUATION

42
-Abandoning ship-last resort-

43
 Abandon Ship

 Preparation of survival craft

> Designated crew prepare survival crafts.
> Collect:
■ Life jackets ■ SART
■ EPIRBs ■ Portable Radio
■ Pyrotechnics ■ Blankets
■ Food ■ Water
Plus any other vital supplies as the vessel (crew)
may deem necessary.
44
 Boarding the Liferaft

Always board dry if possible

Jump into the entrance, never on top
Don’t jump from more than 2 metre
If you are in the water swim to the
raft ASAP
Get hold of the raft and don’t let go
Use the boarding ladder and
handholds

Assist each other!

45
 Abandon Ship
 DO NOT JUMP INTO THE WATER UNLESS
ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY

If you have to jump into the water ensure the

following:
 Nose is pinched
 Arms are covered over chest
(lifejacket)
 Feet are kept together
 Area below is clear of
obstructions
46
Entering the water from a height

47
Actions in the water

48
Actions in the water

49
 Need to prevent panic

 Panic is caused by uncontrolled fear.

 Everyone on board must know where to go and what to do
during an emergency.
 Do drills which will instill confidence, and which is most
important in avoiding Panic.
 Take drills seriously.
 Help each others
 Reassure them that everything
is going well, even when the
situation may appear difficult. 50
 Crew duties in launching
Survival craft

A sufficient number of crew members, who may be

deck officers or certificated person, are required for
the operation of SC and implementation of
launching arrangements for an abandonment.

The person in charge of a SC shall have a list of the

survival craft crew, and ensure that they are familiar
with their duties.

51
 Responsibilities of coxswains
when abandoning ship

 Check that all persons are wearing lifejacket.

 Ensure that all persons are correctly attired,
preferably with warm clothing.
 Inspect the craft prior to embarking personnel.
 Pass all orders in a loud clear voice to ensure the
safe launch and handling of the craft.
 Once ready, you check over-side for debris or
other survivors, carry out an orderly and safe
launching and take the craft clear from the side
and into an area of comparative safety.
52
 Master’s orders to
Abandon ship

Abandonment should be a conscious

decision of the Master or person in charge,
made after reasonable assessment of the
situation and in accord with a pre-
determined plan

Remember!

-Verbal command by the Captain-

53
 Session 3

Survival Craft and Rescue

boats

54
 Survival Craft

-Seafarers should be knowledgeable about

survival craft, of whatever type.
Information regarding equipment and it’s use
is therefore essential in order for “boat
familiarity” to become second nature to the
experienced seafarer-

55
 Life Boat Types

Open life boat Totally enclosed

Free fall Partially enclosed56

 Life boat

 Life boat are survival craft constructed with a rigid hull.

 Ample stability in a seaway and sufficient freeboard

when loaded with their full complement of persons and
equipments.

 All modern lifeboats are required to be provided with

an engine.
57
Life boat launching

58
 Life boat launching

 Launching of survival craft or rescue boats must be

independent of the ship’s power supplies and may rely
only on gravity or independent stored mechanical power.

 Each launching appliance must be fitted with a brake so

that descent of the survival craft or rescue boat may be
stopped at any time.

 A lifeboat launching appliance shall be capable of

recovering the lifeboat with its crew. 59
Liferaft

60
 Life raft

 Life rafts are positioned on

ships to serve as an alternative
means of evacuation in the event
of any emergency.

61
 Launching life raft
Manually

Check Painter is secured

(Strong point)
Pull out the painter
Release securing
device (Hook)
Check for obstructions
in the water
Launch raft into the water
Pull Painter to full extent
to inflate life raft (60 sec)
62
 Manual Launching Operation

Two persons lift the liferaft off the

cradle
63
Manual Launching Operation

64
Davit launch Operation

65
Davit launch Operation

66
Raft Inflation process

67
If the life raft is capsized

You will have to right it

68
 Hydrostatic release
1 2

4
3

69
HRU

70
Hydrostatic release

71
 Initial Action on Boarding

 CUT the painter line – use the safety knife

 MANEUVER clear from ship’s side – use Paddles
 STREAM sea anchor:
a) reduce the rate of drift
b) helps prevent capsize
c) keep you close to a stricken vessel.
 CLOSE the entrances – keep out water (sea or rain water)
and wind. It is essential that the heat production of
survivors is used to warm the raft.
 MAINTAIN the life raft
 inflate the floor for insulation if needed.
 Bale out excessive water .
 Check for damage or leaks.
72
 Beware of CO2 build up – ventilate if needed.
 Initial Action on Boarding

 Secondary vital actions

 Take seasickness tablets
 Post a look out
 Maintain the morale
 Treat those who are injured
 Read the manual/survival hand book
 Rain water
 Congregate life rafts/boats
 Note, no rations in the first 24hours
 Water (500ml/day)

73
 Life raft Equipment

Contains

First Aid kit

Anti-seasickness pills
Thermal Protective Aids (TPA)
Seasick bags
Buoyant rescue quoit / line of not less than 30m
Set of fishing tackle
Food and water
Set of survival instructions
Bailer/sponge
Repair outfit/leak stoppers
74
 Life raft Equipment

Contains
Topping-up pump
Sea anchor
Safety knife
Paddles
Signalling mirror
Torch, a set of spare
batteries & bulb
Copy of lifesaving signals
Inflatable radar reflector
Whistle
75
 Pyrotechnics
6 red hand flares
4 red parachute rockets

2 buoyant smoke signals

76
Life raft Equipment

77
 Rescue Boat

.
The primary purpose of the rescue boat is to recover
persons from the water and to tow and marshal survival
craft (e.g. life raft and lifeboat without engines).
 Rescue boats may be either rigid or inflatable
construction or a combination of both.
 They must be fitted with an engine, that operate at least
6 knots for 4 hours.

78
 Rescue Boat

According to 1983 SOLAS amendments:

Be not less than – 3.8m and not

+ 8.5m in length.
Capable of carrying at least five
seated person and one laying
down.
Use for transportation between
vessels and for MOB.

79
 Session 4

Personal Life-saving
appliances

80
 Life Buoys

 Life buoys shall be so distributed as to be

readily available on both sides of the ship
and on all open decks, and at least one at
the vicinity of the stern.
 Life buoys shall be so stowed as to be
capable of being rapidly cast loose, and
not permanently secured in any way.
 Attached to lifebuoys are:
 Lifeline of at least 15m.
 Self-igniting lights.
 Self-activating smoke signals.
81
Info- SOLAS Chap. 111 Reg. 31
 Your Lifejacket

Supports a fully clothed person in the water

Will turn an unconscious person onto their back
Will keep a persons head 120mm above the waters
surface
High visibility colour
Retro-reflective tape
Whistle
Light
Towing loop
82
 Gas Inflated Lifejackets…

Performs all the functions of a standard

buoyant lifejacket

Twin chambers – still effective if only one

chamber is inflated

Manual activation

Auto inflates if in contact with water

Oral inflation 83
Gas Inflated Lifejacket

84
 Immersion suits
An immersion suit is a protective suit which
reduces the body heat loss of a person wearing
it in cold water.

 Capable of being donned in under two

minutes, including clothing and lifejacket
 Covers whole the body except the face.
 Fitted with means to reduce free air
trapped in the legs of the suit.
 Perform normal duties during
abandonment.
 Enter the water from a height not less
than 4.5 metres.
85
Info- SOLAS Chap. 111 Reg. 33
Immersion suit

86
 Thermal Protective Aids (TPA)

 Reduces heat loss from the body

 Covers whole body of a person
wearing a lifejacket except face.
 Operates effectively through the air
temperature range -30ºC to +20 ºC.
 Lifeboats and life rafts, sufficient
for 10% of the number of person is
permitted to accommodate.
 Permit the wear to remove it in the
water in not less than 2 minutes if it
impairs the ability to swim. 87
 Session 5

Survival at sea

88
Danger to Survivor

Drowning
Hypothermia
Dehydration
Starvation
Injuries
Sharks
Heat stroke
Sun stroke
Effect of seasickness

89
 Near Drowning

Apparent Drowning - A condition where

resuscitation is possible.
Treatment

A B C
 If pulse present – mouth to mouth
 If no pulse – CPR.
 Urgent medical attention
90
 Secondary Drowning

 A condition which can develop 15 minutes to 72

hours after resuscitation.

 It can cause death.

 Lower oxygen level.
 Raised Carbon dioxide level.
 Pulmonary Edema (Bleeding Lungs)

91
 Hypothermia
 When the body temperature starts to fall below 35 degrees
Celsius or a significant decrease (2ºC) of the deep (core)
temperature. Normal body temperature is about 37ºC. When
reaching 25 degrees Celsius it is irreversible and critical and
chances of survival are almost nil.
Signs and Symptoms
 Patient feels cold to the touch
 Slurred Speech
 Pulse is weak and slow
 Breathing is shallow and slow
 Extreme shivering may or may not occur 92
 Hypothermia

 NB
Never assume a patient suffering from hypothermia dead,
even if breathing is absent.

93
 Dehydration and Malnutrition

 Usually sets in after being adrift for a few days.

 Causes
 Vomiting
 Diarrhea
 Sweating
 Excessive Urination
 Poor fluid intake
 Poor food intake
94
 Dehydration and Malnutrition

Signs and Symptoms

 History of lack of fluid intake, or vomiting and diarrhea

 Sunken eyes
 Poor skin elasticity
 Dry tongue
 Pulse is weak and rapid
 Rapid shallow breathing

95
 Starvation

Starvation takes place when

insufficient nutrition has
been given to the body
to sustain it.

96
 Injuries

Fractures
 Wounds and
Bleeding
 Burns
 Immersion foot
 Heat stroke
 Sunburn
 Salt water boils
 Frost Bite
97
 Sharks

 They are found every where in the ocean, but they are more
active in warm waters.
 They react to the slightest amount of blood in the water or
irregular movement such as panicking.
 They are not mans enemy, but caution should be shown in
the presence of sharks.
 Stay with your companions, as groups are less subjected to
attack than individuals
 Be careful when cleaning fish at the edge of the life raft,
and don’t trail hands or feet in the water when sharks
98
are present.
 The effect of seasickness

Seasickness is an incapacitating condition that could

dehydrate a survivor further and also rob him the
will to survive.

Therefore it is imperative that all survivors take sea

sickness medication as soon as practicable after boarding.
If you get sick, try to do it over the side or use the bags
provided.
99
Use of survival craft
facilities

100
 How to clear away from ship

 Once the life raft is inflated and all personnel have boarded,
the painter must be cut to free the raft from the mother ship.

 Use the paddles and drogue (sea anchor) to get the raft
away from the danger area.

 Throw the sea anchor in the direction you want to move and
pull on the painter line to move in that direction.
101
 Means of facilitating detection by
others
 Use the equipment as appropriate to alert the rescuing
services.
 Location aids
 Radio and EPIRB
 SART
 Pyrotechnics
 Heliograph (signal mirror)
 Radar reflector
 Torch
 Whistle
102
-Always keep a good lookout-
DON’T DRINK SEA WATER OR URINE

Eat only the food in your emergency pack

(carbohydrate). Any fish, birds, turtles, etc. is
protein and would dehydrate you further.

Eat only the 103

Rations provided
 The three main causes of death
amongst people in Distress
at sea are:

 Exposure to cold

 Dehydration due to lack of fresh water

 Drinking sea water

104
 12
Insulated Suit
with dry clothing

Estimated calm water survival time: hours

10

Membrane
8 suit with dry
clothing
Survival Time
6
Insulated Suit
with 1 litre Membrane
4 leakage suit with
1 litre
leakage
3

2 Working
clothes only
1
5 10 13 15 20
Water temperature: °C
105
Predicted Survival Time Against Sea Temperature
Levels of Immersed Clothing Insulation
 Ailments

Urine
Vomiting
retention

Constipation Swollen Salt water

legs boils

Cracked &
Dry Mouth Parched lips &
skin
106
 Location

Stay in
area

Congregate
Use
Liferafts/boats Location
aids 107
 Session 6
 Practical (Demonstration)

 Life buoy
 Life jackets
 Inflatable Life jackets
 Immersion suit
 TPA
 Boarding survival craft
108
 Session 7

Emergency Radio Equipment

109
 Emergency Radio Equipment

The use of new communications technology has in a

total transformation of the existing maritime distress
and safety system.
Developed by the International Maritime Organization
(IMO), the “ Global Maritime Distress and Safety
System” (GMDSS), is a quicker, simpler and more
effective system.
It relies heavily on automation and makes extensive use
of inmarsat’s satellite for rapid and reliable
communication.
110
 Radios

VHF Radio channel 16 (156.8 MHz)

MF Radio channel 51 (2182.0KHz)

High antenna 50 to 100 miles

Low antenna 5 to 10 miles 111
 EPIRBS

When EPIRB is activate it sends out a distress message

on 121.5 MHZ and 406 MHZ to the COSPAS-SARSAT
satellite system.

The satellites relay this distress signal and its location to a

shore side receiving station called a Local Use
Terminal (LUT).

From there the message would go to the local

rescue co-ordination centre for the conduct
of the search and rescue operation.
112
 EPIRBS

Float free EPIRB’s

406 MHz – COSPAS/SARSAT
Polar orbiting satellies
World-wide coverage
1.6GHZ – INMARSAT
Geostationary satellite
INMARSAT coverage area
Distress alert
Position supplied by ships
satellite navigation system

113
How an EPIRB Works…

114
EPIRB

115
 SART

Homing devices
SART – triggered by 9GHZ(3cm)radar
96 hours stand-by
8 hours continuous operation
Signal seen on radar screen as series of 12 blips
extending radially outwards from the location of
the SART
Range
5 – 10 miles(ships)
30 miles (aircraft)
116
Battery life 5 years
The use of a SART

117
 Session 8

Helicopter Assistance

118
Rescue By Helicopter

119
 Communication with
helicopter
 Hoisting of personnel by helicopter is a hazardous operation
and the consequences of a misunderstanding could prove
fatal.
 It is therefore essential that good communication is
established early between the ship or survival craft and the
flight crew, and maintained throughout the evacuation
procedure.

120
 Communication with
helicopter
 Radio communication, although many methods exist for
communicating visually with the helicopter,
Radio remains the preferred means ‘cause’ it is interactive
and details massages can be given.
 But at the crucial moment when a person is about to be
lifted using the hoisting apparatus, radio is not always
effective due to excessive noise from the engine, wind etc.
clear hand signals must be given (Visual communication).
 But, to make communication more easer and effective the
winch man should be lowered.
121
 Evacuation from ship and
survival craft

 Let the helicopter come to you.

 Use of a smoke flare (pinpoint your position and wind
direction.
 Let the device ground out in the water before grabbing it.

122
 Evacuation from ship and
survival craft

 Do not remove your PFD, even when being lifted.

 Once lifted, follows orders

from the crew, they ‘-
do the work for you.

123
 Evacuation from ship and
survival craft

Coxswain should steer into the wind and

maintain a steady course at 4-5 knots.

The life raft has no engine to assist control, Stream

your sea anchor to reduce the amount of life raft
movement caused by downdraft from the helicopter.

124
Evacuation from ship and
survival craft

125
 Correct use of helicopter
harnesses

 Grasp the strop and put the head and both arms through the
loop.
 Ensure the wide padded part of the strop is as high as
possible across the back, with the
two straps coming under the armpits
and up in front of the face.
 Pull toggle down as far as possible.

126
 Correct use of helicopter
harnesses

 When ready to be lifted, look up at the helicopter, put one

arm out to full extent and give a ‘thumb-up’ signal.
 Put both arms down by the body.

 Do nothing when alongside the

helicopter until instructed by the
crew.

127
 -Remember, you are not
considered a “survivor”
until all phases are completed-

128
The End

129