Emergency Drills onboard 90-98

[Louis De Sousa]

Emergency Drills are required by law, on a passenger vessels, to be held at intervals not exceeding 7 days.All crew members are required to attend theses drills.It is important that all crew know their correct Emergency Muster Station,Lifeboat and Raft station.This information is shown on your muster card which is fixed next to your bunk.You must ensure that you use the correct number at the drill as it is a disciplinay offence to miss a muster drill.
On the sounding of the Emergency Signal, crew should make their way quickly and quietly to your to your Emergency Station where your Emergency Group Leader will tick you off on his muster board,before reporting any absentees to the Bridge.

The emergency group leader will instruct you in correct procedures and will check your knowledge of the following
1-area to which the crew have been assigned
2-postion of Hydrants and Fire Fighting equipment in section
3-general flow of passengers through thesection
4-Fire Doors in section and how to operate manually
5-type and use of Fire extinguishers
6-group must know the Emergency Signal and be able to repeat it in their sleep

[Louis De Sousa]

At Boat and Raft Stations yor Emergency Group Leader will instruct you in the Operation of the Lifeboat and Davit/Liferaft Davit and will test your knowledge by asking questions.All Crew Members are expected to have the basic knowledge of Abanon Ship Procedures and Survival Craft Operation.

Following os a description of those Emergency Duties.Most of the Crew on theses Duties hold the Red Crew Muster Card.They are called the Speicial Parties Muster.

Area Search- To ensure all persons have been evacuated to their emergency muster points.To check for hot spots in event of afire near by

As Required- Basically a spare party for the Bridge to give approppriate duties to, depending upon the nature of emergency

Boat Preparation- to prepare the boats ready for boarding at embaraktion level

Back up Supply- to assist blanket party ,provision party and fire parties if required

Check Off- check all passengers guides are in position

Close Down-close fire doors and dampers as directed by group leader upon instruction from the bridge

CO2 Vent System- operation of galley vent trunking fire extinguishing system

Control Party- Rapid response on scene emergency party tp supervise actions at the scene of the emergency

Direct Passsengers- stairway guides to direct passengers to muster points and then on to embarkation points by routes shown in passenger emergency system booklet

[Matron]

Ah, the good old days of drills every 7 days, whether in port or at sea.  No longer the case Louis - 1 full crew drill per cruise now the norm (was just on an 18 day cruise where we only had one drill).  They now have separate full drill and technical drill, but still have frequent MOB drills.

We no longer have the special parties red cards either - they went out a few years ago with a change of shipboard emergency response organisation.

Another thing that we used to have commonly on QE2/Caronia that I have not seen since was the search routine - for stowaways or suspicious devices.

[Louis De Sousa]

Yes i am aware of those changes, but here i have to relate how it was during my time onboard.

[Louis De Sousa]

E.C.R. Party- engine room rapid response party responsible for maintaining ships services

E.R. Fire Party- main party for fighting engine room fires

Forward,Aft Fire Parties and Midship Fire Party- for fighting accommodation fires, back up fire party, breathing apparataus supply etc.

Embarkation Doors- open upper deck lifeboat embarkation doors