Safety of Life at Sea

Ships can be dangerous places. No one wants accidents to happen but sometimes they do. How often they do and how bad they are can often depend on the quality and extent of a ship's safety management system, or SMS for short. And how to determine if the system is good enough to keep the crew and shipboard cargo safe and in good condition, prevent pollution and other environmental damages etc.

In recent years, the answer to that question is often being how you apply the International Safety Management Code, usually known as the ISM Code. Like most regulatory systems, the ISM Code has brought support to the industry it affects, but there are other views, as well. The negative assumptions are that they are going to have a very large documented complicated system to meet the requirements of the Code.

A lot of people both ashore and on board ships think it is a paper exercise. Clearly, some people feel that the ISM Code is no more than a bureaucratic burn, a system that has nothing to do with the real life either on a working ship or in a shore-based organization. However, the people's attitude shall be changed.

It goes without saying that the ISM Code is a key element in accident prevention and loss reduction and it need not be the burden as it is sometimes claimed to be. In fact putting it in the heart of the SMS can deliver benefits in terms of the smooth and safe operation of the ship. The safety management system that the company produces should reflect on its business practice...

While statistical analysis suggests that around eighty percent of all shipping accidents are cause by human errors, the underlying truth is that the act or omission of a person plays some part in virtually every accident, including those where structural or equipment failure may be the immediate cause.

The present set of video training materials consists of five parts. The first part provides introductory information about the background of the International Safety Management Code while the content of the second part will let trainees improve their knowledge and understanding of the basic requirements of the subject document. The third part will tell you how to use the reports within the Safety Management System and will help you develop better understanding of the audits and revisions of the Code.

The fourth part is concentrated on the work permits and associated plans and procedures. Finally, the closing part of the course is intended to let trainees understand how the SMS shall be used on board their vessels. In short, the course provides general information about the ISM Code and is therefore recommended to everyone regardless of their background and practical experience.

Unlike most of the other gases commonly encountered in the industry, H2S does not bubble off. Being heavier than air, it stays close to the lower part of the compartment especially when there is no natural or mechanical ventilation that would disturb it. Hydrogen sulfide is deservedly considered one of the most dangerous substances for human life. Taking into account its tendency to stay closer to the floor, it is therefore wise to avoid any areas where the gas can be accumulated.

The maximum time for which a person is allowed to be exposed to the H2S of 15 ppm concentration shall never exceed 15 minutes. The present video training will acquaint future mariners or people engaged in the ship repair, i.e. all people who may have to face this when performing their day-to-day activities, with all dangers associated with hydrogen sulfide and with the ways to avoid such dangers. We would highly recommend any persons whose job implies working in the spaces where H2S might be present, to have a close look in the content of this training.

Of course, we are first of all talking about the gas accumulated in the lower part of the tanks. All people shall have a good understanding of the engineering and administrative control measures as well as the use of personal protective equipment, and be duly aware of the emergency response techniques.

This is an excellent and one of the best of the training videos available today of those covering shipboard life-saving appliances, their operation and maintenance. We all understand the utmost importance of having a thorough understanding of the construction and working principles of all life-saving appliances installed on board our vessels, and this applies to every single crew member.

The present video is intended to be used for training of the people working at sea. The content starts with the sad statistics of the accidents involving lifeboats and launching appliances. The video will demonstrated the construction of each type of lifeboats and acquaint trainees with the relevant provisions of the LSA Code. The lifeboat launching appliances have been paid particular attention. The step-by-step instruction for launching has been provided and made easily understandable even to the novices.

The off-load release arrangements have been dealt with and explained in detail. Note that the coverage is not limited to the lifeboats but also includes liferafts together with their launching appliances, and rescue boats. In short, this hour-and-half long video will give you a good idea of the lifesaving appliances commonly used on board seagoing ships and offshore installations.

An excellent training video prepared by the experts of one of the world leading training providers. The content of the video film addresses the on-load release mechanisms used on the lifeboats. Subject devices were first introduced some forty years ago and become mandatory through SOLAS. They are used to provide safe release of the lifeboat hooks once the latter is on the water.

Normally, the lifeboats are not expected to return back to the vessel during the abandon operations. However, the shipboard drills carried out on a regular basis, imply the recovery of the lifeboats from the water and their return to the designated lifeboat davits. Note that this is a stage of the whole lifeboat drill considered the most risky and dangerous. The present video will demonstrate the correct sequence of the operations. It shows every single component of the lifeboat release gear.

The operation mode of each component is illustrated. The video also explains all relevant safety procedures and checks together with the correct maintenance procedures. Taking into account the critical importance of the equipment in question, the video is highly recommended to every person on board and it will be also great when used as a supplementary training tool during any courses.

The present video film supplements this training booklet. Together they form an excellent learning source for the crew members working on board vessels involved in transportation of the liquefied gases. The content of both booklet and this film will tell them about all hazards normally associated with the marine carriage of such cargo.

Upon thorough reading of the booklet and watching this video they have much better understanding of what hazards can exist on board, how to prevent the accidents and what to do in case of emergency.

Obviously, having a good knowledge of the hazards will directly contribute to the safety of the ship and all people working. The authors of the set have tried to underline the importance of paying greatest attention to the cargo containment and transfer arrangement.

Taking into account the extremely flammable nature of the liquefied gases combined with their physical properties, it can be a very difficult task to accomplish, and failure to timely detect and respond to the leaks will inevitably lead to the catastrophic consequences. We would therefore absolutely recommend this video for both onboard training and for self-study of the future mariners.

The video training film is intended to supplement the Offshore Supply Safety booklet. The whole training set is aimed at all crew members working on board offshore supply vessels. We would highly recommend this program to every single person working offshore since its content highlights all critical hazards so proper familiarization with the book and video will eventually increase the safety awareness.

The modular approach to the content of the video and the book has been applied taking into account that the offshore workers are normally very busy, having little to no time for sitting and watching the whole video from the beginning to the end. Such approach will allow them to concentrate on the area they are interested most.

The modules of the training program cover such important aspects of working offshore as handling bulk and deck cargoes including loading and discharging, the procedures to follow when entering and working inside the so-called 500-meter zone around the offshore installation, safety aspects of working on the open deck, and the problem of human fatigue and tiredness, deserving serious attention. Please have a close look and check all information provided by the authors of this useful program.

This video supplements the training booklet on the transfer baskets. When carried out properly, following all procedures and safety precautions, this method is considered safe and practical. The operators of the baskets as well as the personnel being transferred must have sound knowledge of the process to avoid the accidents.

Such accidents can include but are not limited to the falling of people into the sea or onto the ship’s or platform’s deck, parting of the crane wires, heavy landing of the basket to the deck, slipping of the personnel on their way to or from the basket, etc. Most of these can be avoided by taking necessary safety measures, for example wearing the lifejackets, providing good illumination when transfer is done during dark time, providing necessary training to both crane operator and crew members, removing any obstructions between the transfer basket and station etc.

In addition to that, it is absolutely imperative to keep all equipment used for the transfer in good technical condition and this would imply thorough periodical checks and tests of the cranes, crane wires, hooks, basket itself, nets and any other part – all of them are equally critical. Moreover, the personnel in charge of the transfer shall have adequate experience…