Safety Equipment

The OOW should be fully able to identify, use and maintain all of the bridge safety equipment onboard the vessel. The use of such equipment in an emergency situation may well be the difference between the survival of the crew and being lost at sea, so the care and operation of it should be taken very seriously.

Bridge-Wing Marker Buoys

There are quick-release marker buoys located on the bridge wings of each vessel. These are connected to automatic lights and smoke floats so that they can be easily spotted by day or by night. The buoy will be rigged to release on a single press or pull activation in an emergency.

The OOW should be aware of the activation and brief any lookouts on exactly how to activate the buoy mechanism in an emergency. Good practice would be to delegate the task of activating the buoy in an emergency to a lookout so that they are able to release the marker and then actively look for a person in the water while the OOW deals with other aspects of the emergency.

EPIRB

Every vessel is required to carry onboard an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB). This is used to alert search and rescue services in the event of an emergency onboard the vessel. When activated,  a message containing the ship’s information including the position and ship’s identification is transmitted on 406MHz, a distress frequency, via satellite and earth stations to the nearest rescue coordination centre.

EPIRBs are designed to be operated both manually or automatically. By releasing the buoy from its cradle when it is 'armed' the EPIRB should activate immediately. The OOW can therefore activate it merely by removing it from its housing. It will also be positioned on the upper deck, in a clear area with a hydrostatic release unit attached. This will allow the unit to release and activate automatically should the ship sink and it be left in place.

As part of the radio safety equipment, the OOW should be comfortable with the general maintenance and inspection of the EPIRB. Such checks should include:

• Visually inspect the EPIRB and its mountings for cracks.
• Regular cleaning of the EPIRB and its mounting.
• Check that sea switches are clean.
• Check to ensure the lanyard is neatly bundled and firmly secured to the EPIRB and not attached to any part of the vessel.
• Check that the battery expiry label shows sufficient battery life to cover the next routine voyage.
• Check the hydrostatic release unit expiry date and confirm the enclosure cover can be easily removed.
• Perform standard self-test (monthly as per the manufacturer’s instructions).

SART

Every vessel over 500 tonnes must carry two Search and Rescue Radar Transponders (SART) for use in emergency situations. These are designed to aid the detection of a vessel in distress by transmitting a beacon that will be picked up on an X-band, 3cm, 9 GHz radar. This beacon appears as a line of 12 dots that show the bearing of the vessel or craft in distress. As the rescue vessel then approaches, the dots turn to arcs and finally concentric circles to show close proximity to the distress beacon.

SARTs work by a line of sight principle of transmission, therefore the higher up it is positioned, the further it may transmit its signal. They have a standby endurance of 96 hours and an 8 hour transmit capability, provided the batteries are in date and the security seal is unbroken, In the event of an abandon ship situation, the OOW will take the SARTs to the survival craft.

The OOW should maintain and test the SARTS every month, including: 

• Checking mountings are intact & secure.
• Checking that the manufacturer’s instructions are clear and easy to read and follow.
• Checking SART lanyard and telescope mounting device.
• Logging the battery expiry date.
• Performing the monthly self-test as per manufacturer’s instructions (usually requiring a safety message to be sent as the system will be tested with a live X-band radar).

In addition to the radar SART, the ship may also carry an AIS SART. This is a self-contained radio device used to locate a survival craft or distressed vessel by sending updated position reports using a standard Automatic Identification System (AIS) class A position report.

The device will work similarly to traditional SARTs but, rather than show the position of a lifeboat on your 3cm radar, will transmit the exact GPS coordinates to all AIS enabled devices within VHF range. Ship AIS-SARTs have a 96 hour transmit endurance and transmitting capability. Smaller, personal MOB AIS SARTs have a 24-hour endurance.

Satellite Communications Systems

Modern satellite communication systems are a far cry from the SAT-B and SAT-C devices of old. They are now generally Fleet 77 or Fleet Broadband units that have a multitude of functions, all controlled from a touch screen interface similar to a tablet. 

The purpose of the system remains unchanged as it is capable of connecting via satellite frequencies (1628 - 1678 MHz) to other vessels and to shore stations. This can be used for routine communications such as fleet orders as well as weather signal updates and even distress alerts to coast-earth stations. As satellite communication systems are part of the radio safety equipment, the OOW should monitor the messages every watch, log them in the GMDSS logbook as appropriate and report to the master any distress or urgent notices. The system should also be maintained in accordance with manufacturers' instructions and any tests of the equipment noted in the GMDSS logbook.

IAMSAR Manual Volume III

The International Aeronautical and Maritime Search & Rescue (IAMSAR) Manual Volume III, Mobile Facilities, is intended to be carried aboard rescue units, aircraft and vessels. This is to help with the performance of a search, rescue or on-scene coordinator function in an emergency situation. The book is of invaluable help to the OOW as it provides the standard requirements for navigation in search and rescue operations as well as tables to determine the set and drift of life-saving appliances to assist in determining datums for search.

A new addendum to the IAMSAR Manual Volume 3 is a set of emergency cards for bridges to use. These contain key points and the distilled information from the manual for quick reference. Examples include an aircraft emergency communication list and a briefing for lookouts when approaching a search and rescue area.