The muster list and emergency instructions
1The lesson in plain words
The muster list is the ship's emergency plan on one page: the signals, every person's duty and who stands in for whom. Read it on the day you join.
What it is
The muster list is the ship's emergency plan in one table. SOLAS regulations III/8 and III/37 require one on every ship. Copies are displayed in conspicuous places, including the bridge, the engine room and the crew accommodation.
What it contains
It describes the general emergency alarm and PA signals, what crew must do when they sound, and how the order to abandon ship will be given. It gives each person a duty: closing watertight and fire doors, valves and ventilation openings, equipping and launching survival craft, preparing other life-saving appliances, mustering passengers, using communication equipment or manning fire parties. It names the officers who keep life-saving and fire appliances ready, and substitutes for key persons who may be injured.
Emergency instructions
Every person on board must have clear emergency instructions. Many ships put a cabin card (or bunk card) in each cabin showing that person's muster station, survival craft and duty. On passenger ships, illustrated instructions on muster stations, essential actions and how to put on a lifejacket are posted in cabins and at muster stations; many cargo ships post pictures showing how to put them on near the lifejacket stowage too.
Muster and embarkation
The muster station is where you gather, are counted and get orders. The embarkation station is where you board the survival craft. On many cargo ships both are on the boat deck, close together; on others they are apart. Routes to them are marked with escape signs. Find both on the day you join and walk the route.
The training manual
SOLAS III/35 also requires a training manual on life-saving appliances in each crew mess room and recreation room, or in each crew cabin. With pictures, it explains how to put on lifejackets and immersion suits, how survival craft are launched and boarded, and how to survive in them. Parts may be supplied through audiovisual training aids instead of text. Ask where to use the manual and aids in your first days on board; they do not replace supervised practice.
2Key data
- Rules
- SOLAS III/8 (instructions) and III/37 (muster list)
- Displayed
- Bridge, engine room and crew accommodation
- Training manual
- Each crew mess and recreation room, or each cabin (SOLAS III/35)
3Key points
- 1
The muster list gives the signals, how abandon ship is ordered, and every person's duty.
- 2
It is posted on the bridge, in the engine room and in the crew accommodation.
- 3
It names substitutes for key persons and the officers who keep the equipment ready.
- 4
Muster station: gather and be counted. Embarkation station: board the craft.
- 5
Your cabin card shows your own station, craft and duty.
4Frequent mistakes
Wrong: The muster list is the officers' business; deck crew do not need to read it.
Right: It gives every person on board a duty, including you. Read it the day you join.
Wrong: Muster station and embarkation station always mean the same place.
Right: You gather at the muster station and board at the embarkation station. On some ships they are apart.
Wrong: If the officer with a key duty is injured, the duty is simply skipped.
Right: The muster list names substitutes so that every key duty is still done.
5Practice case & exam keys
You join a container ship as an ordinary seaman. Your cabin card says 'Muster B, Lifeboat 2 (port), duty: bring portable VHF from the bridge'. You have never been to the bridge.
Show the answer
Find the muster list to confirm your entry and see who else is in your group. Ask the officer of the watch to show you where the portable VHF sets are kept on the bridge and how to carry them safely. Walk the route from your cabin to the bridge, then to muster station B and lifeboat 2, and learn a second route. Read the training manual pages on lifeboats. At the next drill, carry out your duty for real.
Exam keys
- Muster list: SOLAS III/37; emergency instructions: SOLAS III/8.
- Contents: signals, actions, how abandon ship is ordered, duties, responsible officers, substitutes.
- Displayed on the bridge, in the engine room and in crew accommodation.
- Training manual in mess and recreation rooms, or each cabin; audiovisual aids may supply parts (SOLAS III/35).
Finish this unit
When you've read it, answer three questions. Get all three right to finish the unit; opening the page alone doesn't count.
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