Safety Drill Carried Out (Fire Drill)
Introduction:
Safety is the top priority. To ensure readiness and a swift response to emergencies, we regularly conduct safety drills. A comprehensive fire drill was successfully carried out.
11:30 AM – The Simulation Begins
Promptly at 11:30 AM, the drill scenario commenced. To create conditions as realistic as possible, smoke spray was directed at the smoke detector in the Paint Store area. Moments later, the Fire Alarm Bell rang loudly, signaling a potential fire hazard and initiating the evacuation and response procedures.
Swift Response to the Muster Station
Following procedures, all crew members promptly stopped their activities and immediately proceeded to the designated Muster Station. Each crew member wore full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), consisting of work coveralls, a safety helmet, and safety shoes. Awareness of the importance of this PPE is key to minimizing the risk of injury when facing an emergency situation.
Once all crew had assembled, a head-count was conducted to ensure the number of personnel matched the crew list. The Captain then officially announced that this was part of a drill and gave the initial briefing.
Briefing and Task Assignment
The Chief Officer took over to provide the technical briefing. He informed the team that this fire simulation was located at the Paint Store. Considering the relatively small area of the Paint Store and to ensure safety during the drill, the firefighting simulation was conducted in an adjacent open space.
Tasks were immediately assigned with clarity:
- Chief Engineer: Overall responsibility at Engine Room Responsible for starting the Fire Pump & Foam Fire Line Pump. A crucial step was taken to ensure only the seawater line was opened, while the connection to the foam tank remained closed. This is an important precaution to avoid the unnecessary use of foam and to prevent contaminating the surrounding area, given that this was only a drill.
- 2nd Engineer: Assigned to start the Emergency Portable Fire Pump, a vital backup system.
- Bosun: Acted as the core firefighter, donning a Fire-Resistant Suit and a Breathing Apparatus (BA).
- Crew 1 & 2: Prepared and deployed the fire hose and attached the nozzle.
- Crew 3: Stood by with portable Fire Extinguishers as the first line of defense.
Drill Execution and Results
The team proceeded as instructed. The Sprinkler Isolating Valve for the Paint Store area was opened, allowing the sprinkler system to spray water to cool the area surrounding the simulated fire source.
The results of the execution were highly satisfactory:
- The Foam Fire Line Pump, operated by the Chief Engineer, was started perfectly. Seawater flowed strongly through the hose, indicating the main system is in excellent condition.
- The Emergency Fire Pump, started by the 2nd Engineer, also functioned without any issues. The water flow was stable and ready for use, proving our emergency systems are reliable.
- The Bosun demonstrated high professionalism by donning the Fire-Resistant Suit and Breathing Apparatus in 3 minutes and 40 seconds, well under the maximum standard time of 5 minutes.
- The firefighting team (Crew 1, 2, and 3) showed good collaboration in preparing the firefighting equipment.
12:30 PM – Drill Concluded, Evaluation and Correction
The simulation was declared complete at 12:30 PM. The entire team regrouped for a debriefing and evaluation session.
Overall Result: SATISFACTORY.
In general, the entire drill sequence went very well. The coordination between teams, operation of equipment, and understanding of procedures demonstrated a high level of preparedness.
Point for Improvement:
The only point noted for improvement is the speed of assembly at the Muster Station. Although it was good, there is still room to improve the response time to be even faster from the moment the alarm sounds until all personnel are assembled and accounted for.
Today’s drill once again proves that through routine and structured exercises, we can build a solid team that is ready to face any eventuality. Thank you to all crew members who participated with seriousness and professionalism.
