Safety at Sea Activity Code: O4-A4 Developed by Ege University Training material Activity Code: O4-A4 Developed by Ege University

Course Training material short courses’ learning material SeaofSkills Course Training material Safety at Sea 1 Life saving appliances Abandoning vessel and survival Man overboard Training material

Thematic training sections Emergency situations require all fishermen on board to react in an effective manner and without panic. This presentation, which has a broad range of rules and advice in respect of small-scale fishing vessel safety, is specifically intended to provide guidance and to promote safety awareness both fishermen and vessel less than 12 m. Small-scale fishers will also have educated basic trainings in survival both at sea and a life raft. Both the captain and crew members are in potential danger of falling overboard. Therefore, personnel on a fishing boat must always be prepared against a man overboard, which is one of the foremost causes of death at sea. Safety Survival Training material

Training provider: Sea of Skills Project A small-scale fishing vessel generally operates routine and regular trips between fishing area and port. There are always a number of potential risks both at sea and in harbour. The course provides safety standards according to international and national regulations for vessels less than 12 m. For this purpose, several topics related to vessel and fishers safety as well as survival of fishers are covered below. Another issue, namely man overboard which could result in cold water shock and hypothermia, among the most dangerous consequences of accidents in cold water. The course will provide the necessary skills for participants to increase their knowledge and experience in order to overcome any possible negative scenarios on board or at sea. Training material

Training Objectives After completion of the training session trainees are expected to be able to: Learn requirements of life jackets, life buoys and life rafts according to SOLAS and how to use. Know procedures when abandoning vessel and search and rescue operation. Intervention a casualty who exposed to hypothermia or cold water shock. Aware of potential risks regarded Manover Board and how to prevent or reduce these risks Explain what kind of potential risks about MOB on a small-scale fishing vessel and how to prevent these factors Do actions if a fisherman goes overboard and recovery from water. Training material

LIFE SAVING APPLIANCES 1. SAFETY AT SEA LIFE SAVING APPLIANCES Life Jackets Life Buoys Life Raft Training material

1. SAFETY AT SEA Life Jackets A life jacket is a personal life-saving appliance that can be used only personally to abandon the vessel in distress situations. The jacket keeps the wearer afloat while requiring them to keep their faces upward position in order to prevent drowning. Even for a good swimmer, clothes, current personal strength and sea conditions are crucial criteria affecting survival. A life jacket must have sufficient buoyancy and balance to keep an unconscious or exhausted person’s mouth 12 cm above the surface and be able to reposition an unconscious person within 5 seconds so that the person’s mouth is away from the water. The centre of buoyancy of a submerged person, when unconscious, shifts to waist and thighs. Normally, a float that can lift the body to the surface and keep the head above water must have a buoyancy capacity of at least 7.5 kg. Life jackets that can turn the wearer face up on the surface (thus keep nose and mouth clear from the water in order to prevent drowning) are designed with floaters around the breast and at the back of the head. Training material

An adult life-jacket shall be so constructed that 1. SAFETY AT SEA Requirements for life jackets according to International Life-saving Appliance (LSA) Code An adult life-jacket shall be so constructed that all persons can correctly don it within a period of one minute without assistance, it allows the wearer to jump from a height of at least 4.5 m into the water without injury and without dislodging or damaging the lifejacket, an adult lifejacket shall have sufficient buoyancy and stability in calm fresh water, to lift the mouth of an exhausted or unconscious person not less than 120 mm clear of the water with the body inclined backwards at an angle of not less than 20° from the vertical position, turn the body of an unconscious person in the water from any position to one where the mouth is clear of the water in not more than 5 seconds, shall allow the person wearing it to swim a short distance and to board a survival craft, shall have buoyancy which is not reduced by more than 5% after 24h submersion in fresh water, shall be fitted with a whistle firmly secured by a cord. Training material

1. SAFETY AT SEA Inflatable lifejackets A lifejacket which depends on inflation for buoyancy shall have not less than two separate compartments and comply with the all requirements for ordinary lifejacket. inflate automatically on immersion, be provided with a device to permit inflation by a single manual motion and be capable of being inflated by mouth. in the event of loss of buoyancy in any one compartment be capable of complying with the all requirements for ordinary lifejacket. shall have buoyancy which is not reduced by more than 5% after 24 hours submersion in fresh water after inflation by means of the automatic mechanism. Life-jacket light shall have a luminous intensity of not less than 0.75 cd in all directions of the upper hemisphere, have a source of energy capable of providing a luminous intensity of 0.75 cd for a period of at least 8 hours, be visible over as great a segment of the upper hemisphere as is practicable when attached to a lifejacket, be of white colour. If the light referred above is a flashing light it shall, in addition be provided with a manually operated switch, flash at a rate of not less than 50 flashes and not more than 70 flashes per minute with an effective luminous intensity of at least 0.75 cd. Training material

1. SAFETY AT SEA In many countries small-scale fishing vessels shorter than 6 meters are obliged to equip with 2 life jackets while those of 6-12 meters of length must carry 4 of them. As a rule, there is one life jacket per person onboard. In general, fishing vessels smaller than 6 meters employ 1 or 2 personnel, while longer ones have 3 or 4. Life Jackets must be certified according to international (IMO, International Maritime Organization and SOLAS/AB International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, Marine Equipment Directive) and national regulations and must be marked as conforming to the standards. A life jacket must be equipped with reflective tape, whistle, battery, light, a thread to activate the light manually and a fastening strap. Training material

1. SAFETY AT SEA Solid life jackets Solid life jackets come in two types; the outer cloth is either water penetrant or water resistant. Although the former are generally solid ones, in recent years water-resistant solid life jackets are produced as well. They are often made with zippers in the front or at the sides. At most 4 straps are included to fit the user’s body. Inflatable life jackets The buoyancy of these life jackets depends on at least 2 individual inflated chambers. Inflation is done by either blowing or engaging an apparatus with hand. They are designed for emergency situations and worn like a vest. One or two belts are included at the waist. In some types there are additional straps at the crotch area. Replaceable CO2 cans are used for inflation. Another convenience of inflatable life jackets is that they can be worn under clothing and can be operated this way in emergency situations. Training material

1. SAFETY AT SEA Wearing Life jackets vary in terms of the way they are worn; they can be put on like an ordinary jacket or by passing over the head. Facing the back side of the jacket while the top side is up, the jacked is passed around the neck. The strap is then passed around the waist and tied or fastened. Zipped ones are either worn identically, or like a jacket and later passing the straps around the waist and fastening the buckles. In some models, the straps at the underside of the jacket are used to fit under the crotch. These are especially helpful for rescuing the person in a balanced manner. The procedure for wearing these are as follows: Feet are passed through the crotch straps before the jacket is worn. Later the waist and crotch straps are fastened. In emergency situations, if one has to jump with the inflatable life jacket on, the life jacket should be inflated in the water. Before jumping, the jacket must be made sure to fit the body tightly with all the straps fastened properly, since during the jump the jacket will resist against submerging as the body enters the water with great force. Training material

1. SAFETY AT SEA Life Buoys A life buoy is a personal life-saving appliance that helps the overboard person to keep floating until rescue arrives as well helping rescuers to spot his/her position. Its buoyancy helps the distressed to stay on the surface while the colour, reflective tape, light and smoke signals help visibility and finally the heaving line facilitates rescue. The life buoy is the most recognizable appliance on a boat. They are to be located at both sides of the boat, at reachable position, ready to be used at all open decks with at least one close to stern. They must be easily removable and by no means tied. Every life buoy must be marked with the name of the ship and registered port in capital letters. Training material

1. SAFETY AT SEA Requirements for life buoys according to International Life-saving Appliance (LSA) Code Every lifebuoy shall have an outer diameter of not more than 800 mm and an inner diameter of not less than 400 mm be capable of supporting not less than 14.5 kg of iron in fresh water for a period of 24 hours have a mass of not less than 2.5 kg be constructed to withstand a drop into the water from the height at which it is stowed above the waterline in the lightest seagoing condition or 30 m, whichever is the greater, without impairing either its operating capability or that of its attached components. if it is intended to operate the quick release arrangement provided for the self-activated smoke signals and self-igniting lights, have a mass sufficient to operate the quick release arrangement. be fitted with a grabline not less than 9.5 mm in diameter and not less than 4 times the outside diameter of the body of the buoy in length. The grabline shall be secured at four equidistant points around the circumference of the buoy to form four equal loops. Training material

Self-igniting lights shall 1. SAFETY AT SEA Self-igniting lights shall be such that they cannot be extinguished by water be of white colour and capable of either burning continuously with a luminous intensity of not less than 2 cd in all directions of the upper hemisphere or flashing (discharge flashing) at a rate of not less than 50 flashes and not more than 70 flashes per minute with at least the corresponding effective luminous intensity be provided with a source of energy capable of meeting the requirement of previous paragraph for a period of at least 2 hours Self-activating smoke signals shall emit smoke of a highly visible colour at a uniform rate for a period of at least 15 min when floating in calm water not ignite explosively or emit any flame during the entire smoke emission time of the signal not be swamped in a seaway continue to emit smoke when fully submerged in water for a period of at least 10 s Buoyant lifelines shall be non-kinking, have a diameter of not less than 8 mm and have a breaking strength of not less than 5 kN. Training material

1. SAFETY AT SEA In small-scale fishing vessels under 6 meters, the number of obligatory life buoys is one, while bigger ones are required to carry two. Each side of a boat must be equipped with at least one life buoy and a buoyant heaving line. Life buoys can be used when the vessel is either stationary (when the vessel is anchored) or moving, in man overboard situations, for any reason. Life buoys are thrown immediately when a MOB situation is recognized, by picking them from their hangers, to a spot that can be reached by the casualty. Before throwing a line-equipped buoy, the coil is unwound while one end of the heaving line is held tightly in hand. However, if the purpose is to reach the buoy to the casualty, no time should be wasted. While throwing a life buoy, one must be careful not to hit the head of the casualty with the buoy. To be able to spot the position of a person who has fallen from a moving boat, a buoy with smoke or illumination support must be used (according to the time of day) while in anchored position (if no drift is present), a life buoy with heaving line is sufficient. Training material

1. SAFETY AT SEA Life Raft A life saving boat for rescuing multiple people is an inflatable or solid, motor or motorless marine vessel found on the ship. Survival boats on a ship may include life boats (motor and rigid life saving boats), life rafts (inflatable and motorless survival boats) and rescue boats (rigid, inflatable or hybrid speed boat survival boats). Life rafts are motorless floating appliances used to evacuate ship in an emergency situation. An inflatable life raft is a rescue appliance that is normally stowed folded in a container, inflated by gas for buoyancy when needed and made of non-rigid compartments. Generally, the gas to inflate the life boat is carbondioxide which is both non-toxic and non-flammable. Inside the raft are the gas canister for inflation as well as other tools and equipment conforming SOLAS regulations needed by the casualties. Inflation is done by engaging the pulling the line connected to the inflation canister mechanism. The gas inside the canister inflates the raft as the pressure rips the cover, helping the raft to inflate freely. Under temperatures between 18 and 20°C, inflation completes in 1 minute while at 30 °C it takes 3 minutes to fully inflate the raft. Training material

1. SAFETY AT SEA Training material

1. SAFETY AT SEA General properties Every life raft shall be so constructed as to be capable of withstanding exposure for 30 days afloat in all sea conditions. Both the inflatable life raft and the equipment within are contained in a waterproof container designed to withstand harsh weather and sea conditions. Life raft is folded so that it can right itself on the water after freeing from the cover. Can be righted by one person even in rough sea conditions. The floor of a floating life raft can withstand a jump from 4.5 m height. The life raft and its fittings shall be so constructed as to enable it to be towed at a speed of 3 knots in calm water when loaded with its full complement of persons and equipment. Inside the life raft is a manual torch that activates automatically as soon as the raft is inflated, which can illuminate at least 12 hours continually, strong enough to help survivors read survival instructions and use the equipment inside the raft. Outside the raft is an electric or dry battery-operated torch that is automatically activated by salt water, strong enough to be visible from at least 2 miles at night time in a calm weather for at least 12 hours. Training material

Mandatory equipment on a life raft 1. SAFETY AT SEA Mandatory equipment on a life raft Each life raft must be equipped with tools and appliances at quantities and qualities conforming the SOLAS regulations. Training material

ABANDONING VESSEL AND SURVIVAL 1. SAFETY AT SEA ABANDONING VESSEL AND SURVIVAL One of the worst experiences a fisher can face is being forced to abandon the vessel. This may happen due to any type of collision, fire or storm. The decision to do so comes from the most experienced person on board and is exercised as the last resort. The boat is abandoned when there is no other option left after all mitigations are made to save the ship. A too-early decision is as dangerous as a too-late one. One must keep in mind that the safest place is actually the boat. Therefore, it is safer to stay calm and stay onboard as long as possible. Never abandon a ship until it abandons you, so to say. One of the most important challenges is to make fishermen aware of the risks and dangers in fishing and sailing. The layout of each vessel and fishing methods used will impose particular problems and it is essential that solutions are found before facing these problems in a real emergency. Equipment may need to be obtained and located where it will be to hand if required. Simple measures that could be followed before and during sailing will prevent unexpected incidents or accidents. To obtain the latest weather forecast before going out at sea, and also when at sea, to ensure the safety appliances and equipment onboard and to supply a means of communication by mobile phone or VHF are the most important principal measures. Training material

First steps to follow in an abandon ship order are as follows; 1. SAFETY AT SEA First steps to follow in an abandon ship order are as follows; Wear cold resistant clothes to keep body warm. Prefer wool. If possible, support with raincoat or a coat. These outfits will increase the chance of survival on lifeboat by preventing loss of body heat. Wear life jacket on top. If there is time; eat simple, energizing foods and drinks. Take additional tools for the life raft; Binoculars, flares (in addition to ones on the life jacket), food and water, radar reflector, hand radio, etc. Move to abandon ship area, check the additional tools to take with. Training material

Boarding Life Raft and Survival 1. SAFETY AT SEA Boarding Life Raft and Survival When boarding the life raft from the vessel or from the water, there are a number of actions to be considered. The life raft is thrown overboard manually. The raft is inflated by pulling its line. The raft is boarded taking caution to avoid the water. If possible, the raft should be boarded without getting wet at all. It is safer to board the raft than jumping, by holding a line or a hose, or by either a pilot ladder or a net attached to the shipboard. If one has to abandon ship by jumping into the water instead, must board the raft as soon as possible or swim to a safe distance if not. Swimming to a safe distance is imperative in terms of protecting against the dangers caused by the ship. Those in water should use the ladder or the ramp in order to save energy. If the life raft cannot be towed closer to the shipboard, the righting member must board the raft and drop the anchor before starting to save the others with the life ring. Unconscious casualties are rescued from the water by a mentally and physically stronger member. Life ring must be used during this procedure. Training material

Steps on the first step of the ladder at knee level. 1. SAFETY AT SEA Boarding the life raft from the water is more difficult than doing the same with a life boat. It must be kept in mind that it can be hard enough on a calm and warm sea; a rough sea will be even more inconvenient. It’s crucial to be trained and follow the rules. After jumping with the life jacket, one must turn face up while approaching a rescue vessel. Feet are kept together and swimming should be done by only with arms. Once close to the rescue vessel, the following must be done: The first person to board the life raft holds the upper lines of the ladder with both hands. Steps on the first step of the ladder at knee level. Gains speed by immersing the life jacket several times. With a final, strong thrust, rolls themself onboard and moves aside. Training material

Actions to take on a life raft 1. SAFETY AT SEA Actions to take on a life raft Cut the painter line. Row to a safe distance using oars. If no self-operating anchor is present, firstly retrieve the anchor and move the raft to a safer area. After arriving at the safe area, drop the anchor again to prevent drifting. After maintaining order in the raft, commence survival procedures. Check inflated chambers for leaking valves and inflate further if necessary. Take measures to maintain body temperature. Open the survival toolkit, check the equipment, place them away from water . Take tablets for sea sickness. Estimate the rescue time and plan the distribution of water and food accordingly. Do not drink water in the first 24 hours. Daily water ration is half liter. Take the necessary steps to derive drinking water. Make sure the torch is on at night time. Do not waste energy unnecessarily. Do not use sharp tools when not needed Do not use visibility equipment unnecessarily. Make sure to keep spirits high. Training material

1. SAFETY AT SEA The life raft is equipped with a radar reflector to facilitate search and rescue operations. A radar reflector is a metal device with two perpendicular aluminium plates which reflects the radio waves of nearby ships in order to be recognized by their radars. Since wooden and fiberglass boats have less chance of reflecting radio signals, all life saving appliances are equipped with a radar reflector. The radar reflector is hung as high as possible in a life raft. Training material

1. SAFETY AT SEA Pyrotechnic and Other Signalling Devices In SAR operations, light and smoke devices are also used to attract the attention of nearby planes and ships. Parachute flare A parachute flare is an appliance that, when fired, reaches a high altitude in the air with the aid of a rocket and descends slowly on the water via a parachute, and therefore allows its flare to be seen from as long distance as possible during the time it burns. It’-s bright red light lasts at least 40 seconds with no less than 300.000 candelas of brightness, reaching at least 300 meters of altitude. Its descent can be controlled to be 5 meters or less per second. If used in windy conditions, it should be fired 15 degrees vertically leeward. In calm weather, it’s fired vertically. Parachute flares are used to attract attention from long distances. Training material

1. SAFETY AT SEA Hand flare It’s a manual appliance that aids the rescue teams by its bright light. Its bright red light of more than 15.000 candelas lasts at least for 1 minute. It’s especially effective at night to be recognized by ships and planes, but can be used during daytime as well. The flare should be held up above head, keeping downwind. Hand flare is much more effective than a smoke signal at night time or low visibility. Smoke signal It’s a pyrotechnic signalling appliance that spreads an orange-coloured smoke on the sea surface. It emits a thick smoke for 3-4 minutes. Smoke signal is used in day time to attract the attention of planes and ships nearby, or helping the pilot of a plane in determining the direction of wind during rescue operations. Since the smoke spreads horizontally on the sea surface in windy weather, it’s not easily visible by ships, therefore they are more useful in daylight, in open weather with less wind. After being fired, it’s thrown off the raft at leeside. It should never be fired inside the life raft. Training material

Daylight signalling mirror 1. SAFETY AT SEA Daylight signalling mirror Signalling mirror consists of a perforated metal plate and a perforated targeting plate in order to direct the sunlight to a desired object for signalling. Each life saving vessel has one signalling mirror. Torch A torch is an appliance that is capable of lighting an object that is 180 meters far and 18 meters wide for at least 3 hours continuously (6 hours with spare). It can also be used to send Morse-coded messages. Also known as “Aldis”, this tool is a mandatory appliance for every vessel. Training material

Search & Rescues Operations 1. SAFETY AT SEA Search & Rescues Operations Incidents, situations or accidents that need to be attended to, such as fire, unbalancing, leaking, strand, MOB or injuries, can also take place on a fishing boat. Therefore, one must be prepared at all times to be able to address these incidents and situations on time. Search and rescue is a very important part of safety for fishermen. It is the last effort when an accident has occurred and other means of mitigation have failed. The term search and rescue (SAR) sums up a series of coordinated actions - from the receipt of the information to the implementation of search measures and rescue techniques for protecting lives at sea. “Search and rescue” is the term to define all of the efforts to find and save any distressed, lost or damaged marine vessel or the people in it, by means of special equipment or appliances and teams specially trained or gathered for this purpose. In SAR operations, identification is as important as location. For the smooth progress of the operation, it’s imperative for the rescue teams to know exactly what they are searching. In a SAR operations helicopters, vessels and boats are often used. Training material

1. SAFETY AT SEA Rescue by helicopter Helicopters are widely used for marine rescue operations. When in a life raft or in the water, one may have to be rescued by a helicopter. For healthy casualties, rescue strop (sling) or chair will suffice whereas a bucket or net will be necessary for those having health conditions but still able to hold. Steps to take during a casualty evacuation by helicopter: When sling is used, grab the free end of the strop. Lock the carabiner (grabbit piece) at the free end to the fixed end after passing the strop around the armpits. Once made sure the sling is securely fit, signal “WINCH” When stretcher is used, wait for the sling to land on sea, sit properly on one of the seats and grab firmly at the center post before signalling “WINCH” If bucket or net is used, wait for it to be lowered on the sea. Then enter the bucket or the net and signal “WINCH” At all times, remember the helicopter will follow instructions given from below. The person being winched up by the helicopter must not rush, and wait for the winch pull up completely. When at level with the door of the helicopter, the person is pulled in horizontally, and detached from the strop. During the procedure, wait to follow the wincher’s instructions closely. Failing to do, panicking or rushing may have fatal consequences. Training material

1. SAFETY AT SEA Survival at Sea Waiting for rescue during man overboard or abandon ship situations, survivors may face dangers such as drowning, cold water shock, hypothermia, dehydration, starvation or despair. Any of these may cause loss of lives in several minutes or several days depending on the circumstances. Every fisher sailing or operating at sea must know of these dangers, how to handle them and help others. Evacuation to a life raft from a small-scale fishing boat must be done either directly or via a gang board (plank), ropes or nets without getting wet. When all of these are unavailable, the only last resort left is jumping. Of all life saving appliances, life jackets are designed to minimize or alleviate the risk of drowning of a person overboard, keeping the mouth and nose of the wearer above the water as much as possible. In a rough sea, breathing will become difficult since water and feathers will constantly hit the face of the casualty. Therefore one must keep breathing under control and try to protect face from the water. Wearing a helmet during an accident will help protect face and breathing. Also taking a position that will enable minimum exposure to the waves can make breathing easier Training material

1. SAFETY AT SEA Things a casualty in water must consider Do not panic. Avoid staying in water even an instant more than necessary. Try to locate the life saving appliances of the ship, other casualties and other floating objects. When possible, board the life saving appliance. If not swim away from the ship. If there’s a floating object nearby, climb onto it, keeping as much of your body on the object as possible. Do not swim if not necessary; since your body will lose more heat when swimming. To preserve body heat, assume HELP (Heat Escape Lessening Posture) position by pressing arms against your body and pressing legs and knees together and crossing feet. You may also prefer a position where one hand protects the face from the waves while the other supports the life jacket. If possible, form a group with the other casualties in the water. If there are others in the sea; keep your bodies close to assume HUDDLE position by facing the other survivors and wrapping your arms around each other’s shoulders. More people mean more confidence and higher spirits while making you more visible from afar. To be recognized and be heard, use the whistle on the life jacket. You may not be seen by other casualties but the whistle will help others locate your position. Training material

Exposure to Cold Water and Body Heat 1. SAFETY AT SEA Exposure to Cold Water and Body Heat Body heat drops caused by low water temperature are among the chief causes of loss of life at sea. Because of the cold, movements of the person may be limited resulting in drowning. When someone falls overboard, water quickly penetrates the clothes, displacing the protective layer of air between the skin and the clothes with cold water, instantly cooling the body. When the body heat drops below 30°C, the blood vessels will shrink to preserve the heat; but this will not last long. The body strives to produce more heat by tightening the muscles, resulting in shivering. If the body heat continues to drop, shivering will fade and the person cannot fight the cold any longer and slowly becomes unconscious. In cold water the lips may freeze to a degree or the person may become incapable to grab an object. Therefore, immediate rescue is important Training material

1. SAFETY AT SEA Cold Water Shock Cold water shock occurs during a sudden and unexpected exposure to waters with temperatures colder than 15°C. It continues for a short time (1-2 minutes) and fades. However, cold water shock may cause death more than hypothermia. The initial response of the body to cold water shock is torso flex, i.e. holding of breath. Following this, the person starts breathing 4 times faster than the normal, causing serious hyperventilation. Although heavy breathing soothes the responses, panic causes the hyperventilation to continue physiologically. Extended periods of hyperventilation cause fatigue as the person tries to control breathing. If the head is submerged, lungs may be filled with water to cause drowning. Cold water shock may also trigger claustrophobia, panic and dissociation. A person in cold water will fail to breathe, control and swim properly to a great extent. Among the symptoms of cold water shock are bodily reactions such as muscle cramps and panting, as well as increased heart rate and blood pressure. Even for a healthy person, cold water shock may result in cardiac arrest. Since the blood vessels shrink, the heart will work harder to pump the same amount of blood. This overload may cause the heart to stop especially in people with heart conditions. Training material

1. SAFETY AT SEA Wearing a life jacket before falling overboard will save the casualty from drowning due to loss of muscle control as well as by helping to regain the control of breathing while keeping above water. When in the water, try to get hold of a life jacket. Wearing it by yourself will be harder in water since your body will experience unaccustomed changes. If a life jacket is not available; try to find a support, avoid swimming until symptoms fade and try to board as soon as possible. Breathing, blood pressure and body heat of a boarded person must be observed closely. The body, especially the head must be covered. If available, wet clothes must be replaced with dry ones. Avoid rubbing or massaging the casualty and keep under observation at all times. Training material

1. SAFETY AT SEA Hypothermia As a medical term, hypothermia is the decrease of body temperature under normal levels. Loss of body heat is one of the worst dangers for a person at sea. The rate at which the body temperature drops depends on factors such as the water temperature, types of protective clothing and the person’s current physical and health condition. When exposed to cold, the body firstly shrinks the blood vessels close to skin in order to decrease heat loss and starts to shiver to produce more heat. However, if the situation is dire, the body is unable to produce and preserve the necessary heat. If the core temperature drops, hypothermia occurs. Hypothermia victims are unable to assess their own conditions. Therefore, it’s crucial to know the symptoms. Early stages of hypothermia can be recognized by shivering of the body to produce more heat. If exposure is more serious, the body is unable to produce and preserve the necessary heat. When the heat threshold drops further and below 35°C, the person starts to suffer hypothermia, characterized by uneasiness, fatigue, poor body coordination, numbness, speech impairment, disorientation and confusion. 32.2°C and lower body temperature causes to skin to turn blue, veins to shrink, pupils to dilate and hardening of the muscles as well as fainting (or loss of consciousness). Heartbeat is irregular and hard to read. Even if death occurs at any phase of hypothermia, it is very difficult to tell if someone is alive when the body temperature is below 30 °C. Death by hypothermia may be defined as failing to revive or reheat. Training material

1. SAFETY AT SEA Drowsiness due to extreme cold will both weaken the heat control system and prevent shivering. The internal body temperature of a person immersed in iced water for 20-30 minutes will drop as low as 24.5 °C. The period which a person can withstand cold water depends on various factors. Foremost of these criteria is the clothes which the person is wearing at the time. When all clothes are soaked with water, they even provide protection from cold since they will delay heat transfer from the body. Thickness of body fat also delays the feeling of cold. Some people can withstand cold better than others. The table below shows how long it takes for a person to lose consciousness and the time it takes to lose life. Water temperature (°C) Exhaustion or unconsciousness Time to survive 0.3 < 15 minutes 45 minutes 0.3-4.4 15-30 minutes 30-90 minutes 4.4.-10.0 30-60 minutes 1-3 hours 10.0-15.6 1-2 hours 1-6 hours 15.6-21.1 2-7 hours 2-40 hours 21.1-26.7 3-12 hours 3 hours-unknown > 26.7 Unknown Training material

1. SAFETY AT SEA Phase of hypothermia for a person with normal clothing and life jacket in water at temperatures below 10°C Early hypothermia starts with sudden exposure to water. Lasts for 2-3 minutes. The body tries to protect itself. Blood vessels shrink at locations most prone to heat loss, preventing blood flow to those areas to stop heat loss. Blood will draw back from face and hands, resulting in paleness. Body starts to produce heat through involuntary shivering to keep temperature level. However, the temperature drops to 35°C since the heat cannot be maintained. Short-term hypothermia starts below 35°C and lasts for 3-15 minutes. Also the capillary vessels are shrinking, oxygen transport to the brain is interrupted and shock starts. Body produces heat by shivering but causes fatigue. With hardening of the muscles and cramps, body temperature drops below 34°C. Long-term hypothermia starts when body temperature drops below 34°C. Since the oxygen to the brain is now very low, it loses some functions causing unconsciousness. Weak and futile shivering continues. Body cannot produce heat any more. This phase lasts for 30 minutes and the body temperature drops below 30°C. Extended hypothermia starts when the body temperature drops below 30°C. In this phase the body collapses, stops shivering and the temperature keeps decreasing. Depending on the resilience of the victim, the body gives up soon. Training material

1. SAFETY AT SEA Measures to take when attending to hypothermia victim Take the victim to a dry and protective place away from water and wind. Remove wet clothes and replace with dry ones if possible. Move the victim slowly, avoiding sudden movements that can harm the heart. In severe cases, the victim may be moved by a blanket, a sleeping bag or a cloth. Avoid loss of heat due to evaporation. Keep the victim in a room together with other people. Cover the head and neck to prevent further heat loss. Covering with blanket in group is a fast way for the victim’s body to regain heat. Avoid unnecessary physical contact with the victim. Once the victim regains consciousness, feed with lukewarm and sweet fluids. Do not cover the victim unless the air temperature is lower than water temperature or the blankets are pre-heated. Do not massage the body or the lips. Do not feed unconscious victims with food, liquid or alcohol. If the respiration has stopped, perform artificial respiration. Do not elevate arms or feet. Elevating victim’s feet may cause a cardiac arrest. Induce heat between 40-45 °C by covering the head and neck area with hot towels, bottles or hand warmers. If speech impairment is worsening or unconsciousness is continuing, ask for medical help. Training material

1. SAFETY AT SEA Measures against hypothermia when abandoning ship To avoid hypothermia, wear additional layers of clothing. Do not get naked when having to abandon ship or entering cold water. Wear warming clothes as possible to keep head, neck, hands and feet warm. If you have a cold-resistant protective suit, wear it over the other clothes. If the protective suit has no buoyancy support, wear a life jacket over it. Before or after boarding the life raft, take nausea pills since the fatigue caused by sea sickness can adversely affect the chance of survival, because heat lost by vomiting will bring the person closer to the state of hypothermia. If possible, avoid entering water. A casualty in cold water may face strong shivering or pains, but these are normal bodily reactions that do not cause harm. When in water, if you don’t have to swim to a ship, another casualty or a floating object, do not try to swim. Unnecessary swimming will cause cold water to replace the water heated between the body and the cloth layers, resulting in faster loss of body heat. Also avoid unnecessary movements of arms and legs to prevent hot blood in the core from dissipating to the extremities, again resulting in rapid loss of heat. Therefore, one should keep calm as possible. Keeping this way may also be painful. But, remember, pain does not kill; but loss of heat can. Training material

1. SAFETY AT SEA The posture in water is imperative in terms of preserving body heat. Keep motionless as much as possible, with elbows pressed at the side, arms crossed in front of the life jacket. Swim with the motion of feet. This posture will reduce the area of contact with cold water. Keep head and neck above water as much as possible. One of the best ways to preserve body heat is to form a group with other causalities and huddle in order to make as much physical contact as possible. To be able to do this, life jackets must be worn. To reduce the time in water, board a life raft or a floating object as soon as possible. Since the efficiency of body insulation will diminish as the person gets wet, one must also avoid wind in order to prevent wind-chill (feeling cold by air current). As the wind gets stronger parts of the body affected by the wind will face the danger of freezing. Therefore, protective measures must be taken. Head and neck are the foremost areas to lose heat and therefore must be protected from water. This fact emphasizes the importance of life jackets. If not wearing one, the casualty must keep pushing against the water by feet enough to keep head out of the water. To survive and be rescued, keep a positive attitude. Will to survive does make a change. It will improve the chance to survive until rescue arrives. Training material

1. SAFETY AT SEA MAN OVERBOARD Potential Risks Resulting in MOB Both the captain and crew members are in potential danger of falling overboard not only in bad weather also while working on deck on a regular day. Personnel on a fishing boat must always be prepared against a man overboard (MOB) situation, which is one of the foremost causes of death at sea. Potential Risks Resulting in MOB Working alone on deck or being alone on deck when not working Urinating over the side or smoking near the gunnels New or unexperienced crew on deck Insufficient or lack of safety training Alcohol or drug use Physical incompetence for the assigned task Length of work shifts leading to risk of fatigue Working with equipment on deck Working in low visibility (at night time or insufficient illumination) Working in rough weather or storm Unsafe ladder or shipboard, falling off deck Low gunnel (under 90cm) Falling off the gunnel Slippery deck or surfaces Tripping on a net or line Personal mistakes Training material

1. SAFETY AT SEA Man Overboard In good visibility The first person recognizing the MOB must shout aloud “Man Overboard”, alerting the others in the ship of the urgent situation. If the ship is not moving, the best action is to throw a life buoy to the casualty. If not available, use the other appliances such as life jackets or any buoyant object. At night time, it’s more appropriate to throw reflective or luminescent objects. If the ship is moving, immediately throw the lifebuoy together with its smoke float/light unit overboard. Even if the person in the water cannot reach it at once, it helps to others locate the approximate position of the casualty. The helmsman must be alerted instantly and should mark the location of the ship with the help of the radar and GPS. On some boats there is an MOB function button which can be of vital importance when contact is lost with the person overboard. The casualty must be watched closely by designated personnel who can occasionally keep the helmsman advice. If it is safe and depending on how the fishing gear is deployed the helmsman should start to turn as quickly as possible. Delay increases distance and the possibility of losing sight of the person in the water. Training material

If possible, deploy a scrambling net or a ladder. 1. SAFETY AT SEA In most situations and weather conditions, recovery of a person from the water should be carried out from the weather side of your vessel. This will prevent the ship to drift towards the casualty as well as reducing the risk of ropes, being used for the recovery, from fouling the propeller. If possible, deploy a scrambling net or a ladder. When it’s difficult to manoeuvre alongside the casualty, keeps a safety heaving line ready to throw. A boat hook will also help to pull the casualty back alongside. Training material

1. SAFETY AT SEA In low visibility and rough sea Raise the alarm by shouting “Man Overboard” Immediately throw a light/smoke lifebuoy together with its smoke float/light unit overboard. Even if the person in the water cannot reach it at once, it helps to others locate the approximate position of the casualty. The helmsman must be alerted instantly and should mark the location of the ship with the help of the radar and GPS. On some boats there is an MOB function button which can be of vital importance when contact is lost with the person overboard. The helmsman instantly steers towards the casualty. As the prow moves towards the casualty, stern will move away for safety. In low visibility or when the weather and sea state are heavy, “Williamson Turn” is a good way for the helmsman to return the ship to its reciprocal course which will take you back down the track Training material

1. SAFETY AT SEA The Williamson Turn not only moves the stern away from the casualty, but also turns the ship to the approximate location of the MOB point. (1) To perform this turn, the helmsman firstly puts the helm hard over to starboard side at which the casualty fell. (2) Once the ship’s heading is 60° off from the initial course, the helmsman puts helm hard over to port side. Although 60° is adequate for most ships, the bearing angle can vary between 30° and 80° and must be determined by prior exercise. (3) When the bearing is 20° close to 180° steer a reciprocal course, the helmsman reduces speed to center the ship. - Once the turn has been completed, the heading of the ship is approximately a turning diameter away from the original, reciprocal course (a short approach head to sea may be more appropriate). -Once the ship has cleared off, approach the casualty at windward side. Once close, stop the engines and pull the casualty with a heaving line. -In dark hours, a parachute flare will both illuminate the area and facilitate locating the person with the help reflections from the clothing (retro reflective tape). Training material

1. SAFETY AT SEA Actions to Take in the Water If a person has fallen into the water and got wet, perform the following actions in order to keep the casualty alive until rescue arrives. - Parts covering the wrists, ankles and neck of the protective suit must be tightened strongly in order to lessen heat loss and prevent hypothermia. - In rough weather, turn your back to the waves to protect mouth and nose. - Try to reach a life buoy nearby and when you do, invert it over an upraised arm then over your head and shoulders. - Keep calm, press legs together and restrict your movements in order to stop flushing cold water under your clothing. - Preserve your energy as much as possible, since you will need it during rescue. - If you are wearing a life jacket, remember to activate the light at night. You can also use the whistle attached to the jacket to help searchers find you. To increase buoyancy, some life jackets are also equipped with additional manually inflatable compartments. You may need to blow these compartments in cold water. - Assume and try to stay in the HELP posture to prevent heat escape. This posture protects the vital parts of the body and slows down heat loss. Keep in this posture until rescue arrives. - Keep your body heat at all costs. Cold is your biggest threat against survival. Training material

Fishing boats without MOB rescue systems must consider the following: 1. SAFETY AT SEA Recovery from water It may be difficult to recover someone out of the water. Each vessel must have an action plan for a MOB recovery, assessing the necessary equipment and steps to take. Fishing boats without MOB rescue systems must consider the following: Especially in rough weather, the most effective way may be pulling the casualty to the ship with a life buoy by the help of a heaving line. If still conscious, the casualty may be rescued with a ladder or a scramble (rescue) net. Scramble nets are also useful in pulling a person horizontally to the ship as quickly as possible. Simple, ladder-like constructions on small-scale fishing vessels with low decks also make boarding possible. When pulling a casualty out of water, a strop attached to a recovery rope is used by passing round the back and under the arms of a person in the water. The net hauler or the mechanical lifting device on the vessel facilitates winching the casualty onboard. Training material

Alternatively a sling may also be made with the help of net or ropes. 1. SAFETY AT SEA Alternatively a sling may also be made with the help of net or ropes. Inflatable boats and life rafts are also good alternatives for the recovery. All of the above can be practiced to a great extent if the MOB has a life jacket on and has grabbed the rescue line thrown from the ship. However, please bear in mind that there have been situations where lives were lost due to delay even when the falling points were successfully reached. Crew assigned for the recovery must wear fully equipped life jackets and secure themselves with harness and lifeline to prevent them from falling as well. If a crew member is assigned for the rescue at the sides of the deck, these precautions are even more important. A rescue person must enter water only as a last resort. Do not compromise your own safety and do not leave your vessel dangerously undermanned. Training material

1. SAFETY AT SEA After Recovery When the causality has been boarded, if conscious, take off the wet clothes (even if there’s excessive shivering), cover with blankets and lay the casualty down. A large plastic bag or a sheet may also be used for this purpose. A good method for warming is to huddle up for one or two people. Do not haste the warming (rubbing or shower) and do not try to give the casualty hot drinks or hot water. If the casualty is able to swallow give them sugar, glucose or condensed milk, or a warm sweet drink. No alcohol must be given to a MOB casualty in any form. If the casualty is semi-conscious or unconscious, check their breathing and heart rate. If both have stopped, prepare for artificial respiration (to restore heartbeat; otherwise handle the casualty as little as). Do not try to take off wet clothes but cover with a blanket. Use a thermal protective aid if possible; if not, a large plastic bag or sheet will also work. If conscious, put the person in the recovery position and feed sugar, glucose, condensed milk or warm, sweet liquids until speech is back to normal. If the body is still cold, do not leave the casualty, constantly observing against loss of consciousness. The person should be kept under constant supervision in case becoming unconscious. Handle hypothermia victims very gently because jolting them could damage the heart. Do not lift the casualty by the arms and legs; since elevating these parts may cause cardiac arrest. Training material

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