Immediate actions:
Take the conn.
Follow emergency procedure as per company emergency procedure manual, which should include:
• Sound general emergency alarm.
• Stop Engines.
• Announce by PA.
• Head count, look for casualty and establish communication.
• Close watertight doors.
Activate SOPEP and take preventive actions in case of any oil pollution.
Order chief officer for damage assessment.
• Water tight integrity of hull and subsequent breaches of same.
• Obtain sounding form all tanks, bilge’s, hold
• Condition of machinery space.
• Check hull for damage.
• Determine which way deep water lies.
• Visually inspect compartments where possible
• Sound bilge’s and tanks.
• Sound around the ship to find possible point of grounding.
Obtain following information from emergency teams:
• Details of casualties.
• Any fire risk
• Any other information regarding associate problems.
On the bridge, the command team will do the followings:
• Maintained VHF watch.
• Exhibit light / shapes and any appropriate sound signals
• Switch on deck lighting at night.
• Determine the vessel’s position.
• Obtain information on local currents and tides, particularly details of the rise and fall of the tide.
• Broadcast urgency or distress massage as required.
• Inform the accident with positions and time to the following parties:
− Local authorities.
− Owners, charterers.
− P & I club.
− Under‐writer
− Next port agent.
− Class. (Emergency Technical Assistance Service)
− Make an accident report to MPA in the correct format.
Determine possibility of refloating the ship and take appropriate actions:
• Calculate height of tide and time of rise and fall.
• Reduce draught of ship:
• De‐ballasting
• Jettisoning cargo
• Use main engines to maneuver.
• Obtain assistance from port authority, coast guard, salvage tugs.
Subsequent legal and commercial actions:
Try to minimize immediate danger such as pollution, fire etc.
While taking tug assistance, consider:
• LOF, if the danger imminent.
• Salvage contract if the situation permits.
Use all available means of the ship to refloat the vessel.
Keep all records of incidents and actions. Appropriate records to be entered in:
• Deck log book
• Movement book
• Engine log book
• Telegraph recorder
• Echo sounder graph.
• Used chart
• Entry to be made in official log book.
• Record of all damage and subsequent actions.
• Prepare a statement of fact of all the happenings.
• Prepare a note of protest, stating the facts only.
If it is possible to refloat the vessel, consider deviating to port of refuge.
