The following text prepared is keeping in mind, the resolution A.1072(28) adopted on 4 December 2013, ‘Revised guidelines for a structure of an integrated system of contingency planning for shipboard emergencies’. The following objectives are kept in mind:
- Identifying and following common action items to avoid confusion.
- Crew is arranged into various teams and the team structure does not change as various emergencies are tackled.
- Similar duties are assigned to crew members, as far as practicable.
- None of the important duties are missed out.
- Precious time is not lost.
Emergency: Collision
Signal: Continuous sounding of ship’s electrical bell or ship’s whistle for not less than 10 seconds. ‘Collision forward port side or Starboard side’, etc is spoken on ship’s address system.
| Sr. No | Rank | Specific duties for Collision |
| Bridge Team | ||
| 1 | Master | Overall in-charge with station at bridge. Overall monitoring and coordination of operation. Having done the best to minimize the collision impact, evaluate, considering weather, size / location of damage the best action in the interest of safety of life. Exchange information and communicate with other Master regarding future action beneficial for both. Prepare for transmission of distress / Urgency and transmit in standardized format. Call for external response (if necessary). In case engines are still on, head in a direction in which smoke is expelled away from bridge. Message to nearest port control, coast station, ships in vicinity, owners, charterers and Flag State communication centre. Make the assessment of stability, stresses, etc .Prepare for record keeping.Urgency / Mayday is transmitted as per situation giving name, call sign, position, damage to hull, Do the buoyancy, strength and stability calculations. Attend to cross flooding and damage stability software. Equalise if required.Shift bunkers aft to smoothen trim. Take some ballast in after peak if required. Consider FSE and stresses. Calculate sinkage for possible failure of pumping out. |
| 6 | 3rd Officer | Assist Master in log keeping, communication, making of report, etc. |
| 16 | 1 H/man | On bridge |
| Attack Team | ||
| 2 | Ch Officer | Brief specific duties after head count. Evaluate the position of each ship and update Master about the extent of damage.Make the assessment of stability, stresses, etc in consultation with Master.Do closer assessment as the situation allows, with crew 3, 4 & 5 and Saloon 1 & 2. If pollution occurs, follow SOPEP. Consider properties of cargoes / substances carried, quantities of hazardous cargoes / substances carried, etc to plan out further action. |
| 9 | Fitter1 | Preparation of collision mat, plugging or cement box material. |
| 17 | Crew 3 | Soundings on deck. Assist Chief Officer at site. |
| 18 | Crew 4 | Assist Chief Officer at site. Fire fighting appliances, Fire hoses & portable firex at site |
| 19 | Crew 5 | Assist Chief Officer at site. SCBA, fenders and life buoys at site |
| 22 | Salon 3 | Assist Ch off at site, blanket and first aid at site. |
| 23 | Salon 4 | Assist Ch off at site, deck lights and buoys. |
| Engine room Team | ||
| 3 | Ch Engineer | Overall Incharge E/R. Brief specific duties after muster. In communication with Master and 2nd engineer. Monitor ME operations. |
| 8 | 4th Engineer | Head Count & Assist Chief Engineer in E/R |
| 14 | ER 1 | Assist Chief Engineer in E/R |
| 15 | ER 2 | Assist Chief Engineer in E/R |
| Technical Team | ||
| 4 | 2nd Engineer | Arrange pumping out. Technical supervision at damage site. Arrange direct pumping out with fitter 2 & ER 3. |
| 7 | 3rd Engineer | Assist 2nd engineer. Emergency fire pump. |
| 10 | Fitter 2 | Assist 2nd Engineer |
| 11 | Electrician | Emergency lights, Batteries. Assist 2nd engineer. |
| 24 | ER 3 | Assist 2nd Engineer. |
| Support Team | ||
| 5 | 2nd Officer | Preparation of lifeboat / rescue boat. |
| 12 | Crew 1 | Stretcher. Assist 2nd officer |
| 13 | Crew 2 | Assist 2nd officer |
| 20 | Saloon 1 | Assist 2nd officer, life buoys |
| 21 | Saloon 2 | Assist 2nd officer, blanket and first aid at site |
[A] Initial actions
Duty officer calls the Master in good time. Appropriate maneuver is made to minimize the impact. Alarm is activated. The deck lights are switched on. The engines are stopped. Head Count is taken on deck of the Attack Team and Technical Team. The report is made to bridge. The Support Team and Engine Room Team also, after taking respective head counts, report to bridge. The team leaders brief the respective team members of the specific duties concerning the emergency. The initial report for ‘Emergency Response Services’ is prepared and sent.
[B] Master’s Responsibilities
The Master is responsible for the organizing of emergency handling and for the availability and immediate use of the systems and equipment available. He should delegate the various tasks to suitable qualified officers. Master must exchange the required information viz. Name, call sign, last port, destination, etc with the Master of other. Utmost coordination between the two ships is very important. Brief meeting should be conducted with senior officers, if practicable otherwise the exchange of information can be done on phone. A report to Port Control, Designated Coastal Authority and ‘Emergency Response Services’ is made. A record must be kept of all the facts.
[C] Measures to be taken
Urgency or Mayday message is sent as appropriate with name call sign, position, and brief details about the emergency. Damage stability computer and Damage Control Plan kept handy. Report is made to the port control. A close watch is kept on channel 16. Buoyancy, strength and stability calculations are made as required. Equalising considered if required. Shift of bunkers aft is done to smoothen trim. Ballast may be taken in after peak if required. Sinkage is calculated for possible failure of pumping out. Guidance is taken from damage stability document for similar condition of loading and damage.
Most important consideration on account of both the ships being the safety of people. Thus,
- It must be determined if any of the ships is in the danger of sinking.
- If any person is in water and hence the rescue boat must be lowered.
- It must be carefully decided, whether the two vessels must remain stuck and whether the separation can cause the sinking of one of the vessels.
[D] Assumed Damaged condition post separation
Damage stability software is referred. Assessment of stability, stresses, etc is done. More closer assessment is done for current situation. Ch off. is assisted by crew 3, 4 & 5, saloon 3 & 4. He makes detailed assessment of damage. If pollution occurs SOPEP is followed. Properties of cargoes / substances carried is considered. Damage to / risk to cargo; location and quantities of hazardous cargoes / substances, etc are considered. ERS is updated with number of persons, dangerous goods onboard, etc.
[E] Readiness regarding Lowering of Lifeboat
The 2nd Mate, as incharge of support team can keep the lifeboat ready for lowering in the initial stow position.
[F] Consider Repairs
Reduction of damage, attending to root cause, etc are considered. Blocking small holes, preventing / reducing ingress, making of cement box, etc is considered.
[G] Reporting
There can be different arrangements in respect of third party liability for collision. Thus, the purpose of the 3/4ths Collision Liability Clause, also known as the Running Down Clause, is to provide a shipowner with some insurance cover for third party liability in the event of a collision. By cl 8 of the ITCH(95), underwriters agree to indemnify the assured to the amount of 3/4ths of the damage inflicted upon the other vessel in the event of a collision; the other 1/4th being borne by the assured. In order to avail due cooperation from the insurers, it is important that they are duly notified of the incidents which may invite any kind of claim.
The incident and situation must be reported to the following in appropriate format, (data required is kept handy):
- Owners / Charterers / DPA.
- P & I, Insurance.
- Local / port authorities.
- National Authorities.
[H] Steps to initiate external response:
The planning of subsequent response actions may be done in following matters:
- extent of damage;
- status of and damage to engines;
- salvage;
- place of refuge;
- number of persons aboard;
- the cargo carried ( e.g. dangerous goods, etc.); and
- preparation for bunker/ballast tank operations (if necessary)..
- buoyancy, strength and stability calculations;
- lightering capacity;
[I]Check necessity of abandoning vessel
The overall assessment of ship regarding stability, buoyancy, damage and seaworthiness is made. Consideration about abandoning is carefully assessed.
[J] Non-conformity report
All non-conformities/deficiencies becoming known by the Master, officers and responsible crew members in connection with measures should be collected, recorded and sent to the company/designated person(s) or other, nominated person(s) as soon as possible. P & I club and the class surveyors are updated.
[K] Restore normal ship routine/operation “
The ship, on her own power may be able to proceed. The used equipment are made operational. The final report is sent to all concerned parties regarding updated status.
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