Tag: Cold Water Survival

In the latest UK MAIB Safety Digest, a case that involved a training vessel comes to highlight that lifejackets save lives and that cold water shock can cause physical reactions that increase the risk of drowning.

A previous IMO Circular provides guidance on cold water survival and comprehensive information which can help seafarers, trained as first-aid providers, to treat those rescued from cold conditions.

Gard P&I Club informs that as seafarers are in particular are at risk of being exposed to cold water, it is important for them to know how their body responds to cold water and what they can do to help ward off its effects.

UK Club's Crew health director, Sophia Bullard, explains why hypothermia remains a challenging issue, the impact it has on seafarers, as well as proposes measures to prevent and treat this condition.

The US Coast Guard explains which are the symptoms of hypothermia, highlighting that body heat can be lost 25x faster in cold water than in air.

Videotel prepares seafarers for man overboard response

AMSA issues MN re the recovery of persons from the water

New SOLAS Regulation, effective from 1 July 2014, requires ships to develop plans and procedures Guidelines to help shipowners comply with a new International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulation requiring ship-specific plans and procedures for the recovery of persons from the water, have been launched by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the global trade association for shipowners.Under the new SOLAS Regulation, from 1 July 2014 all ships are required to develop plans and procedures identifying both equipment to be used for recovery purposes and measures to minimise the risk to shipboard personnel involved in recovery operations.ICS Marine Director, John Murray, explained: "This guidance outlines practical steps that shipowners and operators may wish to consider when developing the necessary plans and procedures, including advice that existing on board equipment may be identified as suitable for the recovery of persons from the water. In the majority of cases, the carriage of additional dedicated equipment will probably be unnecessary."The ICS Guidelines, which are intended to be read alongside guidance produced by IMO, include an example plan and procedure setting out how a company might document its strategy for potential recovery operations.Mr Murray remarked: "Although the requirement for ship-specific plans and procedures is new, ...

IMO has issued A Pocket Guide to Recovery Techniques New requirements under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) to require all ships to have plans and procedures to recover persons from the water are among a set of SOLAS amendments entering into force on 1 July 2014. Recovery of persons from the waterThe SOLAS amendments, adopted in 2012, were developed as part of the International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s work on large passenger ship safety and are aimed at ensuring all ships have the capability to effectively serve as a rescue asset and have the right equipment to be able to rescue persons from the water and from survival craft, in the event of an incident.This new requirement is intended to enhance safety at sea and also to provide support to search and rescue coordinators in all types of rescue operations and, particularly, in those situations where there is insufficient dedicated search and rescue capacity or access to helicopters and specialized rescue craft is limited.The ship's plans and procedures should take into account related Guidelines for the development of plans and procedures for recovery of persons from the waterMSC.1/Circ.1447Ships constructed before 1 July 2014 are required ...

DNV GL Technical Update DNV GL issued Technical Newsletter 3-2014 regarding a new SOLAS requirement which includes a plan for the recovery of persons from the water. The requirement applies to all newbuildings provided with SOLAS certificates that are keel laid after 1 July 2014. For vessels in operation, the requirement applies from the first periodical or renewal safety equipment survey carried out after 1 July 2014,whichever comes first. The requirement also applies to units provided with a MODU Code certificate.At MSC.91 (November 2012), new requirements were adopted stipulating that all ships shall have ship-specific plans and procedures for recovery of persons from the water. The plans and procedures shall identify the equipment intended to be used and the measures to be taken to minimise the risk to shipboard personnel while recovering persons from the water. A guideline has been developed stating that existing life-saving and other equipment carried on board may be used, conventionally or unconventionally, to recover persons. The guideline mentions other useful circulars relating to recovery techniques and survival. It also lists matters that shall be considered when developing the plans and procedures, such as a risk assessment, certain criteria on how the recovery shall be carried ...