Actions to Increase Chances of Survival

Due to the nature and location of polar waters, emergency preparedness needs to be even more detailed and well-planned than in other areas. The dangers to human life posed by the cold environment are compounded by the remoteness of the area of operations and the lack of shore-based infrastructure or other vessels to assist in survival situations.

Cold Environments and Survival

Working in cold weather has challenges for the crew concerning the low temperatures leading to cold-related illnesses and reduced cognitive reasoning leading to poor decision-making. All of these factors make cold-weather survival even more challenging than survival in other ocean areas.

Of course, all crew members should be made aware of the hazards and risks of operating in polar waters and how these are compounded in survival or emergencies. All crew members should be aware of the specialised survival equipment provided onboard and be trained in using such equipment.

As part of the Master's duty of care, there should be suitable cold-weather equipment provided for use by the crew and available in an emergency. This should include arctic coveralls, thermal immersion suits, and any other layers considered appropriate for the area of operation.

Actions to Reduce the Impact of Cold Water on Survival

When operating in frigid temperatures, people and machinery will work near their physical or mechanical limits. Performance is known to decrease in extreme environments rapidly, and care should be taken to ensure that personnel can work effectively to increase their chances of survival.

Regular drills of the emergency processes, proper and thorough maintenance of the emergency systems, and the use of cold weather protective gear when working will increase the likelihood of survival in an emergency. It is incumbent upon the Master and Officers to ensure that these practices are conducted and to enforce the wearing of cold-weather gear, as there may not be enough time in an emergency to don additional clothing that will prolong survival times.

Crew welfare should be one of the highest priorities of the Master when operating in an extremely low-temperature environment. Crew members are usually unable to recognise the signs and symptoms of hypothermia. The impaired cognitive performance will lead to poor decision-making and an increased risk of an accident, so decision verification procedures should be followed. Under prevailing conditions, allowable times for work outside should be strictly enforced. Crew members should be trained to recognise the early onset of cold-related injuries, such as freezing tissue. All crew members should be assigned reasonable tasks by their officers. These should consider that activities requiring tactile senses, hand skill, strength, and coordination will be adversely affected by the cold or the need to wear cumbersome protective gear.