October 2001
General
Many shipping companies operate their fire fighting and emergency defence centred around a designated "Emergency Headquarters" (EHQ) where a quantity of fire fighting and emergency equipment is kept in readiness for an emergency response and which also forms a focal point for mustering emergency teams. There are several compelling arguments for adopting this type of emergency response and for putting so many emergency assets into one particular space. Obviously the choice of content, location and access to the EHQ must be carefully assessed.
Content
In an ideal world the statutory fire fighting and life saving requirements would remain in situ, as indicated on the fire plan, and the EHQ stocked with an entirely additional set of equipment. In practice this is not cost effective and most owners stock the EHQ with statutory equipment backed up with some extra fire hoses, hose nozzles, fire extinguishers and usually an air compressor for the re-filling of breathing apparatus ("B/A") air cylinders – thus providing B/A practice in training exercises.
A very basic inventory would include:-
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2 complete fireman’s suits – including B/A sets, spare air cylinders, lamps etc.
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2 spare hoses complete with 2 spare jet/spray nozzles
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1 each: fire axe, crow bar, fire plan and International shore connection.
The above would be a minimum from which, depending upon ship type and current trade, a wider range of equipment would be deemed necessary, including:-
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1 foam branch and 2 x 5 gallon drums of foam compound.
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3 sets of chemical suits and 2 additional B/A sets – IMDG cargoes.
Whilst the EHQ must not become a store room, it is an obvious place to stow the fire extinguisher re-fills, new fire extinguishers, spare fire hoses (ready for use), the B/A compressor and perhaps the resuscitation unit, as well as a first-aid kit.
Access
Much will depend upon ship type, size and number of crew. There may be good reasons to have two or more EHQ’s. For example, the EHQ should be close to and accessible from machinery spaces as many shipboard fires tend to be seated in these spaces. Whatever ship type, the criteria for positioning the EHQ will be similar.
Much of the ship’s emergency response equipment will be placed in this locker, thus it should be fire resistant (made of steel), situated in a position where there are two entrances, preferably one from the deck and one from the accommodation so that in the event of an emergency of any sort, fire or collision, the equipment in the EHQ may be retrieved from one or either entrances and be adjacent to a space where emergency response teams can safely muster with reliable communications.
Location
The location is also extremely important as the EHQ must be a focal muster point should there be an emergency or a fire on board a ship. On the ringing of the alarm bells the emergency teams must proceed quickly and easily to a muster point very close to, or just outside the EHQ. On receiving instructions from the Master as to the type and location of the emergency, teams will collect the required gear and proceed directly to the area of concern.
Practice Drills
Unfortunately, emergencies at sea do not often take place at 16.30 on a Friday afternoon, thus the ability of the Crew to provide some positive input is solely dependant upon their training. The use of one or more EHQ's has very much to offer in the way of central planning for dealing with any type of emergency and initiating training scenarios.
When an emergency arises, the first requirement is to alert all the crew as fast as possible and this is usually done by ringing the ship’s emergency alarms. These alarm bells will tell the crew that there is an emergency, but it will not tell them the type or the location of the emergency. The major problems confronting the command at the onset of an emergency are the exact location of it and the immediate safety of the complement. A system of muster and reporting has been evolved where certain individuals with specific jobs go directly to their station and the remainder of the crew muster in a safe area, report numbers and remain until the nature of the emergency and response required are known.
Small teams of well trained people standing by outside a well stocked EHQ, waiting for orders, are able to tackle effectively any emergency scenario, including "Man-over-board", accidents / injuries, collisions, strandings, fires and abandon ship.
Training
The EHQ will also become the centre of training and planning. When the crew are called to emergency stations any one of several drills can be practised and the complement instructed in the use of equipment they will be expected to emply in any particular emergency. If the ship is engaged in the containerised carriage of IMDG cargoes a whole new set of scenarios involving the use of chemical suits, B/A sets and decontamination procedures will be required. Tackling an emergency is all about team work; if a fireman’s suit, a B/A set or a chemical suit are stowed singly, no real advantage is gained until a second unit arrives. It, therefore, makes sense to stow these items in pairs.
Should a rescue from an enclosed space, an accommodation fire or other emergency arise that required the donning of a suit and/or a B/A set, the average seafarer would be correct in thinking that something dangerous was afoot, especially if never trained to use the equipment. Frightened people do not make good emergency personnel. Confidence is only gained by training which is only achieved by using and practising with the equipment. Practice and use means there is a requirement for replenishment, which in turn means an air compressor, fire extinguisher re-fills and much encouragement and guidance from the owners/managers.
