VESSEL SAFETY & FITNESS
SAR Crew Manual
Chapter 3
Introduction
Vessel Fitness and Safety
• The rescue vessel and crew shall be kept in a
full state of readiness by:
1. Regular inspection and thorough periodic
surveys
2. Preventive maintenance and timely repair
3. On board emergency drills
4. Navigation and boat handling training
5. Search and rescue training
Search and Rescue Cycle
1. Alert, and safely proceed to vessel
2. Crew dons gear and performs personal
equipment check
3. Crew performs pre departure check
4. Pre-departure briefing
5. Vessel departs
6. Vessel safely navigates to scene
7. Vessel resolves or stabilises incident
Search and Rescue Cycle
8. Vessel returns to base
9. Crew de-briefs
10. Check vessel, and prepare for next mission
with refuelling, restocking and repairs
Briefing
Briefing
On being alerted the coxswain will telephone
Joint Rescue Coordination Centre to be
briefed on the mission, and initial action plan.
Briefing
• In briefing the crew, the coxswain should use:
1. Situation
2. Mission
3. Execution
4. Administration - any questions?
5. Communications - check understanding
Situation
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Nature of the distress
Where the report came from
What sort of vessel and description
Number of persons, appearance and dress
PFDs
Mission
• Position or area of mission
• Action to be taken (search, rescue, recover)
Execution
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Assignment of roles of crew
Estimated time of arrival on scene
Decide on route
Any other rescue resources involved
Preparations en route
Administration
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Estimated duration of incident
Will a relief crew be required
Will refuelling be required
Weather information and forecast
Tides
Any special equipment needed
Telephone numbers available
Log Books
Communications
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Call signs of other rescue resources
Working VHF frequencies
Situation Report (SITREP) times
Radio checks
Contact telephone numbers
Briefing of Passengers
• Should it be necessary to carry non CCGA P
personnel to an incident, they must be
properly outfitted, and given a PFD.
Briefing of Passengers
• They must be briefed with regards to:
1. Flares and emergency equipment
2. Their physical position in the boat and the
need to to be holding on securely at all times
when underway
3. Keep arms and legs inboard at all times
4. Warn of physical effects
5. What their duty is in an emergency on the
rescue vessel
Pre Departure Check
Pre Departure Check
• Regular inspections of the vessel ensures
that the pre departure check holds no
surprises.
• It primarily involves a check of the critical
systems on board
Pre Departure Check 1
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Kill switch operation
Personal protective equipment being worn
Tubes properly inflated
Fuel and oils levels topped up
Navigation, illumination and instrumentation
lights operational
• Searchlights operational
• Bilges dry and pump operational
Pre Departure Check 2
• Self bailing ports, scuppers and freeing ports
clear
• SAR equipment ready
• Safety equipment ready
• Navigational systems set up and operational
• Machinery and steering operational
• Tools and spares
• Rigging tight
Pre Departure Check 3
• Self righting equipment connected and ready
• Communications operational
• Weather forecast and tide conditions known
Emergencies
Emergencies
• All volunteers must be ready for emergencies
which could occur to their own vessel at any
time.
• There must preplanned responses to
foreseeable emergencies that may occur.
Emergencies
• These will include:
1. Man overboard
2. Grounding
3. Flooding, capsize or sinking - crew in water
survival
4. Collision
5. Fire - machinery or electrical
6. Machinery or steering failure
7. Failure of navigational equipment
Man Overboard
1. Spotter to keep sight of person in water, and
indicate when they can see that person by
waving their arm in the person’s direction.
2. If they lose sight, arm to stay pointing but not
waving.
3. Head into the wind
4. Conduct SAP
Man Overboard
5. Decide on recovery method and set up.
6. Run in slowly, turn across wind, downwind of
the person in the water, and put engines in
neutral for final approach.
7. Bring person in on upwind side of vessel.
8. Best method for anyone who has been in the
water for any time is “parbuckling”.
Man Overboard
Man Overboard
• On recovering the person from the water,
they should be treated for hypothermia.
• Severely hypothermic persons are to be
treated as stretcher patients even if they are
able to walk.
• Insulate against further heat loss.
• Apply heat to the body core. Use a heat treat
unit to inject warm air through a face mask if
available.
Man Overboard
• Do not over stimulate the cold limbs, as the
return of cold blood to the heart, will cause
greater distress to the heart.
• Get to medical attention as soon as possible.
• If a casualty appears to have succumbed,
continue to give cardio-pulmonary
resusitation and continue warming the body
core.
Capsize
• In the event of the rescue vessel being
swamped or capsized, the crew must be clear
as to the procedures that are to be followed
for that type of vessel
• Capsize or swamping is most likely to happen
with the seas from astern or large breakers
on the beam.
• The safest way to point the boat in heavy
seas is with the bow into the seas.
Capsize
Capsize
• Some RHIBs are equipped with self righting
gear - know how to operate yours.
Capsize
1. Assemble crew at transom.
Capsize
2. Deploys safety line, crew to end of line
coxswain stay at transom.
Capsize
• 3. Coxswain activates righting system by
pulling firmly on handle, and then moves
away on safety line.
Capsize
4. The boat should right in less than 10
seconds.
Capsize
5. After righting the crew can reboard the vessel
on the windward side.
Cold Water Survival
• If you vessel is not self-righting or fails to
right, and you are not in danger, stay with the
boat.
• Get anyone who is trapped under the boat
out from underneath.
• Collect all distress flares and EPIRB. Activate
the EPIRB.
Cold Water Survival
• See separate power point on Cold Water
Survival
Fire Fighting
Fire Fighting
• The crew of rescue vessels need to be ready
to deal with a fire on one of their vessels at
any time.
Fire Fighting
• A fire needs to have four elements to burn.
1. Fuel
2. Heat
3. Oxygen
4. A chain reaction
• Remove any of these and the fire will go out.
Fire Fighting
Fire Fighting
• Remove the fuel
Pull out the burning wood
Remove adjacent fuel sources
Cut off fuel supply (e.g liquids or gases)
Fire Fighting
• Remove the oxygen
Smother the flames using an appropriate
extinguisher or fire blanket
Prevent oxygen getting to the fire - put a lid on
and close ventilators
Fire Fighting
• Remove the heat
• Cool the heat source
• Break the Chain Reaction
• Use dry chemical or halon fire extinguishing
media that attach the chemical structure of
the components of fire
Fire Fighting
• Response time is critical and there will be no
time at an emergency to read the instructions
on a fire extinguisher to see how best to use
it.
• DO IT NOW
Fire Fighting
• When a fire is discovered, the following applies:
FIND Where is the fire and how big
INFORM Tell everyone on board and make distress call
RESTRICT Close off air supply, electrical supply, gas lines
EXTINGUISH Put out fire with appropriate equipment or
extinguishing agent
Fire Fighting
• The de-watering pump is available on most
SAR vessel.
Fire Fighting
• Fire extinguishers are the prefered fire
extinguishing medium on CCGA P Vessels.
• Generally there are two types:
1. Carbon Dioxide
2. Dry Powder
Fire Fighting - CO2
• Carbon dioxide extinguishers push a stream
of carbon dioxide gas under pressure out of
the nozzle.
• The idea is to place a blanket of the gas over
the top of the fuel to prevent the oxygen
getting to the fire.
• In small vessels the wind is likely to disperse
the gas to quickly unless it is in a confined
space.
Fire Fighting - CO2
Fire Fighting - Dry Powder
• These extinguishers may be rated ABC or BC
(A = wood, B = flammable liquids or gases, C
= electrical fires) and for rescue vessels come
in 5 lb. or 10 lb.
• Generally the seal should be broken, the
safety pin removed, turn upside down and
give a brief shake (the powder can compact
with the vibrations from the vessel), and then
direct the stream at the base of the fire, using
a sweeping motion.
Fire Fighting - Dry Powder
Distress
Distress
• These are laid down in the International
Reulations for Preventing Collision at Sea
1972
• There is a separate powerpoint just on
Distress Signals.
Vessel Inspection
Vessel Inspection
• Regular inspections must be carried out to
ensure the rescue vessel, its machinery,
electrical equipment, and loose equipment
are all operational.
• This is to ensure the safety of the crew
manning it, and the best chance of a timely
response to a vessel or persons in distress.
Vessel Inspection 1
• This inspection will include:
Hull and superstructure
Lines and Rails
Mast & Equipment
Anchor and fittings
Moorings
Hull spaces
Vessel Inspection 2
• This inspection will include:
Navigation lights
Searchlights fixed and portable
Instrument lights
Air horn
Loud hailer
Vessel Inspection 3
• This inspection will include:
Lifejackets/ PFDs
Fire extinguishers
Distress and illumination flares
Anchor and line made fast to vessel/ Drogue
EPIRB
De watering Pump
Heaving line
‘First Aid Equipment
Vessel Inspection 4
• This inspection will include:
Power
GPS / Chart Plotter / Radar / Depth Sounder
Radio Direction Finder
Fixed and Portable VHFs / cell phone
Vessel Inspection 5
• This inspection will include:
Engine hours
Engines and starting system
State of the bilges
Oil levels and Fuel Levels
Steering mechanism
Bilge pumps and hoses
Vessel Systems Maintenance
Inboard Engines
Vessel Systems Maintenance
Inboard Engines
• Gasoline vapours are highly explosive, so
that smell should trigger extreme caution.
• Inboard engines and their machinery spaces
must be kept clean, tidy and be regularly
inspected and maintained as required.
• The origin of any water in the bilge must be
tracked.
Vessel Systems Maintenance
Inboard Engines
• Check for :
1. water contamination of fuel
2. state of filters
3. ignition system and plugs
4. state of lubrication
5. cooling systems
6. leaks from stuffing box (propeller shaft exit to
hull)
Vessel Systems Maintenance
Outboard Engines
Vessel Systems Maintenance Outboard Engines
• Outboard engines have the same needs as
an inboard engine:
1. Fuel
2. Lubrication
3. Ignition
4. Cooling
5. Cleanliness
Vessel Systems Maintenance Outboard Engines
Vessel Systems Maintenance Outboard Engines
• Follow the maintenance regime in the Owner
Manual supplied with your motors.
Vessel Electrical Systems
Vessel Electrical Systems
• The vessel’s electrical system generally
consists of a battery, an engine charging
system, the electric starter motor, and
switches.
Vessel Electrical Systems
• Electrical problems stem from:
1. Loose fittings
2. Broken connections
3. Corrosion
4. Low battery voltage
Battery Care
• The battery must be covered and properly
secured.
1. Do not allow a lead acid battery fully run
down. This will degrade it.
2. Provide plenty of air circulation to allow
venting off hydrogen gas.
3. Maintain electrolyte levels.
4. Do not overcharge too fast or too long.
5. Keep the battery, tray and terminals clean.
Trouble-Shooting
Trouble-Shooting 1
• Motor won’t start
1. Check fuel level
2. Check fuel line connected, fuel filters and
screen
3. Check spark plug wires connected
4. Check throttle is in neutral
5. Kill switch is not activated
Trouble-Shooting 2
• Motor hard to start
1. Check fuel level
2. Fuel tank vent is closed
3. Fuel line pinched or needs to be primed
4. Choke malfunction
5. Water or dirt in fuel
6. Loose spark plug wire
7. Dirty or improperly gapped spark plug
Trouble-Shooting 3
• Motor runs rough
1. Water or dirt in fuel
2. Loose spark plug wire
3. Dirty or improperly gapped spark plug
4. Carburetor idle - needle needs adjustment
Trouble-Shooting 4
• Motor suffers loss of power
1. Propeller fouled
2. Not in gear
3. Sheer pin broken on propeller
4. Spun propeller hub
Trouble-Shooting 5
• Motor suffers from vibration
1. Loose mounting clamps
2. Bent propeller
Trouble-Shooting 6
• Motor stops
1. Fuel supply
2. No oil in fuel (for 2 strokes)
3. Loose spark plug wire
4. Water intake blocked or ineffective water
pump
5. Kill switch
Fuel
Fuel
• Rescue vessels should aim to keep their fuel
tanks as full as possible at all times, so that
their range and endurance is maximised
during a call.
• The fuel consumption rate should be known
by all crew on board.
Fuel
• Example
Cruising RPM 2200
Approximate speed at 2200 RPM 20 knots
Fuel consumption at 2200 RPM 50 litres per hour
Fuel Capacity 1000 litres
Maximum hours at 2200 RPM = 1000/50 = 20 hours
20 hours at 20 knots = 400 nm
Basic operating range (safety margin 20%) = 320 nm
Safe Fuelling Practices 1
1. Vessel properly berthed and secured
2. Engines turned off, power off, no open flames
3. Portable tanks moved ashore
4. Non fuelling crew ashore
5. Fire extinguishers ready
6. Close doors and windows
7. Plugs scuppers and anti pollution gear ready
8. Ground nozzle
Safe Fuelling Practices 2
9. Use correct type and grade of fuel (and oil)
10. Fuel slowly when tank is coming to full, and
avoid overfilling, - allow for expansion
11. Wipe up spillage
12. Check for vapours or odours
13. Operate bilge blower 2 to 4 minutes before
starting