How to Rescue a Person from a Confined Space on a Ship?

Slip, trips and falls are the most common types of accidents that a seafarer faces while working on ship. The injury occurred due to trip and fall can be more severe if it takes place from a height or takes place in confined spaces or holds. It requires continuous training and team work to perform such rescue operation onboard ships successfully.

Their has been many cases in the past wherein the person who went to rescue a victim in a confined space became victim himself/herself as proper precaution were not taken for such rescue operation.

Proper trained team is required to perform such rescue operation, as proper training reduces the rescue time and do not add to any further incidents.

Following precautions and procedures are to be followed for quick and effective rescue operation supposing a victim is to be rescued from an enclosed space.

• General emergency to be announced through the ship’s alarm.

• A responsible officer to be made in charge of the operation.

• Adequate man power to be present for the operation

• Two trained persons to be ready with SCBA and PPE.

• All prior checks to be carried out on SCBA used in the operation.

• Life line to be used by the entry person.

• Communication equipment (walky talky) to be given to all.

• Torch lights to be taken along.

• Extra ready breathing apparatus to be kept stand by.

• In charge of operation to be present at entry point co-ordinating the operation.

• Breathing apparatus to be carried by rescuing party along with stretcher for the victim.

• If not possible to carry SCBA, EEBD to be carried instead.

• A life line to be tied out in the stretcher of the victim so that it can be guided and lifted out of the tank.

Never attempt to rescue a person alone from confined spaces. Always call for help, plan a quick rescue operation and do it with proper equipments and team efforts.

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