Crew and Vessel Inductions

Inductions are critical procedures in the maritime industry, ensuring that all personnel are thoroughly familiarized with the boats operations, safety protocols, and emergency procedures before embarking on a voyage.

These inductions typically cover a wide range of topics, including the layout of the vessel, location of safety equipment, location of firefighting equipment, communication systems onboard, and specific roles and responsibilities. The process often involves both theoretical instruction and practical demonstrations to ensure comprehensive understanding.

Why Inductions Matter?

Crew and vessel inductions serve as comprehensive orientation for crew members, acquainting them with the specific features and safety protocols of a particular vessel. This process is vital because each boat can have unique equipment, emergency systems, and navigational technologies that require familiarization to prevent accidents and ensure smooth operations. Furthermore, crew and vessel inductions help in building a cohesive team by clarifying roles and responsibilities, thus enhancing communication and coordination among crew members.

What to include in your Induction?

Your induction should cover the vessels layout and locations of:

• Lifejackets (including each person donning one of the vessels lifejackets)
• PFDs if any are onboard
• Inflatable life raft (including their securing mechanisms) – if carried         
• Carley Floats (including their securing mechanisms) – if carried
• Lifebuoys – types and applications
• Distress flares (type and number)
• Medical supplies, including any day kits
• EPIRB – Identify if its float free
• Portable fire extinguishers (type/class and what fires they are used for)
• Fix fire suppression system release location.
• Fire blanket (if carried). This is where we detail how it’s used and get at least one crew member to demonstrate and they are a single use item
• Air shut off’s (we usually get crew to operate them but ensure you have them reset before moving on)
• Fuel shut off’s (do not operate them unless requested to do so by the owner)
• Assembly station or stations

This is a list of critical items to include in all of your vessel/crew inductions. Even if you have a number of vessels that are similar you MUST induct all crew members onto each individual vessel.

Recording your vessel inductions

Properly recording your vessel inductions as a vital part of the induction process and it’s a legal requirement that provides legal protection in the event of an incident.

SMS manuals that Shorlink develops has an Induction Record form which is developed specifically for the type and operations of your vessel or vessels.

Be sure to include the date of all vessel/crew inductions

Shorlink’s Recommendation

Our primary recommendation is to ensure you induct all crew both existing and new before any commercial operations are undertaken.

Secondly we strongly recommend you record all inductions in an appropriate manner ensuring they include what items were included in the induction and item’s locations.

Use inductions to identify where the safety and fire appliances are on your vessel and don’t confuse inductions with training because they are different!

Tip

When inducting crew always ensure you have them don one of the vessels lifejackets and check to ensure they have donned it properly.

In addition when showing the location of portable fire extinguishers it’s a good idea to test their knowledge on the type (class) of extinguisher, what it’s used for (type of fires) and how to remove it from the bracket. We have at least one person remove an extinguisher from the bracket.

If you need further information or clarification on vessel/crew inductions don’t hesitate to contact our office.

Next week we’ll take a closer look at training (drill) requirements.