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The Seven Ps of Safe Boating |
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By Chris Schaefer, Phuket, Thailand
 Prior
Planning
and
Preparation
Prevents
Piss
Poor
Performance.
The month of March 1999 saw three major recreational boating
accidents in the region with two collisions and one fire, resulting
in the loss of four lives and two vessels. These accidents demonstrate
very clearly how important proper crew training and vessel maintenance
is.
In an ideal world a properly maintained vessel and well-educated
and alert crew will seldom be confronted with disastrous or
life threatening accidents. Already, crews are constantly confronting
what is usually a losing battle against an extremely hostile
environment because the ship's major electrical and mechanical
systems are constantly exposed to highly corrosive saltwater,
breaking down the toughest and most well thought out protection
barriers. While the boat is out at sea the crew is struggling
against another formidable enemy: fatigue. All of us who have
made blue water passages, delivery runs or extended cruises
have struggled through night watches, trying to stay awake and
safely navigate the vessel while passengers and crews are resting
below.
A well-trained crew has a far better chance of reacting in a
proper seamanship-like manner to most incidents on board. Commercial
shipping subscribes fire fighting and lifeboat training exercise
on a regular basis. The size of the vessel and the nature of
its voyage determine the frequency of this exercise. Passenger
carrying vessels (under the IMO regulations that is any vessel
with more than 12 paying passengers onboard) must conduct fire
fighting exercises at least once a month and a life boat drill
at the start of every voyage.
For recreational vessels no such standards are prescribed. It
depends entirely on the captain/owner to conduct these exercises.
We should all be quite familiar with the pre-flight safety briefings
on commercial airlines, and we all know the location of life
jackets, emergency exits, etc. So, how many boat owners - or
even crew - are thoroughly familiar with their vessel and know
by heart where fire extinguishers and life jackets are? How
many of the crew on board has ever pulled the trigger on a fire
extinguisher trying to put out even a small blaze? How aware
are the crew and owners of emergency procedures in case of a
fire - or an emergency that requires abandonment of ship?
Test yourself! I am sure you recall exactly how to open the
buckle of your seat belt on an aircraft. Now try to recall the
buckle that releases your life raft. Is there a buckle at all?
Or did you or your crew tie it down securely so that the precious
item does not fall overboard in seaway? Could you manipulate
the release on it during a dark night in a mild state of panic
as the decks are at a 25-degree angle after a freighter has
sheared off the stern of your boat and she is sinking rapidly?
Do you have a float-free mechanism that releases the life raft
automatically once the mechanism is submerged a foot or two?
Will it float free or did someone tie it down securely to prevent
accidental loss? Was it serviced at all the last few years -
or is there maybe just an empty crate of beer inside the shell
once it opens? Do you know how to right a life raft floating
upside down?
Ask yourself the same questions about your fire extinguishers
and other onboard safety systems. Do you have enough extinguishers?
Are they placed properly? Are they serviceable and are they
big enough to smother a blaze in the engine room? Where will
a fire most likely start? In the galley? In the engine room?
On the bridge deck? Does anybody know how to properly use the
extinguishers and other fire suppressants? Are they the correct
types for the fire you are trying to put out?
When you prepare to leave the dock make sure every person on
board knows his or her duties in case of an emergency. Who will
be responsible if something happens to the captain? Does your
crew know how to recover you if you fall overboard? Is your
crew fit for the planned trip? Will they be able to stay awake
during their night watch?
If you can't answer these questions and the ones above, do yourself,
your family, your crew, your fellow boaters and your insurance
agents a favor and stay at home where you belong!
These are just some of the many questions that you should ask
yourself before going to sea. If you have any doubts resolve
them right away before you leave the dock. Make safety briefings
a routine before every trip. If you have any questions regarding
the safety equipment and procedures contact a specialist for
onboard consultation to work out an emergency plan specifically
for your vessel. Attend training seminars and give your crew
opportunity to attend these seminars. Send them to attend a
commercial shipping fire fighting and sea survival course. Who
knows? Their knowledge could save your life!
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