How to Tackle Emergency Situations on Board Ships: A Crew’s Practical Guide

Introduction

Life at sea is full of uncertainties. Even with all the safety protocols, emergencies can and do arise: fire, flooding, collision, oil leak, someone overboard. What separates disaster from survival is how well the crew responds.

This guide lays out how to tackle emergency situations on board ships: what kinds of emergencies, how the emergency teams should be organized, step-by-step actions, and general guidelines. I aim for clarity and practicality so that students, sailors, and officers can internalize not just read.

What Counts as an Emergency on a Ship?

First, knowing what you may face helps your mind stay prepared in crisis. Onboard emergencies typically include:

• Fire
• Collision or grounding
• Cargo hose burst
• Major leakage or oil spill
• Flooding (in engine room, cargo hold)
• CO₂ system alarm (for cargo or engine spaces)
• Man overboard
• Abandon ship
• Medical emergencies
• Any event triggering general alarm
  

There are also more specific alarms, like CO₂ release in engine spaces, gas detection in cargo holds, level alarms in tanks, or refrigeration failures.  

When alarms ring, it doesn’t always mean things are out of control but that you must act according to plan: don your life jacket or immersion suit, muster, check the situation, and take the correct steps.  

How Emergency Response Teams Are Structured

In emergencies, clear command and roles matter. Typically the crew divides into sub-teams, each with defined functions. The Rife article describes this structure:

1. Command Center

Usually on the bridge. The Master leads overall coordination giving orders, communicating with shore or rescue, maintaining logs, directing teams.  

2. Emergency Team

This is the front line. The Chief Officer often leads deck emergencies, while the Second Engineer handles engine-room or machinery space emergencies. Each team member has predefined duties fire fighting, controlling flooding, handling leaks.  

3. Support (Backup) Team

Supports the emergency team first aid, preparing lifeboats or evacuation, handling crowd control (if passengers), providing supplies.  

4. Technical Team

This group maintains propulsion, power, auxiliary services, and ensures the ship can still function in whatever capacity possible during the emergency.  

These groups must coordinate. Communication, clarity of command, and knowing who does what prevents duplication or confusion.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Respond

Here’s a breakdown of actions to take in different emergencies. These are guidelines you must align with your ship’s emergency plan (Muster Lists, Fire Manual, SOPEP, etc.).

When a General Alarm Sounds

• Grab your life jacket and immersion suit (if required)
• Go to your muster station
• Wait for instructions from the command team
  

Fire Situation

1. Verify if it’s a false alarm or real
2. Alert the Officer on Watch
3. Attempt initial fire suppression if safe
4. If not controllable, muster per Fire Muster List
5. Isolate ventilation, close fire doors, use firefighting systems
   

Man Overboard

• Immediately head to deck
• Throw a lifebuoy to the person
• Report to bridge
• Keep visual contact (mark with directional device, e.g. smoke, light)
• Launch rescue boats or deploy rescue equipment
  

Abandon Ship

• Muster at assigned station
• Take essential rations, water, warm clothing
• Follow Muster Lists to board lifeboats or rafts
• Prioritize passengers, then crew but ensure ship is clear
  

Engine Room Flooding

• Notify the Chief Engineer
• Raise general alarm
• Seal off inlets, stop further water ingress
• Engage emergency bilge pumps, close valves
• Coordinate with technical team
  

Cargo Hold Flooding

• Inform the Master
• Raise general alarm
• Contain flooding to that hold (close valves, bulkheads)
• Communicate status to all teams
  

Oil Spill / Pollution

• Apply the Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (SOPEP)
• Deploy spill control equipment (booms, skimmers)
• Follow reporting procedures
• Prevent further spillage
  

Also Read: Improper Mooring Arrangement Led to Chief Mate’s Death: What Went Wrong & Safety Lessons

CO₂ Alarm / Gas in Engine or Hold

• Evacuate the area immediately
• Don self-contained breathing apparatus if needed
• Do not re-enter until gas levels are safe
• Coordinate ventilation, gas testing
  

General Principles & Best Practices

Beyond specific emergencies, these guidelines help you stay safer, more effective:

1. Training & Familiarization

• Crew must constantly study the Fire Training Manual, Life-Saving Appliance Manual, and emergency procedures. 
• Drills must be frequent, realistic, and varied so actions become muscle memory.
• Familiarity with emergency equipment, locations, and operation is crucial.
  

2. Maintenance & Inspection

• Emergency systems (generators, pumps, fire detection, lighting) must always be operable.
• Deficiencies in these systems are among top flagged items in Port State Control inspections. 
• All doors, valves, watertight closures, scuppers, portholes must be maintained and operable.
  

3. Communication & Coordination

• Clear, predefined communication lines between command center and teams
• Use the PA, internal intercoms, handheld radios
• Log events and times; maintain situational awareness
  

4. Passenger & Personnel Safety

• If passengers are aboard, they must be informed calmly and clearly
• Crew should be distinguishable and their instructions followed
• Crowd control is essential; panic is a major risk
  

5. Isolation & Containment

• In flooding or fire, isolate sections (close doors, valves, dampers) to prevent spread
• Shutdown ventilation or fans as needed
• Seal openings to avoid additional ingress
  

6. Abandon Ship as Last Resort

• Only abandon when ship is not salvageable or life is at immediate risk
• Staff must be last to leave (ensure no one left behind)
• Lifeboats, rafts, and survival craft must be ready
  

7. Adaptation & Flexibility

Every emergency is slightly different. The crew must adapt: conditions, location, sea state, cargo, closeness to shore, weather matter.

Why This Matters — Context & Realities

• Shipboard emergencies often happen far from help, crew may be the only responders for hours.
• The STCW convention demands that seafarers not just learn, but demonstrate competence: using firefighting gear, survival suits, lifeboat drills—not just theory.
• Port State Controls frequently cite deficiencies in emergency systems: emergency generators, lighting, fire pumps.
• Safety culture matters: drills, crew readiness, good maintenance, strong leadership make the difference between survival and tragedy.