Subscribe to our Mailing Lists (It's free!)
Monday, July 14, 2025
SAFETY4SEA
  • Home
  • Safety
    • All
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
    seafarers

    Philippines DMW issues call to protect seafarers from warlike areas

    Houthi Israel

    Israel urges US to resume strikes against Houthis after deadly attacks

    Eternity C

    SAR efforts end for missing crew following the Eternity C attack

    Lessons learned

    Lessons learned: Unsafe workarounds reveal unsafe systems

  • SEAFiT
    • All
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
    friendship

    Exploring the human need for friendship: A lifeline at sea and on shore

    neck pain

    Neck pain: A growing health concern for maritime workers

    Book Review: Building leaders the MMMA way

    Book Review: Feel grounded and think positive in 10 simple steps

    time

    Stay SEAFiT: Time is non-renewable – invest it wisely

  • Green
    • All
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
    ammonia bunkering vessel

    Company orders ammonia bunkering vessel for use in Singapore

    WSC

    WSC proposes alignment of EU ETS with IMO Net Zero Framework

    IMO Council World Maritime Day

    IMO: World Maritime Day two-year theme to take policy to practice

    BIMCO FuelEU Maritime Regulation

    EU issues low-carbon hydrogen fuel standards

  • Smart
    • All
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
    digital tools onboard

    Company signs for AI autonomous navigation system for PCTC fleet

    Trafigura, ZeroNorth join forces to advance decarbonization solutions

    Trafigura, ZeroNorth join forces to advance decarbonization solutions

    floating data centres

    New partnership to develop floating data center on retrofitted vessel

    connectivity

    Innovating ocean safety: Intellian’s unified vision for connectivity and GMDSS

  • Risk
    • All
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
    AMSA fine

    NorthStandard: Tips to avoid pollution fines in Turkey

    OCIMF

    OCIMF Annual Report 2025: SIRE 2.0 a welcome change for the industry

    USCG

    ABS PSC Report Q1 2025: 526 total vessels detained

    paris mou lists

    Paris MoU 2024 Performance lists

  • Others
    • All
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
    tariffs

    Sea-Intelligence: Transpacific capacity injection is reversed

    ammonia

    Parties sign for the development of an ammonia terminal in Japan

    shadow fleet

    Validity of shadow vessels’ insurance documents remains uncertain

    Houthi Israel

    Israel urges US to resume strikes against Houthis after deadly attacks

  • Columns
    Career Paths: Syb ten Cate Hoedemaker, Maritime Battery Forum

    Career Paths: Syb ten Cate Hoedemaker, Maritime Battery Forum

    GSR Services: The Hong Kong Convention sets the rules for total ship lifecycle responsibility

    NorthStandard: Data sharing to drive technology and improve crew wellbeing

    GSR Services: The Hong Kong Convention sets the rules for total ship lifecycle responsibility

    GSR Services: The Hong Kong Convention sets the rules for total ship lifecycle responsibility

    Trending Tags

    • Anchor Your Health
    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Human Performance
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Regulatory Update
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Training & Development
    • Wellness Corner
    • Wellness Tips
  • Events
  • Plus
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Safety
    • All
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
    seafarers

    Philippines DMW issues call to protect seafarers from warlike areas

    Houthi Israel

    Israel urges US to resume strikes against Houthis after deadly attacks

    Eternity C

    SAR efforts end for missing crew following the Eternity C attack

    Lessons learned

    Lessons learned: Unsafe workarounds reveal unsafe systems

  • SEAFiT
    • All
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
    friendship

    Exploring the human need for friendship: A lifeline at sea and on shore

    neck pain

    Neck pain: A growing health concern for maritime workers

    Book Review: Building leaders the MMMA way

    Book Review: Feel grounded and think positive in 10 simple steps

    time

    Stay SEAFiT: Time is non-renewable – invest it wisely

  • Green
    • All
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
    ammonia bunkering vessel

    Company orders ammonia bunkering vessel for use in Singapore

    WSC

    WSC proposes alignment of EU ETS with IMO Net Zero Framework

    IMO Council World Maritime Day

    IMO: World Maritime Day two-year theme to take policy to practice

    BIMCO FuelEU Maritime Regulation

    EU issues low-carbon hydrogen fuel standards

  • Smart
    • All
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
    digital tools onboard

    Company signs for AI autonomous navigation system for PCTC fleet

    Trafigura, ZeroNorth join forces to advance decarbonization solutions

    Trafigura, ZeroNorth join forces to advance decarbonization solutions

    floating data centres

    New partnership to develop floating data center on retrofitted vessel

    connectivity

    Innovating ocean safety: Intellian’s unified vision for connectivity and GMDSS

  • Risk
    • All
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
    AMSA fine

    NorthStandard: Tips to avoid pollution fines in Turkey

    OCIMF

    OCIMF Annual Report 2025: SIRE 2.0 a welcome change for the industry

    USCG

    ABS PSC Report Q1 2025: 526 total vessels detained

    paris mou lists

    Paris MoU 2024 Performance lists

  • Others
    • All
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
    tariffs

    Sea-Intelligence: Transpacific capacity injection is reversed

    ammonia

    Parties sign for the development of an ammonia terminal in Japan

    shadow fleet

    Validity of shadow vessels’ insurance documents remains uncertain

    Houthi Israel

    Israel urges US to resume strikes against Houthis after deadly attacks

  • Columns
    Career Paths: Syb ten Cate Hoedemaker, Maritime Battery Forum

    Career Paths: Syb ten Cate Hoedemaker, Maritime Battery Forum

    GSR Services: The Hong Kong Convention sets the rules for total ship lifecycle responsibility

    NorthStandard: Data sharing to drive technology and improve crew wellbeing

    GSR Services: The Hong Kong Convention sets the rules for total ship lifecycle responsibility

    GSR Services: The Hong Kong Convention sets the rules for total ship lifecycle responsibility

    Trending Tags

    • Anchor Your Health
    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Human Performance
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Regulatory Update
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Training & Development
    • Wellness Corner
    • Wellness Tips
  • Events
  • Plus
No Result
View All Result
SAFETY4SEA

Procedures: A step-by-step guide for safe abandon-ship drills

by The Editorial Team
October 25, 2018
in Maritime Knowledge
Authorized Service Providers

Above image is used for illustration purposes only / Credit: Shutterstock / a_v_d

FacebookTwitterEmailLinkedin

One of the worst situations a seafarer can encounter during his/her sea service is the order by the master to abandon vessel in the face of danger. If not properly conducted, this operation, instead of saving lives, may lead to unexpected losses. In this regard, regular abandon-ship drills, which their frequency is prescribed by the SOLAS Convention, are vital to prepare crew onboard to safely manage an “abandon ship” operation.

Stages of abandon ship drills

An effective abandon ship drill is parted by four stages:

  1. Notification and Mustering
  2. Lowering the abandon ship means into water
  3. Embarking
  4. Debriefing

The fourth stage, Debriefing, is only applicable for drills. A real-life incident is completed in stage 3 after lifeboat’s/raft’s departure from vessel’s side. An extended risk assessment should be conducted prior operation commencement in order to identify and mitigate possible risks.

RelatedNews

Watch: Avoid the risk of electrocution for shipboard welding

SQE MARINE: Keep your Biofouling Management Plan up to date

[smlsubform prepend=”GET THE SAFETY4SEA IN YOUR INBOX!” showname=false emailtxt=”” emailholder=”Enter your email address” showsubmit=true submittxt=”Submit” jsthanks=false thankyou=”Thank you for subscribing to our mailing list”]

 

Stage #1: Notification & Mustering

  • The vessel’s general announcement system is to be used for crew/passengers’ notification.
  • Apart of distress signal, clear instruction should be given for the mustering position and the means that are going to be used.
  • Mustering in the assigned station should be completed quickly under calm conditions without shouting and panic.
  • Each crewmember/passenger should proceed to the assigned station having put the personal life jacket on and having in hand the immersion suit. Immersion suits must only be used upon the Master’s order. If these are to be used in a later stage, then they should be stored in the life boat.
  • The safety officer is responsible to count and report the final number to Master prior abandoning.

Stage #2: Lowering the boat/raft into the water

In case of free-fall boat (FFB), or on load release side boat, this stage follows the embarkation stage.

In conditions of calm sea and time availability, the abandon ship mean (boat or raft) should be lowered into sea water and an embarkation pilot ladder is to be used.

In this case, only the crew assigned/trained and authorized to operate the lifeboat will be embarked and lowered with the boat.

The engine should be tested and put to continuous work (when waterborne).

Stage #3: Embarkation

As soon as the side boat and the normal lowering procedure is in place, then the boat should be lowered into water -only with the assigned crew onboard- using davits or cranes.

The control of brake is under safety officer’s supervision and the whole operation is subject to the Master’s approval. The rest of the crew will embark using a side pilot ladder and Master will be the last one to embark.

In case of on load release, the embarkation is conducted as soon as the boat is to the appropriate side position. The final release is again subject to the Master’s approval.

In case of FFB, the crew should proceed to assigned seats and fasten the seat belts.

Safety officer is responsible to check the appropriate fastening of the crew and report to Master.  All hatches must be secured and the engine to be ready for use. The final release order is given by Master.

During drills, the embarkation in both side boats and FFB should be real, in securing position with all available securing equipment in place. In drills, do not attempt to embark all crew in the boat without ensuring that it is properly secured in storage position.

Pre-requirements for abandoning the ship

The following are pre-required in order to execute the abandoning of vessel:

  1. Trained crew (certified and well-trained through drills and briefings)
  2. Appropriate and operational means (Boats/rafts, cranes, davits, pilot ladders)
  3. Appropriate provisions stored in boats
  4. Maintained and tested lifeboat engines
  5. Communication equipment in place
  6. Navigation equipment
  7. Distress signal/message submitted to coastal stations and nearby vessels

Stage #4: Debriefing

After completing the drill, the safety officer should debrief the crew referring to all stages of execution. Special care should be made to the appropriate use of personal equipment and the procedure of lowering and deploying abandon ship means (boats or rafts). All used material or equipment should be returned to the appropriate position/condition as before the drill. Brief questions may be used to check crew’s knowledge or lessons learned from the drill.

SQE has developed a sample of toolbox meeting in order to be used as guidance on board.

read more here

 

PROCEDURES: Read in this series

ship contacts berth

Procedures: A guide to safe passage planning

November 1, 2018
Authorized Service Providers

Procedures: A step-by-step guide for safe abandon-ship drills

October 25, 2018
sts transfers

Procedures: Step-by-step stages of a proper STS transfer

October 19, 2018
containership fire

Procedures: Steps for a proper fire drill under SOLAS

October 4, 2018
Procedures: A step-by-step guide for safe abandon-ship drills

Procedures: Tips for safe Fuel Oil Changeover before entering ECAs

September 21, 2018
food hygiene onboard

Procedures: How to maintain food hygiene onboard

September 19, 2018
cargo hold cleaning

Procedures: How to conduct a safe cargo fumigation

September 6, 2018
enclosed space entry

Procedures: A toolbox meeting guide for enclosed spaces

August 28, 2018
mooring

Procedures: Mooring line handling tips

August 23, 2018
Procedures: A step-by-step guide for safe abandon-ship drillsProcedures: A step-by-step guide for safe abandon-ship drills
Procedures: A step-by-step guide for safe abandon-ship drillsProcedures: A step-by-step guide for safe abandon-ship drills
Tags: checklistlife-saving equipmentProcedures cmsafety measuresSQE MARINE
Previous Post

New offshore lifting technique tested in Gulf of Mexico

Next Post

Survey reveals false sense of cyber security preparedness in US maritime

SUGGESTED FOR YOU

emergency stop
Loss Prevention

NMA: Emergency stop & regular function testing of safety devices

July 3, 2025
Persian Gulf
Loss Prevention

West P&I Club: Navigating the Persian Gulf in 2025

June 27, 2025
CINS
Loss Prevention

CINS issues guidance on shipping lithium-ion cells in containers

June 23, 2025
Maersk Israel
Ports

Maersk suspends vessel calls at the Port of Haifa, Israel

June 20, 2025
BSEE
Alerts

BSEE: Bypassed safety device deficiencies and noncompliance

June 11, 2025
BSEE safety alert
Alerts

BSEE: Conduct thorough job safety analysis for all lifting operations

June 10, 2025

Comments 1

  1. William Millar says:
    7 years ago

    Refer Skuld’s publication “Shipboard Drills” #2 Lifeboat Drills

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Explore more

No Result
View All Result
MARITIME EVENTS

Explore

  • Safety
  • SEAFiT
  • Green
  • Smart
  • Risk
  • Others
  • SAFETY4SEA Events
  • SAFETY4SEA Plus Subscription

Useful Links

  • About
  • Disclaimer
  • Editorial Policies
  • Advertising
  • Content Marketing
  • Contact

© 2025 SAFETY4SEA

No Result
View All Result
  • Safety
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
  • SEAFiT
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
  • Green
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
  • Smart
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
  • Risk
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Case Studies
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
  • Others
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
  • Columns
    • Anchor Your Health
    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Human Performance
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Opinions
    • Regulatory Update
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Tip of the day
    • Training & Development
    • Wellness Corner
    • Wellness Tips
  • SAFETY4SEA Events
  • SAFETY4SEA Plus Subscription

© 2025 SAFETY4SEA

Manage your privacy
We use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. We do this to improve browsing experience and to show (non-) personalized ads. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Manage options
{title} {title} {title}
No Result
View All Result
  • Safety
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
  • SEAFiT
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
  • Green
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
  • Smart
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
  • Risk
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Case Studies
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
  • Others
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
  • Columns
    • Anchor Your Health
    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Human Performance
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Opinions
    • Regulatory Update
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Tip of the day
    • Training & Development
    • Wellness Corner
    • Wellness Tips
  • SAFETY4SEA Events
  • SAFETY4SEA Plus Subscription

© 2025 SAFETY4SEA