Safety Equipment Checks

Below are some of the deck safety checks that I would recommend undertaking, these I have learned from experience off yachts I've worked on and from courses I have completed such as OOW Advanced Sea Survival. Note that no GMDSS checks are included, see "GMDSS Checks" post for these checks.

Bi-annually:

Fire extinguishers serviced

Hydrostatic Release Units replaced (check date of expiry)

Annually:

Inflatable lifejackets to be serviced.

Steam-clean galley extraction vents (depending on amount of fried foods cooked).

Liferafts serviced.

Monthly:

Lifebuoy lights should be checked monthly

Lifebuoy smoke signal expiry date noted.

Line throwing apparatus checked monthly (note expiry date of device)

Liferaft securings inspected (HRU's, painters)

Each crewmember must participate in at least one abandon ship and one fire drill every month.

Emergency (hydraulic) watertight doors opened/closed automatically and manually

Emergency cranes tested under load, inspect condition of bridle and lifting line, ensure no fraying.

Check condition of flares (dry secure place), expiry dates noted. Rescue tender flares, main tender, and main ships flares all checked.

Flashlights working in crew/guest cabins.

Defibrillator battery checked.

Oxygen bottle level checked.

Smoke alarms tested.

All fire hydrants inspected.

Fire hose (rotate between stations each month) run both on main and emergency pump.

Fire-fighting equipment inventoried/inspected (note level of tanks).

Fire extinguishers inspected (note dates and correctly stowed, not obstructed)

All lifejackets inspected (note light replacement dates)

Check all bilge pumps, activate and ensure correct alarm location sounds.

Check navigation lights.

Check 24v lighting.

Day-shapes (NUC, RAM etc. strung up for crew training)

Weekly:

Emergency tender

Regularly:

TPA's and Immerion Suits should be inspected on a regular basis, if necessary oil/lubricate the zippers.

Laundry extraction vents cleaned

All watertight doors checked with a hose

GMDSS Equipment Checks

Different types of GMDSS equipment needs to be checked on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.

All checks should undertaken should be done so by the primary operator who is registered in the GMDSS logbook. Each test should be noted in the GMDSS logbook.

Daily (when vessel is being used):

DSC internal tests (VHF)

Reserve source of energy checked on load with a voltmeter, most GMDSS stations have a voltage reading display panel, if it is below 22v it needs to be charged.

Check printers have ink and paper

Check clock against time ticks

Radio logbook is signed by the Master

Weekly:

MF External test on 2187.5 (call coast station on its MMSI # from ALRS Vol 5)

Survival craft/grab bag handheld VHF test (not on Ch 16, use 15 or 17) but do not use the sealed lithium battery, have a spare battery to use for testing purposes.

Monthly:

Antennas - free of corrosion, no loose connections.

EPIRB - self test, expiration date on battery and HRU and bracket, external check for damage (mounting, shell).

SART - signs of damage, battery expiration date, self test, test against radar for concentric circles.

24v Batteries (reserve source of energy) - check securing, connections, well ventilated compartment, check specific gravity of electrolyte with hydrometer.

Rescue Tender Engine Checks

Once a week the rescue tender is run. I connect a deck hose to the water intake on the engine first, then open the air valve on the fuel tank, next prime the fuel by depressing the fuel bulb until it is hard, start the engine and then turn the hose on to provide the cooling water.

Run for 5-10mins.

When turning the engine off you can run it out of fuel so it doesn't go stagnant in the engine (if it is left it can clog up the carburetor) - if it is run regularly this isn't necessary. We put an additive into our fuel to stop it from going stagnant. Make sure you close the air vent on the fuel tank to stop it leaking if it moves around.

Obviously the oil should be checked periodically also.

Other items to be checked in the rescue tender should be flashlight batteries, expiry dates on the fire extinguisher, the lifting bridle for corrosion or frays.

Also demonstrate launching the rescue tender under emergency power.

Fueling tips

When fueling try not to press the tanks (i.e. fill it to 100% capacity), this will prevent the fuel (diesel or gasoline) from expanding in the tanks (fuel expands with heat) and overflowing. Fuel not only damages the environment once it enters the sea, it can damage the paint when it spills over it through the overflow vents. My engineer recommends leaving a 3ml gap between the fuel and the top of the tanks.