Ship Boarding and Cold Water Survival Course

PROGRAM CONTENT

COLD WATER IMPACT 

• Cold shock, the quick killer
• Swimming Failure, Ten minutes or more
• Hypothermia, An hour or more
• Rain, spray or wave splash – you are wet and at risk
• Impact on the body, protection, treatment in a boat

FLOATATION DEVICES 

• PFD types, vests, coats, coveralls
• Small Vessel Life Jackets
• Pros and Cons of each
• Wear them correctly
• Cleaning, rinsing & drying

GANGWAY SAFETY 

• Wharf to gangway transfer – safety net
• Boat to gangway transfer
• Climbing gangway – prevent sway & bounce
• Rope railing safety
• Number on gangway at a time
• Transfer of equipment containers (carry up steps or rope transfer & knots)

POOL DRILL EXERCISES 

• Floatation aids used in water
• Float horizontal or vertical?
• Swim individually & in chain formation
• Rescue swimming
• Rescue able person
• Rescue heavy person with step rope
• Rescue incapable casualty – back to / with rope
• Unconscious / hypothermic rescue – parbuckle roll up
• Re-right boat after capsize (if possible)
• Self-rescue or get onto hull

BOARDING EXERCISE 

• Weight distribution and safety on passage to / from vessel
• Preparations for coming alongside
• Pilot ladder length & control
• Climbing the ladder practice
• Descending the ladder practice
• Transfer of luggage by rope line

DURATION

One (1) day

PREREQUISITES 

• A statement of health form completed on the first day of the course.
• A Valid medical certificate – Medicals are accepted provided the Medical clearly states a valid expiration date.  Where there is no expiration date clearly stated on the medical, then the medical has to be within one year from the initial exam (all medicals will bear a date of examination).  Survival Systems has created an in house “Fitness Certification Form” which can be obtained and taken to your family physician for completion – (this Form is only valid for three months and does not constitute an Offshore Medical).
• Trainees are expected to be in a good state of health and physically capable of fully taking part in all program activities.

CERTIFICATION

All persons who successfully complete the program based on the performance standards will receive:

• A Survival Systems Training certificate for Ship Boarding (valid for three years)
• A laminated picture identification card

General Course Information      Medical Requirements