Shipboard contingency plans guidance for working at sea jobs
Appointment
Provide recommendations and advice to enable the captain and the shipping company to deal with accidents or emergencies It is impossible to cover every event. This document aims to provide a foundation on which the Master can build to deal with the situation.
If an oil contamination incident occurs, refer to a class-approved SOPEP manual.
If a safety incident has occurred, reference should be made to the approved Vessel Safety Plan.
Emergency procedures
If a ship is involved in an accident or emergency which endangers the safety of life, ship, cargo or the marine environment, the master shall be responsible for taking any action he deems necessary to minimize the risks and save lives.
When deciding whether help is needed, the Master must always assume that conditions will deteriorate and take the necessary measures as soon as possible.
Masters must call for help in time if the ship is in danger. The Coast Guard or rescue services and other ships can warn with a “safety” or “urgency” signal, depending on the severity of the situation.
If you need the immediate help of a tug, the master has the right to make their own terms with those who are able to help him. This is usually a Lloyd’s open contract agreement (LOF2000). At first it is not necessary to sign anything, but only to conclude an oral agreement. What was the agreement and with whom to register in the Deck Book of Magazines and in the Official Book of Magazines. The company should be informed as soon as possible,before making such a decision during working at sea jobs, it is necessary to inform about the time of the Company.
If tug assistance is required when the vessel is not in imminent danger, the master should contact the company. He should also try to contact other Company ships that may be nearby. The company will try to organize the evacuation on the best terms. The captain must constantly check the situation, and if it worsens, he must take any measures necessary to maintain the safety of life and the ship.
Regardless of emergencies, the Company should be notified as soon as possible. As a rule, it is in the interest of the Company and the master if the first report of any accident or incident comes to the Company directly from the master and not from a third party. This does not, however, impair the master’s authority and duty to take any measures he deems necessary to ensure safety and prevent contamination.
Masters must be constantly guided by their basic responsibilities, which relate to the safety of those entrusted to their care, the safety of the ship, the safety of cargo and the protection of the marine environment. All other considerations are secondary.
In a rescue situation, the Master remains in the team even when rescue is assigned. Although the Master and his crew must make every effort to help and cooperate with the rescued, the Master may override their advice if he has a good cause. It is necessary to keep a detailed record of any rescue services received.
In any accident situation, it is likely that the ship will somehow contact radio, television or the press to answer questions or make statements. Masters, officers and crew must submit all such questions and requests to the Company.
