The Tiger I once sailed with

“Stop!! Recall!!”

I hated those words!

It was 2005. I was a junior officer back then, sailing with one of the most knowledgeable and thorough Masters I have ever sailed with. He was not subtle, though. He was a terror on normal days, to say the least, and on the Saturday-afternoons, he was a Monster! As we geared up for the weekly Fire Drills, we just hoped we could complete the drill in one shot.

One misstep, a wrong communication, or a slight delay in preparing for the boundary cooling, and we would all hear those words on the radio:

“Stop!! Recall!”

That essentially meant that we were to now re-assemble and start the exercise once again, as Captain stood on the Bridge wing with (…..what we imagined) a slight grin on his face.

As weeks went by, eventually the recalls reduced and we started making fewer mistakes. We were becoming better at it. The recalls which kept coming up were becoming frustrating, though.

Well, one day, it all made sense – on the one day when things went wrong. One of the largest Engine room fires in my career, which could have taken down the ship, was averted.  We behaved like professional fire-fighters, with flawless response and communication skills.

Two lessons we learnt that day. One – For better or worse, you usually don’t forget the people who affect your life. Two – Drills can be a waste of time if you do not pay attention. If the team leaders lack motivation and imagination of how things can go wrong on the day when they will, the drills will leave numerous loopholes and become a paper exercise only.

As a Master, as a person to carry on the legacy of the “Grin on the Bridge wing”, and as a person who wants to be remembered for all the right reasons, here’s my take on the simple improvements, mostly training needs, which can enormously improve the performance of a Fire Drill on board.

Twelve Most Common Drill errors

1. Improper Communication: This is the most common and important issue which comes up. This can be either a training issue or an equipment malfunction. Check if the Fire-party can communicate with the team leader(s) relatively clearly from a noisy place such as the Engine room or the Pumproom, even when they are tired. Confirm the communication equipment is in order, and if required replace or repair. Ensure they know how to speak clearly and effectively. Often, shouting does not help. It is brief, clear words that we are looking for. There may also be, at times, too much communication, which can give rise to more confusion than clarity. Remember the KISS Principle – Keep it Short and Sweet.

2. Time of response for the First attack party: Four minutes!! Going by personal experience, if a Fire is not tackled within the first four minutes, it can spiral out of hand rapidly. The first party must ideally enter in the first three to four minutes, especially if the fire is in the accommodation or Engine room. That must not involve running or undue haste. The breakup should be: 0.5 mins to reach the Fire station. 1.5 -2 mins to wear the Fireman’s outfit, 0.5 mins to reach the site-entrance ready to enter.

3. Bottle pressures not checked before entry: Bottle pressures must be checked and reported by the team leader before the Fire-Party enters a secluded zone. They must be charged to at least 90{1110e7fb5a721ff681f6933868510813ddf72ede3cabce368ec7dffdc1429f1d} of the maximum rated bottle pressure. You cannot hold your breath in a fire unless you are David Blaine!!

4. Improper opening of doors: Feel it and then open it. The doors must be felt by the back of bare hands first before opening them slowly. If the doors are opened abruptly, the flashback may cause the fire to spread

5. Boundary cooling not reported: Ensure this is carried out from all sides and reported back to the command centre (Bridge).

6. First aid squad not reported as present: The Emergency party gets busy with their actions and so does the Support Squad. The First aid squad is often left like a helpless child standing in the centre of the action not knowing what to do. Ensure they are reported as present, and they bring extra blankets/provision/Resuscitation equipment.

7. Handing over from C/Off to 2/Eng not clear: This handover of responsibility must be clear and precise in case of E/Room fire. After the handover, the Chief officer can act as a backup supporting the 2nd Engineer.

8. Hotspot checks not assigned to anyone; There must be people checking for hotspots around the fire zone and there must be a clear means of reporting back whether the surrounding temperature is increasing. This reporting is often missed out.

9. Spare BA Bottles are not brought: Ensure spare bottles are brought and kept next to the entrance, and the people are trained in changing the bottle quickly and perfectly. Ever seen the Pit-crew changing tyres on a Formula 1 Racetrack? That’s about how much time you would have in a real fire!

10. People passing through fire zones: Actions during a drill must not be a stroll in the park. Even though you do not actually light a fire (that would be too much!!), you need to be imaginative about what the scenario could look like. A USCG inspector failed a ship while simulating a Mast riser fire because the team leader in regular clothes passed right through the zone where the fire was supposed to be. Your lack of imagination is never an excuse.

11. Fire man’s outfit not properly donned: It’s not just the SCBA and the Fireman’s suit! The outfit includes a Fire axe; flashlight, etc and these can be invaluable during entry into the Engine room for example in a real scenario. Also, I have seen some people wearing the outfit without the straps and belts, much like a Cowboy in an Old-Wild-West movie!! That’s not how you wear it.

12. Emergency fire pump not started/ Attack party not carrying charged Fire hoses: If we strictly go by SOLAS, the fire pump must be running and the hoses should be charged. When you are preparing for a real scenario the charged hose may be far more difficult to carry. This is what the training is for.

If you can find a way to improve on the above skills on board during drills, you will really be preparing your people for the real scenario, and passing through any audit or coast guard inspection will just be a by-product. The implementation, however, is a matter of management and everyone has their own way. It does not have to be by the edge of the sword.