[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 46, Volume 4]

[Revised as of October 1, 2006]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 46CFR131.340]



[Page 452-453]

 

                            TITLE 46_SHIPPING



                  (This book contains parts 90 to 139)

 

   CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)

 

PART 131_OPERATIONS--Table of Contents

 

                 Subpart C_Preparations for Emergencies

 

Sec.  131.340  Recommended placard for emergency instructions.



    The following are the recommended format and content of the placard 

for emergency instructions:



                         EMERGENCY INSTRUCTIONS



    (a) Rough weather at sea, crossing of hazardous bars, or flooding. 

(1) Close each watertight and weathertight door, hatch, and air-port to 

prevent taking water aboard or further flooding in the vessel.

    (2) Keep bilges dry to prevent loss of stability from water in 

bilges. Use power-driven bilge pump, hand pump, and buckets to dewater.

    (3) Align fire pumps to serve as bilge pumps if possible.

    (4) Check, for leakage, each intake and discharge line that 

penetrates the hull.

    (5) Offshore workers remain seated and evenly distributed.

    (6) Offshore workers don immersion suits (if required aboard) or 

lifejackets if the going becomes very rough, if the vessel is about to 

cross a hazardous bar, if flooding begins, or when ordered to by the 

master.

    (7) Never abandon the vessel unless actually forced to, or ordered 

to by the master.

    (8) Prepare survival craft--life floats, (inflatable) rafts, 

(inflatable) buoyant apparatus, and boats--for launching.

    (b) ``Man overboard''. (1) Throw a ring buoy into the water as close 

to the person overboard as possible.

    (2) Post a lookout to keep the person overboard in sight.

    (3) Launch the rescue boat and maneuver it to pick up the person 

overboard, or maneuver the vessel to pick up the person.

    (4) Have a crew member put on an immersion suit or lifejacket, have 

a safety line made fast to the crew member, and have the crew member 

stand by to jump into the water to assist the person overboard if 

necessary.

    (5) If the person overboard is not immediately located--

    (i) Notify other vessels in the vicinity, and the Coast Guard; and

    (ii) Continue searching until released by the Coast Guard.

    (c) Fire. (1) Cut off air to the fire: close hatches, ports, doors, 

manual



[[Page 453]]



ventilators, and the like and shut off the ventilation system.

    (2) De-energize electrical systems supplying the affected 

compartment.

    (3) Immediately use a portable fire extinguisher aimed at the base 

of the flames. Never use water on electrical fires.

    (4) If the fire is in machinery spaces, shut off the fuel supply and 

ventilation system and activate any fixed extinguishing-system.

    (5) Maneuver the vessel to minimize the effect of wind on the fire.

    (6) If unable to control the fire, notify other vessels in the 

vicinity, and the Coast Guard.

    (7) Move offshore workers away from fire; have them don lifejackets 

and, if necessary, prepare to abandon the vessel.