Onboard emergency response

These pages provide step-by-step decision trees for five shipboard emergencies, with primary-source citations to SOLAS, ISM Code, MLC, MARPOL, COLREGs, and the IMO MFAG. They are written for working seafarers who need procedural clarity under pressure.

If you are facing an active emergency right now: the SOLAS Muster List, Fire Control Plan, and Safety Management System onboard your ship are the authoritative documents for your specific vessel. These pages are for refresher learning, oral-exam preparation, and post-incident review — not a substitute for your ship's approved SMS procedures.

Emergency decision trees

• Man overboard

  Williamson / Anderson / Scharnov turns, DSC distress, IAMSAR search and recovery, hypothermia management. SOLAS Reg V/33 + III/17-1.

• Engine failure / loss of propulsion

  NUC lights and shapes, DSC PAN PAN, engine-room troubleshooting decision tree, drift assessment, towage request via P&I. COLREGs Rule 27, ISM Element 8.

• Fire onboard

  Alarm and muster, BA attack team, boundary cooling, CO2 release procedure, DPA and flag-state notification. SOLAS Ch II-2, FSS Code, ISM Element 8.

• Medical emergency

  MFAG consultation, TMAS telemedicine call, CPR and AED, medevac request and helicopter winching, controlled-drug accountability. MLC Reg 4.1, STCW VI/4.

• Abandonment — decision tree before signing off

  Identify abandonment under MLC A2.5.2, preserve evidence, contact ITF / ISWAN / flag state in sequence, and claim wages and repatriation through financial security.

Key instruments covered

• · SOLAS Consolidated Edition 2020 — Chapters II-2 (fire), III (lifesaving), IV (GMDSS), V (safety of navigation)
• · ISM Code (IMO Resolution A.741(18) as amended) — Elements 7, 8, 9
• · MLC 2006 + 2014 amendments — Regulations 2.5, 4.1, Standard A2.5.2
• · COLREGs 1972 — Rules 27 (NUC), 8 (collision avoidance)
• · MARPOL Annex I (oil), Annex VI (air emissions)
• · IMO MFAG 3rd edition 2022 — medical first aid onboard
• · IAMSAR Manual Volume III — search and rescue, 2022 edition
• · FSS Code (Resolution MSC.98(73)) — fire safety systems
• · STCW 1978 as amended — Regulation VI/4 (medical care)
• · ILO Convention 173 — priority claim for unpaid wages