GUIDE NOTES FOR DISTRESS

GENERAL REPORTING SYSTEM

Vessel Master
When an emergency situation occurs, the Master shall report to the Client Representative on
Board and to Delmar Marine Transport Management as soon as possible the folowing:

1 Report to rescue centre or authorities as required for the type of emergency

2 Type of emergency
3 Cause and time
4 The ship’s position
5 Weather condition
6 Accurate extracts from the deck and engine log books
7 In case of oil spillage, refer Vessel’s SOPEP

Delmar Marine Transport Management

The DMT Management shall report all relevant information to the following:

1 Client / Charterer
2 Main Insurance – Hall&Mashinery
3 P&I Insurance
4 Local Authorities / Police
5 Harbour Authorities
6 Class Institution
7 Agents, as required
8 Maritime Investigator

In the event of an emergency situation, and a report of this reaches the office (or outside office
Hours, to the person on duty), the Emergency Co-ordinator must be iformed immediately. Such
report may come from a ship, an employer or a rescue centre.

When distress report is received either in or out of the office hours by telephone, the report must
Be noted down giving the time of receipt together with the name of the sender, and handed over
To or telephoned to the Emergency Co-ordinator.
All subsequent messages must also be noted down together with the time received and name of
the sender.
If the Emergency Co-ordinator is not availiable, his place is taken by the Duty Watch Person.
If the Emergency Co-ordinator receives a report of shipwreck, distress or other serious accident,
Out of office hours, he must decide on the following:
a) Whitch of the employees to be informed immediatly;
b) Whitch of the employees to be called into the office;
c) Whitch others must be informed immediatly.

Responsibility:
The Emergency Co-ordinator is the leader of the Emergency Group. He will utilise the other
employees and external resourses as required for the situation at hand.
 ENGINE FAILURE
a) Master informed;
b) Engage manual steering in the proper manner for the navigation;
c) Anchors cleared away and ready to be dropped if it is possible to do this;
d) Show “Not under command” lights/signals.
STEERING GEAR FAILURE
a) Master and Engine informed;
b) Show “Not under command” lights/signals.
c) Activate appropriate acoustic signals if other vessel are nearby;
d) Decrease ship’s speed and stop main engine if necessary;
e) Broadcast ship’s position by MF radio and VHF radio ch.16
GYROCOMPASS FAILURE
a) Master informed;
b) Use magnetic compass or other alternative methods;
c) Engine room informed;
d) Take into account the effects on other interfaced navigation instruments;
ENGINE TELEGRAPH FAILURE
a) Master informed;
b) Bridge control switched on Engine control;
c) Engine officer on watch/Engine room informed;
d) Engaged internal communication between the bridge and the Engine room.
IMMINENT COLLISION / COLLISION
a) Internal emergency alarm activated;
b) Ship manoeuvred as possible in order to minimize collision affects;
c) Close mechanic/manual watertight and fireproof doors;
d) Deck lights switched on;
e) Master informed;
f) Engine informed;
g) VHF switched on and turned on ch.16;
h) Crew mastered at the Master station;
i) Ship’s position up-dated and available at the radio station;
j) Bilges, double bottoms and cargo tanks sounded after the collision.
GROUNDING
a) Engines stopped;
b) Emergency alarm (internal/external) activated;
c) Watertight doors closed;
d) Master informed;
e) Engine room informed;
f) VHF switched on and turned on ch.16;
g) Acoustic signals activated (as per Colreg ’72);
h) Lights/signals shown (as per Colreg ’72);
i) Deck lights switched on;
j) Bilges, double bottoms and cargo tanks sounded;
k) Outboard depth sounding carried out;
l) Ship’s position available at the radio station.
SEARCH AND RESCUE
a) Carry out the RDF bearing of the distress signal;
b) Distress signal relay transmitted;
c) Keep a sharp monitoring of all emergency frequency;
 d) Consult “MERSAR” manual;
e) Communication on emergency frequency mainteined with other SAR vessels and aircraft;
f) Ship’s position up-dated and available at the radio station.
ABANDON SHIP
a) Abandon ship command issued by the Master;
b) Engine informed;
c) Operations carried out as per Master List;
d) Crew at lifeboat/liferaft embarking points mustered.
FLOODING
a) Emergency alarm (internal/external) activated;
b) Emergency squad mustered;
c) Watertight doors closed;
d) Master informed;
e) Engine informed;
f) Ship’s position up-dated and available at the radio station;
FIRE
a) Fire alarm (internal/external) activated;
b) Fire fighting team at the fire station and informed about fire location;
c) Ventilation stopped, fireproof and watertight doors are closed;
d) Deck light switched on;
e) Master informed;
f) Engine informed;
g) Ship’s position up-dated and available at the radio station.
MAN OVERBOARD
a) Start manoeuvring by using rudder 35° towards the side where the person felt;
b) Throw immediately overboard an life buoy with light and smoke signal;
c) Lifebuoy position as reference point noted and followed;
d) Locate lookouts and instruct them to keep the person or lifebuoy under control;
e) Master informed;
f) Man Overboard signal activated;
g) Inform nearby vessels (by VHF or other means);
h) Activate “Man overboard” command on GPS;
i) Start Williamson manouevre for rescue castaway;
j) Master the crewmembers designated for castaway rescue;
k) Engine informed;
l) Ship’s position plotted;
m) Ship’s position up-dated and available at the radio station.
SABOTAGE, TERRORISM AND BOMB THREAT
Any sabotage, terrorism or bomb threat shall be taken seriously and shall not be ignored.
The situation is to be reported immediately to the police.

Further, report to threat to:

- Closest Rescue Centre

- Owners
- Charters and Harbour Authorities
Ship at quay side:

- Abandon ship
- Report to Harbour Authorities
Ship at sea:

- Search for unknown objects, packages etc.

The master shall prepare the search plan, giving priority to important
areas. When searching, use personnel that are familiar with the area
to be researched (engine room, storage etc.)
- Do not touch any suspicious objects observed;
- Describe any suspicious objects observed to Rescue Centre/Onshore
- Warning shall be given by the ship’s radio (emergency traffic), unless the
person threatening has ordered otherwise.
Possible damages from unknown object(s) found:

- Assess posible damage due to an explosion;

- Prepare for an emergency situation
- Abandon area where the unknown object(s) was located;
- Wait for further assistance and advice from police/port Authorities.