DieselShip

Ship Flooding Emergency Procedures

Introduction:

A ship floats on water and hence the danger of flooding is alway there. The unwanted ingress of the sea water in large quantities can result from a variety of reasons such as damage to the hull in situations of fire, grouding or collision. It can also result from bursting of any pipeline carrying sea water. Whatever be the reasons for flooding, it is a dangerous situation and certain steps must be taken immediately in case of such an event. These immediate steps form a small part of the larger emergency action plans to be followed later, and are as follows.

* Slow down/stop main engines and raise emergency alarm

* Determine if any casualities suffered and render first aid, if necessary

* Check for oil / hazardous subustances pollution and possibility of one

* Notify techenical department, DESIGNATED PERSON and relevent authorities

* Assess the immediate danger of sinking and capsizing

If YES :

1. Send out distress message

2. Prepare to evacuate vessel

If NO :

1. Initiate damage control measures

2. Ensure adequate stability

3. Monitor situation

Command centre:

1. Fix ship's positon and record all movements /events

2. Compile communication reports and inform technical department and designated person on situation

3. Monitor latest weather forecast and assess impact on present situation

4. Exercise damage control to reduce danger to crew, vessels and cargo

5. Consider jettison of cargo to save the vessel

6. Consider ballast/deballast and transfer water/fuel to correct the stability of the vessel

Emergency team:

1. Conduct visual inspection of damage and report to command center

2. Check for oil pollution and act accordingly

3. Take all ballast, bilge and fuel tanks soundings

4. Check stability criteria and stress for present and worst anticipated condition

5. Effect damage control and ensure adequate stability

6. Ensure cargo is intact and all water tight door and ventilators shut

7. Take fuel tanks and engine room bilge soundings

Support team:

1. Provide First Aid

2. Prepare lifeboats

Emergency bilge suction:

In case of engine room flooding the engine room bilges will come up due to the sea water entering the engine room. If they are not pumped out, then there is a danger of black out condition.

The rising level of the bilges would first damage the shaft generator and if still no actions are taken the all the pumps in bottom platform will stop functioning. To avoid this situation the engine room watchkeeper will need to pump out the bilges immediately and this is called EMERGENCY BILGE SUCTION.

A brief overview is given below for the suction procedure for the benefit of the readers.

PROCEDURE FOR EMERGENCY BILGE SUCTION:

1. Connect the Emergency Bilge suction to the pumps having more capacity than any other sea water pumps like Main sea water pump or Ballast pumps

2. The emergency bilge suction pump has no suction filters fitted before and after the valve

3. Emergency bilge suction is used only at the time of engine room flooding

4. The suction pipe below the valve is fitted above the tank top, not above the bilge well because during suction it have more chances of choking when the suction is above the bilge well due cotton waste and other unwanted materials.

5. Open the spindle of the valve that is extended above the floor plate

6. The drain out of the valve is done frequently and make sure that the wheel of the valve can be turned with free hand not with wheel spanner

7. Normally the discharge of water from the engine room at the time of flooding directly leads to overboard not through oil water seperator. Hence in such a situation inform to the port authorities

8. Emergency bilge suction valve is a SDNR (Screw down non return valve ) it is painted in red colour