The exception is where excessive outside noise dictates the need to be heard.
• As you leave, grab the handheld VHF and/or the EPIRB. Also take the fire extinguishers from the companionways. At least one of the larger extinguishers should be stowed in a cockpit locker or elsewhere on deck. If the source of the fire is known and accessible, shut it down as you go; for example, an electrical fire may be controllable by switching off the batteries, and a cooker or engine fire by shutting off the fuel supply. If the flare pack seems in danger, get it well out of the way or even dangle it over the side.
• On a large vessel with a big crew, detail someone to count heads.
• Regardless of the above, without wasting a second, try to fight your way back in. If it’s possible to site the chief fire fighter between the fire and the exit point, he or she should commence work straight away while the rest of the crew are evacuating. Common sense must prevail, but do not let anyone become cut off from an exit by the fire. Be especially aware of someone being in aft cabins.
• The fire fighter should beware of inhaling fumes. Even cushions may be toxic when on fire.
• If possible, turn downwind to minimise the ‘bellows’ effect of the boat’s progress through the air, and try to avoid spreading fire by blowing it all over the place with an ill-aimed bucket of water or a fire extinguisher.
• Send out a PAN-PAN or MAYDAY call as soon as possible. If it is safe to use the main radio, do so with caution. Don’t worry about the possibility of having to stand down the rescue services if you douse the fire. They’d rather you did than find the boat burned to the waterline.
• If things look out of control, don’t hesitate to launch the liferaft early, balancing the risk of it being damaged alongside the boat against the unacceptable event of it being burned in its chocks by a sudden downturn in your fortunes. Fire extinguishers
All vessels carrying inflammable material such as fuel or gas must be equipped with suitable fire extinguishers. More is better, but the following minimum guidelines may prove useful.
Decked vessels over 6m and under 15m • Some sort of fire pump should be readily available. A deckwash pump is ideal.
• A dedicated engine-space extinguishing system. At worst this can be a hole in the engine box granting access for one of the boat’s extinguishers. Ideally it
Quadrant Rudder Chain
will be an extinguisher permanently sited in the engine space and activated by heat.
• A multi-purpose fire extinguisher of the dry powder type of at least 4Kg.
• At least two multi-purpose dry powder fire extinguishers of 1Kg or more sited at the exits from the accommodation.
• Two buckets with lanyards. • A fire blanket for galley and clothing fires. Fire blankets can sometimes quickly smother a small fire. Decked vessels over 15m are recommended similar specification, but at least one extra extinguisher of 4Kg or more should be carried.
Steering failure
This takes one of two forms. The first is that the rudder has ceased to work, because either its bearings have been compromised or the unit itself has parted company with the ship. The second is failure of the mechanism for controlling it (the tiller or wheel system). Steering failure is more common in sailing yachts than power craft because of the forces imposed by the rig – indeed, it is five times more likely to occur than fire. On long passages far from help it has delivered some crushing blows, yet there is often much that can be done to mitigate its effects.
Wire
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114 | MANUAL OF SEAMANSHIP
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