Safety

1. Responsibilities

Skipper is responsible for the safety of the vessel and the crew. Chartering crew are expected to contribute by watching out for hazards such as obstacles and other boats, and for their fellow crew members, alerting the skipper to any concerns, e.g., seasickness. Crew are also expected to take personal responsibility for such things as appropriate warm and weatherproof clothing, sun protection, required medications, etc. The skipper must be notified of emergency medications such EpiPens and insulin syringes. Each crew member will be issued with a MCA-approved self-inflating lifejacket and safety line.

2. Potential hazards

  • Fire: For safety reasons Liamar carries no petrol or gas, and there is no smoking below decks. The diesel engine compartment is fitted with an automatic fire extinguishing system, and additional portable fire extinguishers are mounted in the main cabin at the base of the mast and by the main companionway. A further portable fire extinguisher is mounted in the main locker on the port side of the cockpit, and a fire blanket is kept by the stove in the main cabin. For maximum safety the stove is a non-pressurised type using bio-ethanol fuel.
  • MOB: Shout alarm, and immediately throw to the casualty the yellow horseshoe buoy and self-inflating danbuoy (in a white canister), both of which are mounted on the back rail of the cockpit. Maintain continuous visual contact with the casualty while the rest of the crew ready the boat for retrieval. If needed a safety ladder for boarding is carried in the aft cockpit locker and the guardrails can be lowered by cutting the black lashings where they attach to the pushpit. If the engine is used the gear lever on the port side of the cockpit must be brought to the vertical position, neutral, as the casualty is approached.
  • Distress: Liamar is fitted with a DSC VHF set, mounted on the starboard side above the chart table. If the boat and crew are in ‘grave and imminent danger’ a Mayday can be sent, automatically identifying the boat and its GPS position, by lifting the small flap covering the red DSC button and depressing the button for at least 5 seconds. A laminated card describes use of this equipment in greater detail.

3. Liferaft

A 6-person self-inflating liferaft is carried on the coach roof. A yellow grab bag is in the cabin containing additional safety equipment, including a PLB, hand-held VHF, handheld GPS and first aid kit. A MCA-approved suite of flares is carried in a yellow watertight plastic container in the forward cabin.

4. Additional safety points

The engine cut-off toggle, which should be pulled out and held until the engine stops, is located at the aft end of the small cubbyhole on the port side of the cockpit. The main anchor is carried in a locker at the bow, while an additional kedge anchor is carried in the locker at the aft end of the cockpit. A long range torch, first aid kit, hand-held horn and bolt cutters are carried in the forward locker on the starboard side of the main cabin and, below this locker beneath the seat cushion, is the tool kit. The forward hatch, which must be kept closed while the boat is at sea, is secured by two hand-operated levers.

5. Domestics

Instructions for using the heads are displayed on a laminated card. The seacocks below the heads must be kept closed at all times when the toilet is not being used. Instructions for using the stove are also displayed.