SOLAS

List the navigational equipment which all ships are required to carry irrespective of its size.

- Magnetic Compass, independent of power supply - Compass Bearing Device (Pelorus) for taking 360 bearings - Means of correcting heading and bearings to true at all times - Up to date charts and publications - Back ups to the above point. - A GNSS receiver or radio navigation system capable of displaying the ships position by automatic means - >150gt, a radar reflector - A sound reception system if bridge is totally enclosed. - Means of comms with the emergency steering.

SOLAS does not apply to whom?

- Warships - Cargo less than 500gt - Ships not propelled by mechanical means - Wooden ships of a primitive build - Pleasure yachts not engaged in trade - Fishing vessels

List the information required to be sent by the master in a danger message relating to tropical cyclones

.1 A statement that a tropical cyclone has been encountered. .2 Time, date (Universal Co-ordinated Time) and position of ship when the observation was taken. .3 As much of the following information as is practicable should be included in the message: - barometric pressure - wind force (Beaufort scale); - state of the sea (smooth, moderate, rough, high); - swell (slight, moderate, heavy) and the true direction from which it comes. Period or length of swell (short, average, long) would also be of value; - true course and speed of ship.

List the information required to be sent by the master in a danger message relating to ice, derelict and other navigational dangers. Regulation 32 in Solas Chapter V

.1 The kind of ice, derelict or danger observed. .2 The position of the ice, derelict or danger when last observed. .3 The time and date (Universal Co-ordinated Time) when the danger was last observed.

Describe requirements regarding fire and abandon ship drills

1. Every crew member shall participate in at least one abandon ship drill and one fire drill every month. 2. The drills of the crew shall take place within 24 h of the ship leaving a port if more than 25% of the crew have not participated in abandon ship and fire drills on board that particular ship in the previous month. 3. When a ship enters service for the first time, after modification of a major character or when a new crew is engaged, these drills shall be held before sailing.

Briefly describe the SOLAS requirements for launching and manoeuvring of freefall lifeboats

1. In the case of a lifeboat arranged for free-fall launching, at least once every three months during an abandon ship drill, the crew shall board the lifeboat, properly secure themselves in their seats and commence launch procedures up to but not including the actual release of the lifeboat (i.e., the release hook shall not be released). 2. The lifeboat shall then either be free-fall launched with only the required operating crew on board or lowered into the water by means of the secondary means of launching with or without the operating crew on board. In both cases, the lifeboat shall thereafter be manoeuvred in the water by the operating crew. 3. At intervals of not more than six months, the lifeboat shall either be launched by free-fall with only the operating crew on board, or simulated launching shall be carried out in accordance with the guidelines developed by the Organisation.

List 12 codes made mandatory under SOLAS.

1. LSA code 2. FSS code 3. FTP (Fire Test Procedure) code 4. ISM code 5. ISPS code 6. Polar code 7. IBC code 8. IGC code 9. Grain code 10. CSS code 11. IMDG code 12. IMSBC code

When is the Master of a ship released from the obligation to render assistance?

1. On learning that their ships have not been requisitioned and that one or more other ships have been requisitioned and are complying with the requisition. 2. On being informed by the persons in distress or by the search and rescue service or by the master of another ship which has reached such persons that assistance is no longer necessary.

Describe the obligations of the Master of a ship at sea on receiving a signal from any source that a ship or aircraft or a survival craft there of is in distress

1. The master of a ship at sea which is in a position to be able to provide assistance, on receiving information from any source that persons are in distress at sea, is bound to proceed with all speed to their assistance, if possible informing them or the search and rescue service that the ship is doing so. 2. This obligation to provide assistance applies regardless of the nationality or status of such persons or the circumstances in which they are found. 3. If the ship receiving the distress alert is unable or, in the special circumstances of the case, considers it unreasonable or unnecessary to proceed to their assistance, the master must enter in the log-book the reason for failing to proceed to the assistance of the persons in distress, taking into account the recommendation of the Organisation to inform the appropriate search and rescue service accordingly.

Which size of vessels are required to be fitted with a Rate Of Turn Indicator (ROTI)

50 000gt+

Chap 12

Additional Safety Measures for Bulk Carriers

Chap. 12

Bulk Carriers (150+) (IMSBC Code)

Chap. 7

Carriage of DG's (DG Code, IBC and IGC Codes)

Chap. 6

Carriage of cargoes

What section and Marine Order refers to reporting accidents, defects and damage?

Chapter 1 - Regulation 11 (c) and MO 31 (Form 18/19), TSI Regulations. Whenever an accident occurs to a ship or a defect is discovered, either of which affects the safety of the ship or the efficiency or completeness of its life-saving appliances or other equipment, the master or owner of the ship shall report at the earliest opportunity to the Administration, the nominated surveyor or recognised organisation responsible for issuing the relevant certificate, who shall cause investigations to be initiated to determine whether a survey, as required by regulations 7, 8, 9 or 10, is necessary. If the ship is in a port of another Contracting Government, the master or owner shall also report immediately to the appropriate authorities of the port State and the nominated surveyor or recognised organisation shall ascertain that such a report has been made.

Chap. 2.1

Construction - Structure, Subdivision and Stability, Machinery and Electrical Installations

What are the requirement for enclosed space entry drills as described in SOLAS.

Crew members with enclosed space entry or rescue responsibilities shall participate in an enclosed space entry and rescue drill to be held on board the ship at least once every two months.

Chap 2.2

Fire prevention, detection and extinction. (FSS and FTP Code)

Which certificates do these forms refer to- Form P, Form E, Form R and Form C?

Form P - Record of Equipment for the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate Form E - Record of Equipment for the Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate Form R - Record of Equipment for the Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate Form C - Record of Equipment for the Cargo Ship Safety Certificate

Chap 10

High Speed Craft (HSC Code)

Chap. 10

High Speed Vessels (HSC Code)

Chap 11-2

ISPS Code

Describe the requirements for emergency steering drills.

In addition to the routine checks and tests, emergency steering drills shall take place at least once every three months in order to practise emergency steering procedures. These drills shall include direct control within the steering gear compartment, the communications procedure with the navigation bridge and, where applicable, the operation of alternative power supplies. Entries which should be made in the logbook regarding the checks and tests of the steering gear and the holding of emergency drills.

Under what circumstance does a vessel need to use more than one steering gear power unit?

In areas where navigation demands special caution, ships should have more than one steering gear power unit in operation when such units are capable of simultaneous operation.

Which publications are mandated by SOLAS for Search And Rescue (SAR) and which ships are required to carry them?

International Code of Signals and IAMSAR Vol III are the publications related to SAR. All passenger ships, and all cargo ships of 300 GT and over, when engaged on international voyages, are required to carry the International Code of Signals. All ships shall carry an up-to-date copy of Volume III of the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) Manual.

Whats is the SOLAS convention?

It is an international maritime treaty which sets minimum safety standards in the construction, equipment and operation of merchant ships.

Chap. 3

LSA Equipment (LSA Code)

Can the ships crew mistreat a person recovered?

Masters of ships who have embarked persons in distress at sea shall treat them with humanity, within the capabilities and limitations of the ship.

Define 'safe manning'.

Minimum safe manning is the level of manning that will ensure that a ship is sufficiently, effectively and efficiently manned to provide: 1. safety and security of the ship 2. safe navigation and operations at sea 3. safe operations in port 4. prevention of human injury or loss of life 5. the avoidance of damage to the marine environment and property 6. the welfare and health of seafarers through the avoidance of fatigue. Note: All ships should be sufficiently and efficiently manned and manning is subject to Port State Control inspection.

Can a vessel use a distress signal for training

No. Only in times of distress can a distress signal be sent. SOLAS Chap. 5 Reg 35

Chap 8

Nuclear Ships

Chap. 8

Nuclear Ships

What are some important regulations in SOLAS Chapter 3.

Passenger and Cargo 1-3- Products and Testing 8 - Muster Lists and Emergency Instructions 10-17 - Survival Craft, RB, MES and stowage and use 19 - Emergency Training and Drills 20 - Operational Maintenance, Readiness and Inspections Passenger Extra 21-24 - LSA and survival craft 25 - Muster stations 30 - Drills

Chap. 4

Radiocommunications (GMDSS)

Chap. 9

Safe Operation of ships. (ISM Code)

Chap 14

Safety Measures for Ships Operating in Polar Waters

Chap. 5

Safety of Navigation - how to operate your ship. Applies to all vessels

Chap 11.1

Security / Enhance security measures

Describe the requirements for the display of operating instructions and change-over procedures for remote steering gear control and steering gear power units.

Simple operating instructions with a block diagram showing the change-over procedures for remote steering gear control systems and steering gear power units shall be permanently displayed on the navigation bridge and in the steering compartment.

If your vessel is in distress, do you, as the Master, have the right to requisition (demand assistance from) a ship which has answered your distress call?

The master of a ship in distress or the search and rescue service concerned, after consultation, so far as may be possible, with the masters of ships which answer the distress alert, has the right to requisition one or more of those ships as the master of the ship in distress or the search and rescue service considers best able to render assistance, and it shall be the duty of the master or masters of the ship or ships requisitioned to comply with the requisition by continuing to proceed with all speed to the assistance of persons in distress. SOLAS Chap. 5 Reg 33.

Briefly describe the Master's obligations with respect to sending danger messages.

The master of every ship which meets with dangerous ice, a dangerous derelict, or any other direct danger to navigation, or a tropical storm, or encounters sub-freezing air temperatures associated with gale force winds causing severe ice accretion on superstructures, or winds of force 10 or above on the Beaufort scale for which no storm warning has been received, is bound to communicate the information by all means at his disposal to ships in the vicinity, and also to the competent authorities. The form in which the information is sent is not obligatory. It may be transmitted either in plain language (preferably English) or by means of the International Code of Signals. SOLAS Cap. 5 Reg 31.

What is meant by 'Master's discretion'?

The owner, the charterer, the company operating the ship, or any other person shall not prevent or restrict the master of the ship from taking or executing any decision which, in the master's professional judgement, is necessary for the safety of life at sea and protection of the marine environment.

SOLAS applies to who?

Unless expressly provided otherwise, the present regulations apply only to ships engaged on international voyages. Note that Chapter V applies to all vessels.

Chap 13

Verification of Compliance

Describe the Master's obligation under SOLAS with respect to navigation when ice is reported near the vessel's intended course?

When ice is reported near the vessel's intended course, the Master of every ship at night is bound to proceed at a moderate speed or to alter his course so as to go well clear of the danger zone.

Describe the requirements for the testing of the ship's steering gear before departure. SOLAS Ch V Regulation 26

Within 12 hours before departure and include: All steering pumps and power supplies, indicators and alarms. 1. the full movement of the rudder according to the required capabilities of the steering gear; 2. a visual inspection of the steering gear and its connecting linkage; and 3. the operation of the means of communication between the navigation bridge and steering gear compartment.