Passenger ship Safety Certificate
The PSSC is a SOLAS requirement and must be carried on all UK flagged Pax ships engaged on international voyages.
It covers Construction, Equipment and Radios Surveys are carried out each year.
Items inspected on the initial survey
Construction, machinery and equipment
Safety equipment
Radio equipment
Sub division load lines – these may be assigned for the use on alternative service conditions. The line would depend on the passenger spaces in use.
Some of the things that can be found on the certificate:
Operational sea areas
Main and auxiliary machinery and boilers
Watertight subdivision arrangements
Fire system and appliances
Radio installation
Navigation equipment and publications
Lights shapes and sound signals and distress signals
Means of embarkation for pilots
A record of equipment detailing the LSA and FFA onboard as well as details of the radio facilities must supplement the certificate.
Muster lists and Drills Muster Lists
The Master is responsible for compiling the muster list and ensuring it is
updated and placed in places throughout the ship including the bridge, engine room and crew accommodation. It shall have on it:
A translation into the working language of the ship
Contain details of alarm signals, communications and abandon ship signal
Show duties of each crew member
The survival craft assigned to each person
Ensure that a deck officer or qualified person is command of each survival craft
Indicate a person capable of carrying out survival craft engine repairs
The location of passenger assembly points
The person responsible for the up keep of LSA and FFA Drills
Each crew member must participate in at least one abandon ship drill and one fire drill every month.
These drills must be held within 24hrs of leaving port if more than 25% of the crew have not taken part in drills on board the ship.
Additionally on Pax ships these drills must be conducted weekly and as many crew as practicable should take part, such that every crew member
participates once a month.
A muster of Pax must take place within 24hrs of their embarkation and they must be give instructions on the following:
Actions to take when hearing the GES
Location of and how to put on a life jacket
GES and the signal to abandon ship
Importance of being properly clad
Dangers of jumping into the water
Watertight doors and fire doors
If a small number of Pax join after the drill there attention should be drawn to the safety instructions in their cabins
These instructions should include:
Muster station
Action to take on hearing GES
Location and method of putting on a lifejacket
Requirements for crew dealing with passengers in emergencies All crew nominated to assist pax in an emergency should receive additional training to enable them to perform their duty. The crew should be proficient in:
Communications – Sufficent English to provide instructions, raise alarm, report and notify
Life Saving – Knowledge of the muster list, GES and areas of responsibility and general ship layout
LSA – Location of life jackets and blankets
First Aid – basic first aid and transportation of casualties
Fire – raising the alarm, initial containment, dangers of inhalation
Abandon ship – Signal and use of survival equipment Methods to improve and maintain crew proficiency
Practical training onboard
Familiarization – i.e. repeated tours
Participation in drills
Exercises in use of equipment
Exercises in use of communication equipment
Evacuation exercises
Real life drills
Attendance of Crisis management and Human Behaviour courses Crisis Management and Human Behaviour
Research has shown that:
60% of people will not know what to do and will become confused and will require specific instructions + direction
25% of people will act rationally and will help others
15% of people will experience ‘Spontaneous Incompetence’
Basically wont be able to move or believe the seriousness of the situation
Of the 25% rational people:
o 10% will look after themselves
o 10% will assist others
o 5% will try and deal with the emergency – these people can get in the way – they may try and persuade others to do what they say rather than listening to the crew – retired police, fire fighters etc…
Information to the passengers
On sounding the GES make regular and honest announcements – this will gain confidence and trust.
Behaviour of the crew
The crew provides leadership and reassurance. Signs of fear will distress pax – best way to be is almost a dictator – ‘I am trained for this situation, here’s what we are going to do and if you follow my instructions we will all survive’
Problems likely to be encountered
Elderly – may be left to fend for themselves as some pax demonstrate selfish and aggressive tendencies towards others to save themselves
Pax will demand to return to their cabins, if they are not allowed to then they will become angry
Pax will attempt to bring luggage with them
List, smoke – will confuse pax so expect them to be disoriented Emergency information for passengers – MSN 1409
The overall aim of providing information to pax keeping them sufficiently well informed throughout an emergency.
It is essential that pax are informed of the of procedures that should follow in an emergency – this information should be communicated to pax on or before departure.
There are 5 requirements to assist pax in an emergency these are:
1. Continuously illuminated signs to be provided in passageways and stairways indicating direction to muster stations
2. All doors used for exits to open decks and all emergency escapes be clearly marked to indicate their purpose
3. All vessels are provided with a public address system
4. Instructions on muster stations, lifejackets etc to be posted in cabins and conspicuous places
5. Where a drill is not held on departure the attention of passengers is drawn to the ships emergency instructions
Signs
Muster Station signs should be located at muster stations and readily apparent to pax so they can readily identify the muster station
Muster station direction signs provided in alleyways, stairwells showing how to get to muster station
Exit signs – all doors leading to open decks and doors, windows etc…
used for emergency escapes. Signs should be placed on door or in a position to indicate the presence of the door
Deck identification – the number / name of deck should be readily identified by signs at each entrance and stairway
Public Address systems
These should be capable of broadcasting to all public spaces which includes open decks.
It should be powered from the main electrical source and from an alternative power source.