Regulations last checked for updates: Nov 22, 2024

Title 46 - Shipping last revised: Nov 04, 2024
§ 131.310 - List of crew members and offshore workers.

(a) The master of each vessel shall keep a correct list containing the name of each person that embarks upon and disembarks from the vessel.

(b) The list required by paragraph (a) of this section must be prepared before the vessel's departure on a voyage, and deposited ashore—

(1) At the facility from which the crew members and offshore workers embarked;

(2) In a well-marked place at the vessel's normal berth; or

(3) With a representative of the owner or managing operator of the vessel.

§ 131.320 - Safety orientation for offshore workers.

(a) Before a vessel gets under way on a voyage, the master shall ensure that suitable public announcements are made informing each offshore worker of—

(1) In general terms, emergency and evacuation procedures;

(2) Locations of emergency exits and of embarkation areas for survival craft;

(3) Locations of stowage of lifejackets and immersion suits;

(4) With demonstration, proper method or methods of donning and adjusting lifejackets and immersion suits of the type or types carried on the vessel;

(5) Locations of the instruction placards for lifejackets and other lifesaving devices;

(6) Explanation that each offshore worker shall don an immersion suit and a lifejacket when the master determines that hazardous conditions do or might exist but that offshore workers may don lifejackets whenever they feel it necessary;

(7) Which hazardous conditions might require the donning of lifejackets and immersion suits;

(8) Types and locations of any other lifesaving device carried on the vessel;

(9) Locations and contents of the “Emergency Instructions” required by § 131.330;

(10) Survival craft to which assigned;

(11) Any hazardous materials on the vessel; and

(12) Any conditions or circumstances that constitute a risk to safety.

(b) The master of each vessel shall ensure that each offshore worker boarding the vessel on a voyage after the initial public announcement has been made, as required by paragraph (a) of this section, also hears the information in paragraph (a) of this section.

§ 131.330 - Emergency instructions.

(a) Except as otherwise provided by this section, the master of each vessel shall prepare and post durable emergency-instruction placards in conspicuous locations accessible to the crew members and offshore workers.

(b) The instruction placards must contain the recommended “Emergency Instructions” listed in § 131.340 that, in the judgment of the cognizant OCMI, apply. The placards must be further designed to address the equipment, arrangement, and operation peculiar to each vessel.

§ 131.340 - Recommended placard for emergency instructions.

The following are the recommended format and content of the placard for emergency instructions:

EMERGENCY INSTRUCTIONS

(a) Rough weather at sea, crossing of hazardous bars, or flooding. (1) Close each watertight and weathertight door, hatch, and air-port to prevent taking water aboard or further flooding in the vessel.

(2) Keep bilges dry to prevent loss of stability from water in bilges. Use power-driven bilge pump, hand pump, and buckets to dewater.

(3) Align fire pumps to serve as bilge pumps if possible.

(4) Check, for leakage, each intake and discharge line that penetrates the hull.

(5) Offshore workers remain seated and evenly distributed.

(6) Offshore workers don immersion suits (if required aboard) or lifejackets if the going becomes very rough, if the vessel is about to cross a hazardous bar, if flooding begins, or when ordered to by the master.

(7) Never abandon the vessel unless actually forced to, or ordered to by the master.

(8) Prepare survival craft—life floats, (inflatable) rafts, (inflatable) buoyant apparatus, and boats—for launching.

(b) “Man overboard”. (1) Throw a ring buoy into the water as close to the person overboard as possible.

(2) Post a lookout to keep the person overboard in sight.

(3) Launch the rescue boat and maneuver it to pick up the person overboard, or maneuver the vessel to pick up the person.

(4) Have a crew member put on an immersion suit or lifejacket, have a safety line made fast to the crew member, and have the crew member stand by to jump into the water to assist the person overboard if necessary.

(5) If the person overboard is not immediately located—

(i) Notify other vessels in the vicinity, and the Coast Guard; and

(ii) Continue searching until released by the Coast Guard.

(c) Fire. (1) Cut off air to the fire: close hatches, ports, doors, manual ventilators, and the like and shut off the ventilation system.

(2) De-energize electrical systems supplying the affected compartment.

(3) Immediately use a portable fire extinguisher aimed at the base of the flames. Never use water on electrical fires.

(4) If the fire is in machinery spaces, shut off the fuel supply and ventilation system and activate any fixed extinguishing-system.

(5) Maneuver the vessel to minimize the effect of wind on the fire.

(6) If unable to control the fire, notify other vessels in the vicinity, and the Coast Guard.

(7) Move offshore workers away from fire; have them don lifejackets and, if necessary, prepare to abandon the vessel.

§ 131.350 - Station bill.

(a) The master of each vessel shall post a station bill if the vessel's Certificate of Inspection requires more than four crew members, including the master.

(b) The station bill must be posted in the pilothouse and in conspicuous places in crew members' and offshore workers' accommodations.

(c) The station bill must set forth the special duties and duty stations of each crew member for various emergencies. The duties must, as far as possible, be comparable to and compatible with the regular work of the member. The duties must include at least the following and should comprise any other duties necessary for the proper handling of a particular emergency:

(1) The closing of hatches, air-ports, watertight doors, vents, and scuppers, and of intake valves and discharge lines that penetrate the hull; the stopping of fans and ventilating systems; and the operating of safety equipment.

(2) The preparing and launching of survival craft and rescue boats.

(3) The extinguishing of fire.

(4) The mustering of offshore workers, which includes—

(i) Assembling them and seeing that they are properly dressed and have donned their immersion suits and lifejackets; and

(ii) Directing them to their appointed stations.

§ 131.360 - Responsibilities of licensed or certificated individuals.

Nothing in the emergency instructions or in any station bill required by this subpart exempts any licensed or certificated individual from the exercise of good judgment in an emergency.

authority: 33 U.S.C. 1321(j); 46 U.S.C. 3306,6101,10104; E.O. 12234, 3 CFR, 1980 Comp., p. 277; E.O. 12777, 3 CFR, 1991 Comp., p. 351; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1. Section 131.990 also issued under sec. 617, Pub. L. 111-281, 124 Stat. 2905
source: CGD 82-004 and CGD 86-074, 62 FR 49340, Sept. 19, 1997, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 46 CFR 131.310