SafetyBriefing

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Yacht Safety Briefing and Checklists

Crew Briefing - Before Sailing

A good, precise, and easy to understand briefing of the crew, before leaving the dock, is extremely important for both their own safety and the safety of the vessel. Each of the items listed below must be explained in detail.

Issue a copy of the boat "plan" to each crewmember. This "plan" must clearly show the location of all skin fittings, fuel lines, water lines and stowage compartments for ALL safety equipment.

  • Lifejacket (PFDs) - Show adjustments and brief on when they should be worn.
    What are the legal requirements and what are the recommendations? e.g. in Australia, lifejackets are legally required to be worn when crossing a river bar, and in open boats under a certain size (varies from state to state). However you should always where a lifejacket at any time it makes you feel more safe doing so.
  • Harnesses and Lanyards - Show exactly how the harness is worn, where it is clipped to and when it must be used.
    Harnesses need to be worn:
    • At night, while on watch.
    • At sea, whenever leaving the cockpit or going forward of the dodger/mast.
    • At all times on deck when in certain (known dangerous) seaways -- the two examples closest to me are the Bass Strait and the Cook Strait.
    • Whenever it makes you feel more safe to do so.
    • Harnesses should not be worn when crossing a river bar. It is much safer to be up on deck, with a lifejacket on and a harness off. If the worst possible situation occurs, that is the boat pitchpoles, then you are safer to be thrown clear of the boat and swim to shore with the aid of your lifejacket, than to be trapped under the boat.
  • Man Overboard (& Danbouy/Rescue System) - Man Overboard drill:
    • Call "MAN OVERBOARD" (Shout this loudly).
    • Point.
    • Throw objects -- in order - the EPIRB, the throw bag/danbuoy, and anything else that floats to enable finding a way back to the MOB.
    • First person coming up from downstairs should hit the MOB button on the GPS, the navigation computer, or whatever.
    • Sails down, engine on.
    • Have a rescue plan -- there are different plans each of which are good for different sea conditions, but most involve getting downwind of the MOB and drifting back up.
    • If required, get on the radio and call for help.
  • Liferaft - Where the Liferaft is stowed, how to deploy, how to get (up) into the liferaft -- shoes OFF!.
  • Grab-Bag - Show where the Grab-Bag is stowed and brief crew on the contents.
  • Radio Distress Calls - MAYDAY, PAN PAN, SECURITE. Explain the difference between the 3 distress calls. (Print and laminate "cards" giving examples, using your boat's name, of each of the distress calls and have these to hand by the radios)
  • Flares - Where are they stowed? How to use them? Explain their uses.
  • EPIRBs and PLBs -- where are the ship-board EPIRB(s) stored? How to activate? Do people have personal locator beacons (PLBs) and do they know how to activate them?
  • ALL Skin Fittings & Seacocks -
  • Engine (Start & Stop) -
  • Fire Extinguishers - and fire blanket -- where are they stowed, and how to use them?
  • First Aid Kit - Where the Medical Kit is stowed and run through it's contents.
  • Heads (Operation) - Explain exactly how to operate the Head units.
  • Safe operation of Cooker -
  • Anchor - Check that the anchors are appropriate sizes and types for the vessel and conditions. Check that the anchor chain is securely attached to the stock and that the shackle is moused. Check the chain to rode splice or the eye splice and shackle (moused). Ensure that the rode is attached to the vessel inside the anchor locker. Check the length to assist in determine the depth in which anchoring is feasible. Review the windlass manual. Jackdale 19:36, 13 December 2008 (UTC)
  • Safe use of winches -
  • "Beware of Boom" -
  • Seasickness -
  • Watch-keeping - Discuss and finalise the watch-keeping schedule. Explain exactly what is required of crew when keeping watch.
  • Logbook - Demonstrate the entries required in the Ship's Log.
  • "One Hand for Yourself - the other for the Boat" -
  • Report Breakages - Brief on the importance of reporting ALL breakages and equipment failures - no matter how small and/or insignificant they may be.

Example of Yacht's Safety Briefing Plan

Here is my briefing checklist for offshore trips in Chiara Stella:

  • Lifejacket (PFDs) - In Australia, lifejackets are legally required to be worn when crossing a river bar. However you should always where a lifejacket at any time it makes you feel more safe doing so. My recommendation is that you should wear a lifejacket when on watch, at night. Store your lifejacket near your bunk, in easy reach, just in case it is required in an emergency. Before we set sail, test the fit of your lifejacket and make sure all of the parts are there -- e.g. crotch strap. If we are crossing a river bar then I need everyone (except one person at the navigation station) up on deck with their lifejackets on.
  • Harnesses and Lanyards - Harnesses need to be worn:
    • At night, while on watch.
    • At sea, whenever leaving the cockpit or going forward of the dodger/mast.
    • At all times on deck when in the Bass Strait or the Cook Strait.
    • Whenever it makes you feel more safe to do so.
    • Harnesses should not be worn when crossing a river bar. It is much safer to be up on deck, with a lifejacket on and a harness off. If the worst possible situation occurs, that is the boat pitchpoles, then you are safer to be thrown clear of the boat and swim to shore with the aid of your lifejacket, than to be trapped under the boat.
  • Man Overboard (& Danbouy/Rescue System) - Man Overboard drill:
    • Call "MAN OVERBOARD" (Shout this loudly).
    • Point.
    • Throw objects -- in order - the EPIRB, the throw bag/danbuoy, and anything else that floats to enable finding a way back to the MOB. This boat has an EPIRB in a float-free canister at the back of the boat -- it's very simple to eject this from the cannister (demonstrate) -- turn the handle, drop the outer case on the deck, pull the EPIRB out, and throw it into the water. This EPIRB is an automatic type -- it will activate when in the water. The second thing to throw is the red bag on the stern rail -- it comes away from the rail if you undo the three small black clips. Throw the entire thing at the MOB -- there is a floating horseshoe ring, lots of floating rope (bright yellow) and a torch that will automatically turn on when floating in the water.
    • First person coming up from downstairs should hit the MOB button on the navigation computer. That's the button on the top of the screen with a picture of a lifering on it.
    • Sails down, engine on.
    • Our rescue plan will be very simple -- no heroics. We will continue on the current angle of sail until we have the sails down and the engine on. We will then bear away from the wind, and head downwind, past the MOB. One person is to be on deck pointing at the MOB all of the time. Once we are downwind of the MOB we will turn about and drift back up.
    • If required, get on the radio and call for help.
    • Remember the best way to survive a MOB incident is don't go overboard! A recent survey showed that, in all MOB incidents, 100% of the people who did not go overboard, survived. Keep the harness on if in doubt, and make sure you are securely clipped to the lifelines or the strongpoints in the cockpit. Take a second lanyard if going forward of the mast so that you can clip and unclip around any obstructions up there.
    • Did you fail to follow my advice about harnesses and are now in the water? Don't panic. The rest of the crew will begin throwing things to you. Take hold of the EPIRB, pull the string to break it free of the body of the EPIRB itself, tie one end of the string to yourself, and let the EPIRB float free in the water. The EPIRB will activate itself when wet, you don't have to press any buttons or anything. Then they will throw you a bag. The bag contains some floating things, swim towards the bag and hook the big horseshoe float under your arms. Let the bright yellow rope and the floating torch, which are tied to the horseshoe, float around by themselves. The light is quite bright and can be seen by passing rescue aircraft. The rope may be used to haul you back aboard once we have found you again. Don't panic if you lose sight of the boat, we will know where you are and come back to find you. If all else fails the EPIRB is your friend, this alerts rescue authorities that you are in trouble, and tells them your exact location. Stay close to the EPIRB (make double sure it is tied to you) and stay calm. Help is on its way. Keep your arms and legs tucked in tight and your head above water, this will conserve heat and energy. Once you have the toys with you (EPIRB and float) don't try to swim, just stay where you are and keep your head above water, conserve your energy and your warmth as best as you can.
  • Liferaft - We have one Liferaft, it is on the stern rail. There are three large black plastic clips holding it in place. If the ship is sinking, deploy it by undoing these clips, and throwing it overboard. The liferaft will automatically inflate in the water. Only board the liferaft if the ship is really sinking -- you should always be stepping up into a liferaft, not down -- also shoes OFF before boarding the liferaft.
  • Grab-Bag - The Grab-Bag is stowed under the companionway stairs. It contains flares, water, emergency supplies, rations, etc. If there is sufficient time, grab extra items from around the boat -- water is the most important thing. There are 5 x 10 litre water cannisters under the floor of the starboard companionway, these are only about 80% full, containing some air so that they will float. There are many ropes and things around the deck as well -- these can be thown into the water to help alert potential rescuers to our position.
  • Radio Distress Calls - MAYDAY, PAN PAN, SECURITE.

The only one of these calls rated as a distress call is MAYDAY Distress calls are prefixed and suffixed by the word MAYDAY as in this template:

"MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY....THIS IS (SHIP'S NAME AND CALL SIGN, POSITION AND TYPE OF DISTRESS...MAYDAY"

PANPAN is used in the same way to prefix and suffix an urgent message, such as a serious medical issue or man-overboard where the ship is not at risk.

SECURITE is again used in the same manner to pre- and suffix a safety message, such as a navigational warning.

. There are examples of their use stuck in the navigation area near the radios -- look for the AMSA logos.

  • Flares - There are plenty of flares in the grab bag under the steps. Note that the red parachute flares are limited, these have the longest range, however. Orange smoke is best for use in the daytime, the white flares are an "alert" flare only.
  • EPIRBs and PLBs -- there are two ship-board EPIRBs. One is on the stern rail in the float free cannister. I mentioned this when I spoke about MOB. If the ship is going down, this will eject from the cannister automatically, and activate in the water. If you are boarding the liferaft, take it with you, and tie the rope on it to the outside of the liferaft -- let it float in the water and it will activate itself. There is also an American EPIRB near the gear stowage at the forward cabin. This needs to be manually activated. Take this along if we are in the liferaft -- we can activate it if we are still without rescue after 48 hours. I also have a 406MHz personal EPIRB which I will activate if in the water. The two ship board EPIRBs have 48 hours of battery life, my personal one has 24 hours.
  • ALL Skin Fittings & Seacocks - There are two seacocks under the sink, two in the head, and one at the bottom of the bilge (for the engine). There is a bag of wooden plugs and a mallet in the "tool shed" behind the starboard side saloon berth. The idea of seacocks is to keep the water on the outside of the boat. If these suddenly start letting the water on to the inside of the boat, stop them shut using the wooden plugs and the mallet.
  • Engine (Start & Stop) - Engine is started and stopped using the key in the ignition, the one on the green string (that normally hangs inside the companionway door). Vertical is OFF. To start, turn one place clockwise until it begins to beep. Wait 10 seconds. Turn one more place clockwise, and wait 10 seconds. Turn one more place clockwise and the engine will start.
    • If the engine won't start then check the fuel level, check the air intake, and perhaps it may need the fuel lines to be bled.
    • There is a can of ether (Start Ya Bastard) in the engine parts drawer. If the engine won't start after being bled (and there is fuel) then spray this into the air intake while someone else is key starting the engine. The air intake is on the starboard side of the engine.
    • If you need to stop the engine, turn off the key. If this doesn't work, manually shut off the fuel solenoid on the port side of the engine (yellow lever at the base of the fuel pump). If that doesn't work, then you possibly have a runaway. There is a green apple shaped foam ball in the nav table -- shove this into the air intake, and the engine will die (painfully).
  • Fire Extinguishers - and fire blanket. There are two fire extinguishers on board -- one at the companionway steps near the galley, and one near the American EPIRB at the bow.
  • First Aid Kit - There are two Medical Kits -- one in the third drawer in the galley, and a larger one in the head.
  • Heads (Operation) - Explicit instructions on how to use the heads are written in detail on the back of the door. Read these instructions before flushing. Don't flush anything down the toilet except what you have eaten, and small amounts of toilet paper (the brands of toilet paper in the heads are OK, these are water soluble).
  • Safe operation of Cooker - Demonstrate use of the gas cooker in the galley and the barbecue unit at the stern.
  • Anchor - The anchor winch is on a separate switch. There is also an up/down switch in the forward V berth. You can take this entire arrangement out of the V berth onto the bow while anchoring, so you can see how much chain has gone down.
  • Safe use of winches - Winch handles are stored at the navigation table. Remember, winches and fingers are a bad combination, please take care.
  • "Beware of Boom" - The boom on this boat is above the doghouse, and the mainsheet is operated from a standing position behind the helm. Please take care especially when running downwind, and keep your head out of the way of a possible gybe. When we are running downwind for a length of time we will either drop the mainsail and use the cutter jib, or we will put a preventer on the main boom to stop the boom swinging across.
  • Seasickness - Kwells tablets are in the heads, and some in my cabin, and some in the galley. I find that slightly overdosing on these for the first day, sticking to the recommended dose for the next two days, and dropping back after that sees me right. Everyone has their own remedy. There is also good Buderim ginger to munch on, this is a good stomach settler. The main thing is mental attitude. Don't let seasickness bother you. Standing up, at the mast or behind the helm is good, and if that doesn't work for you then lying down, below decks is the answer. Keep a positive mental attitude, and remember that seasickness is only temporary, and you will be fine.
  • Watch-keeping - With 3 crew I normally set watches from 7pm to 7am, in 4 hour blocks. With 4 crew that may be 3 hour blocks, or 3 x 4 hour blocks with one crew "floating" to be the first call in a problem. Don't be shy about getting someone else up if you have a problem, can see lights that you can't identify or deal with, or are concerned about course (especially if using the windvane) or need to reduce the mainsail. It is better to wake one or two people up to change sail than to have everyone awake and the boat flat in the water.
  • Logbook - The logbook is relatively self explanatory. Make an entry in each column that seems to be relevant, especially the barometric pressure column, and the lat/long. Make at least one entry each watch.
  • "One Hand for Yourself - the other for the Boat" - especially when moving about at night, keep a hand on some good handholds. The jacklines and shrouds are good handholds, as are the strongpoints around the cockpit. The guardrails are not strong enough to take your weight in a difficult situation, don't rely on them.

References

Publications, etc.

Forums

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

Links

Links to relative websites.



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