Evacuating a ship is a highly organized operation that requires careful planning, discipline, and teamwork. Even under ideal weather conditions, abandoning a vessel is a complex and potentially dangerous task. To ensure that everyone onboard can be evacuated safely, merchant ships follow a structured two-phase evacuation procedure. Both phases are initiated only after receiving instructions from the Master (Captain) of the vessel.
a) Assembly Phase
The evacuation process begins with the Assembly Phase, which is initiated when the Master orders the general emergency signal. This signal normally consists of seven short blasts followed by one prolonged blast on the ship’s whistle or alarm system.
Upon hearing this signal, every crew member and passenger must proceed immediately to their designated muster station, as indicated on the ship’s Muster List or Station Bill. Muster stations are normally identified by letters such as A, B, C, and so on.
During this phase, personnel should:
- Wear their lifejackets correctly.
- Dress in warm clothing suitable for the prevailing weather.
- Carry any essential medication if required.
- Bring their immersion suits whenever instructed or when cold-water conditions exist.
- Report promptly to their assigned station and await further instructions from emergency personnel.
The purpose of the assembly phase is to ensure that every person onboard has been accounted for and that all emergency equipment and survival craft are prepared for possible evacuation.
b) Abandonment Phase
The Abandonment Phase begins only when the Master determines that the ship can no longer be occupied safely. Since abandoning a ship exposes survivors to additional risks, this decision is never taken lightly.
Once the order to abandon the ship has been given, crew members immediately begin launching the survival craft according to the procedures established in the ship’s emergency plan.
Lifeboats are generally launched only after the vessel has come to a complete stop. Under SOLAS requirements, launching should normally be possible when the ship has a trim of less than 10 degrees and a list of up to 20 degrees. If the vessel develops a list greater than 20 degrees, launching lifeboats from the higher side may become impossible, while those on the lower side may still be capable of launching depending on the situation.
According to SOLAS requirements, passenger ships should be capable of boarding and launching all survival craft within 30 minutes of the abandon ship signal. Cargo ships have a stricter requirement, with the entire process expected to be completed within 10 minutes. Modern evacuation systems are designed so that a single trained crew member can operate them efficiently.
Throughout the evacuation, discipline, clear communication, and strict adherence to emergency procedures are essential to ensure everyone’s safety.