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A qualified Coast Guard-approved marine drill instructor, Fred Mattera of Point Judith, RI is the owner\/president of North East Safety Training Co. (NESTCo), which conducts fishing vessel drills and inspections and basic safety training workshops.
A commercial fisherman for 40 years, Mattera is a member of the Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee to the Coast Guard, and, since 1998, has been president of the Point Club, a fishing vessel mutual insurance group. He also has served on the board of directors for Sunderland Marine Mutual Insurance Co., the principal underwriter for the Point Club and more than 2,000 US fishing vessels, since 1998.<\/p><\/div>\n
Getting the life raft ready early is insurance against problems that may occur later if abandoning ship becomes necessary.\u00a0 If there is a chance that the vessel may suddenly sink or become engulfed in a fire, the raft should be launched at once from the lee side, with the painter attached securely.<\/p>\n
So, let\u2019s review how to get into the raft.\u00a0 If possible, board the life raft without entering the water to avoid the effects of cold water.\u00a0 You may be able to jump from the rail directly into the canopy entrance or lower yourself to the raft with a ladder or line.<\/p>\n
If aboard a raised foc\u2019sle vessel that forces you to exit from the fore deck, consider using a large polyball and line as a lowering mechanism.\u00a0 Make several wraps around a rail or cleat.\u00a0 Then, have a crewman step over and straddle the polyball between his legs and slowly lower him to the canopy opening.<\/p>\n
As a last option, and if the height isn\u2019t too great and there is no one else inside, jump directly onto the raft canopy.\u00a0 Just be sure to think before you jump.\u00a0 Your odds of surviving will be significantly diminished if you hurt yourself.<\/p>\n
If you must enter the water, select a safe place to leave the vessel, keeping in mind the following points.<\/p>\n
If at all possible, enter where you can use the painter line to guide you to the raft.\u00a0 Without contact with the painter line there is a possibility that you may be swept beyond the raft.<\/p>\n
The first person in the raft should immediately get the coit\/throw ring ready to pitch to a crewman if he is drifting away from the raft.<\/p>\n
Beware of hazards below you.\u00a0 Don\u2019t jump onto people, objects, or burning oil or fuel.\u00a0 Jump from the lowest suitable point to minimize impact.<\/p>\n
If you are wearing a PFD:<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u00a0Be sure it is fastened securely;<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u00a0Cross your arms over your chest to hold it down;<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u00a0Block off your nose and mouth with one hand;<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u00a0Protect your head;<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u00a0Check the area below before you jump;<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u00a0Jump feet first; and<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u00a0Keep your feet together.<\/p>\n
If you are wearing an immersion suit:<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u00a0Be sure it is fully zipped and that all closures are snug because you want to keep water out;<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u00a0Don\u2019t inflate the flotation bladder until you are in the water;<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u00a0Hold the top of your suit to protect your head and to prevent escaping air from popping the hood of the suit off your head;<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u00a0Check the area below; and<\/p>\n
\u2022 \u00a0Jump feet first, with legs together.<\/p>\n
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Get out of the water<\/b><\/p>\n
Once in the water, avoid staying there one second longer than you need to.\u00a0 Remember that water takes the heat from your body 25 times faster than air.\u00a0 Your body will lose heat in the water more rapidly than you can generate it, which can lead to hypothermia and, eventually, even death.\u00a0 There is no doubt that wearing extra clothing will help delay the start of hypothermia.<\/p>\n
Get into the life raft as soon as possible and stay attached to the vessel if it is safe to do so.\u00a0 Staying with the vessel keeps you closer to your distress position and makes you easier to spot, both visually and on radar.<\/p>\n
If the vessel looks like it is going to sink, remember that there is a knife with a floating handle in a sheath attached to the right side of the raft\u2019s canopy opening.\u00a0 Grab the knife, reach for the painter, and then cut it, up and away from the raft.<\/p>\n
If there is more than one raft in the water, tie them together.\u00a0 Again, there is safety in numbers.\u00a0 It\u2019s easier for rescuers to spot two rafts and more survival gear.<\/p>\n
Boarding a life raft from the water without assistance is difficult.\u00a0 Pull yourself in head first using the boarding platform and lifelines at the raft entrance to get your upper body aboard.\u00a0 It may help to bob down first and then use the buoyancy of your immersion suit to help lift you out of the water.<\/p>\n
Try to pull yourself in with the lifelines rather than the canopy, which can be torn by your weight.\u00a0 Once the first person is aboard, he can straddle the side of the canopy opening and assist the remaining crewmen aboard.<\/p>\n
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Righting the raft<\/b><\/p>\n
One person can right a capsized life raft if it is done before the canopy fills with water.\u00a0 Swim to the side marked \u201cRight Here.\u201d\u00a0 If there is no marking, go to the side with the CO2 <\/sub>cylinder.<\/p>\n Most importantly, maneuver the cylinder side of the raft so that it is downwind.\u00a0 Then, reach up and grab the righting strap.\u00a0 Start pulling yourself up onto the raft.\u00a0 It may help to kick your feet out as if swimming.\u00a0 If that seems too difficult, try placing your knees on the inflated tubes or cylinder and use them as a fulcrum.<\/p>\n Holding the righting strap, lean back with all your weight and pull on the righting strap.\u00a0 Between the wind and your momentum, the raft will follow you and will land on top of you unless you spring backwards just as the raft lands on the water.<\/p>\n If the raft does land on top of you, don\u2019t panic.\u00a0 The bottom of the raft is soft and flexible and your head will form an air pocket.\u00a0 Stay face up, catch a breath, and pull yourself out from under the raft.<\/p>\n If the inverted canopy fills with water, put as many people as you can on the righting straps and try to pull the raft over using the wind to assist.\u00a0 If you still can\u2019t right the raft, you will have to cut a hole in the fabric of the canopy.\u00a0 Just be careful not to deflate the canopy.<\/p>\n In the next SAFE BOAT, we will discuss surviving aboard the life raft.<\/p>\n Fred Mattera<\/p>\n NESTCo<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The crew made a mad dash for the life raft but wasn\u2019t successful.\u00a0 The flames and heat were far too intense.\u00a0 The fire had started in the engine room and engulfed the living quarters and pilothouse.\u00a0 Everyone had to abandon ship wearing their immersion suits and holding their EPIRB.\u00a0 Fortunately, a nearby fishing vessel retrieved … <\/p>\n