Are you aware that with the changes to Marine Order 504, the Assembly changes was updated.
If you operate a Class 1, 2 or 3 vessel, rules for alternative assembly stations apply.
What are the changes:
- Alternative assembly station requirements no longer depend on the number of people on board
- You must provide alternative assembly stations if it’s practical, based on your vessel’s layout, characteristics and risk assessment.
How to meet these requirements?
RISK ASSESSMENT REVIEW!
As the owner, you should review the risk assessment in consultation with the master and crew and consider:
- how an alternative assembly station can control risks
- whether an alternative assembly station is practical based on your vessel’s layout, characteristics and risk assessment
- where to locate an alternative assembly station.
After this review, you need to update your risk assessment with any changes. Don’t forget to note the change in your Revision and Review Log too.
How to update your emergency plan?
Firstly, you need to identify:
- at least one assembly station (primary assembly station) for all persons on board
- an alternative to any primary assembly station that becomes unusable or inaccessible during an emergency (if determined as practical in your risk assessment in Step 1)
- arrangements for assigning each crew member to an emergency station
- a system, for use in an emergency, for the crew to record and confirm the presence of all persons on board
- how often emergency procedures, including assembly station drills, will be practised.
Note: Assembly station requirements in NSCV C1 – Arrangement, Accommodation and Personal Safety specify minimum requirements to facilitate the orderly and timely movement of people in an emergency.
Additional requirements for vessels that carry passengers
Ensure that the emergency plan includes:
- the location of each assembly station
- what passengers must do in an emergency
- how passengers are to find, put on and secure lifejackets
- placement of appropriate signage to guide passengers to the assembly station
- placement of ‘what to do in an emergency’ information in each assembly station, passenger cabin and other area frequented by passengers
- placement of appropriate signage and information on how to find, put on and secure lifejackets in each assembly station, passenger cabin and other area frequented by passengers.
Shorlink’s Recommendation
Review your Risk Assessment to ensure the above is reflected correctly and update your emergency plan!
AMSA have definitely ramped up their inspections, ensuring the changes from 1st June 2025 from Marine Order 504 have been applied to your SMS and operations. Therefore, we recommend ensuring both Assembly Station change in addition to the other changes have been applied as soon as possible.
Tip
Confused? Don’t know if your SMS, Risk Assessment and Emergency Plans are updated and correctly!
Please contact our office today for clarity and if you have any questions.
