Scribd
Upload
30 views6 pages

W3 - Important Features of Muster List On Ship

The document discusses the important features of a ship's muster list, which is a list assigning duties to crew members in case of emergencies. It outlines the different types of emergencies covered, instructions for each, assigned muster points, lifeboat assignments, emergency teams and their duties, and more. Having defined emergency roles helps deal with situations quicker despite real scenarios differing from drills.

Uploaded by

pentagonmaritimecorp
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
30 views6 pages

W3 - Important Features of Muster List On Ship

The document discusses the important features of a ship's muster list, which is a list assigning duties to crew members in case of emergencies. It outlines the different types of emergencies covered, instructions for each, assigned muster points, lifeboat assignments, emergency teams and their duties, and more. Having defined emergency roles helps deal with situations quicker despite real scenarios differing from drills.

Uploaded by

pentagonmaritimecorp
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

Important Features of Muster List on Ship

ByShilavadra BhattacharjeeJuly 25, 2019Maritime Law

A ship’s crew must be prepared at all times to tackle and fight any kind of
emergencies which can arise due to reasons such as rough weather, machinery
malfunction, pirate attack, human error etc. Such emergencies can lead to a
fire, collision, flooding, grounding, environmental pollution, and loss of life.

The Muster List consists of duties and responsibilities in case of such mishaps,
designated and assigned to each person on the ship; in other words, it is a list
of the functions each member of a ship crew is required to perform in case of
emergency.

Owing to it being a document that specifies the job that every crew member is
assigned with in case of an emergency, it must be displayed at every
conspicuous location onboard. Some of the important areas where the muster
list is posted are- Bridge, Engine room, accommodation alleyways etc. – areas
where ship’s crew spends the maximum of their time.

Clear instructions are provided for every person on board in the language or
languages required by the ship’s flag State and also in the English language.
The list shall be ready before the ship proceeds to sea. The regulatory
requirements for the Muster List are specified in SOLAS Chapter III, Reg. 8
and 37. The regulation applies to all ships.

Related Reading:

What to do when ship encounters rough weather?

10 Things To Do During Ship Collision Accident

The Important features which are displayed in


the muster lists are:
Types of Emergency and different alarms for the same
Main emergencies such as fire, man overboard, abandon ship, oil spill etc. are
listed along with dedicated visual and audible alarms. The alarms and
indications are visually specified in the list, for further clarity. It includes details
of the GA alarm and PA system and action to be taken by crew and
passengers when this alarm is sounded. The list specifies how the order to
abandon ship will be given, which is usually by the Master’s verbal order.

Related Reading:

Different types of alarms on ship

Man overboard situation on ship and ways to tackle it

Instruction to follow in case of different types of


emergency
Brief instruction is given in case the alarm for a particular emergency is
sounded, which includes action to be taken by the crew onboard. Specific
duties that are assigned to each person on board are mentioned very clearly in
the list. Some of the essential duties specified in the list are:
 Closing of the watertight doors, skylights, portholes and other openings
 Carriage of equipment and readying the survival craft and other life-
saving appliances
 Muster of the crew (and passengers, if applicable)
 Heads of emergency teams and fire teams to streamline the action
against such emergencies
 The muster list shall also specify the apt substitute in case any person is
injured or disabled

Related Reading:

General Overview of Life Raft

Common Muster point for all the crew


The common muster point is clearly described if any emergency alarm is
sounded. Normally life boat deck area is made as a common muster point.
However, the muster point could vary with the type of emergency that is at
hand

Crew list of all crew member with assigned life boat


The crew name is displayed along with the assigned life boat for abandon ship
emergency. Normally two life boats are assigned in between all the crew
member i.e. port side and starboard side life boat. The list displays the officers
that are in charge of LSA/FFA maintenance so that all equipment systems are
ready for immediate use.

Assigned duties for abandon ship


All the crew listed in the muster list are assigned with duties to perform in an
emergency situation like carrying EPIRB and SART, lifeboat and life raft
launching etc. It is imperative to always remember that the ship is
abandoned only when the Master’s gives a verbal order
Different teams with assigned duties for the
individuals of the team for emergencies
Different teams are made to tackle emergencies like fire, flooding etc. these
are –

1. Command Team: Operated from the bridge. The Master is the overall in
charge and the Third Mate assists in relaying the orders of the Master to
the respective emergency teams in addition to assisting the Master on
Bridge.
2. Emergency Team 1: Operates at the point of scenario. Usually headed
by the Chief Mate/Second Engineer. The team leaders ensure that the
rest are complying
3. Emergency Team 2: Standby team and helping hand for emergency
team.
4. Roving Commission: Team working along with all another team.
5. Engine room team: This team stand by in ECR.
6. Medical Team: Usually consists of the salon staff (GS + Chief Cook) who
are conversant with the first aid to be administered in case a person is
injured while carrying out his tasks in an emergency situation
Ship Specification and emergency communication
equipment
Ship specifications are displayed along with the communication methods and
equipment to be used in case of emergency. Most of this equipment
systems have the instructions for usage very clearly given on the body or
cover of it.

Special and general instruction by master


A separate section for general and special instructions is provided which is
used by the master or the chief engineer of the vessel to keep inform or to
instruct the crew of the ship.

The muster list is posted to keep the crew aware of the different emergency
situations and duties to be performed if such situations occur in reality. For
this, regular training and drill must be conducted by the master of the ship to
ensure that all crew members are familiar with life-saving and fire fighting
appliances.

A Muster Card must be placed (by the Third Mate since he’s in charge of the
LSA and FFA) in every person’s cabin that specifies the person’s muster station
and the exact task that is assigned to them in the case of a specific
emergency. The alarm signals are also mentioned so that the person is not
confused as to the nature of the emergency. Illustrations and instructions for
dlife jacketsjackets may also be included.

It is obvious that protocols laid out will hardly make any sense in the case of a
real emergency on board (not drills). However, having a defined set of tasks
during an emergency will actually ease the workload on each person and help
deal with the situation quicker and better.

Disclaimer: The authors’ views expressed in this article do not necessarily


reflect the views of Marine Insight. Data and charts, if used, in the article have
been sourced from available information and have not been authenticated by
any statutory authority. The author and Marine Insight do not claim it to be
accurate nor accept any responsibility for the same. The views constitute only
the opinions and do not constitute any guidelines or recommendation on any
course of action to be followed by the reader.

The article or images cannot be reproduced, copied, shared or used in any


form without the permission of the author and Marine Insight.

You might also like