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The Nicos J. Vardinoyannis

Seafarers
Handbook

Produced for Mariners

by the Seamens Church Institute

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Inside front cover left blank intentionally

The Nicos J. Vardinoyannis

Seafarers
Handbook

Produced for Mariners

by the Seamens Church Institute

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Page 4

Published by The Seamens Church Institute of

New York and New Jersey with a grant from
Nicos J. Vardinoyannis Fund
Ioanna N. Vardinoyannis - Fourier and Pyrros N. Vardinoyannis

Note To The Reader

The purpose of this handbook is to communicate information about
the marine environment and shipboard life pertinent to crews of
merchant marine vessels. The information contained here has been
compiled from a variety of sources, which are noted at appropriate
places in the text. This handbook is not a substitute for training and
continued professional education.

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This icon honoring St. Nicholas, the patron saint of seafarers, is on

display in SCIs St. Nicholas chapel in New York City.

All rights reserved. No part of this handbook may be reproduced,

stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior permission of the publisher.
Artist: Joseph Cammarato
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TABLE OF
CONTENTS

Chapter 9
Weather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Chapter 10
Navigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Chapter 11

Dedication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0

Overview of International Regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201

Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2

Part 4 The Ship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240

Part1 The Seafarer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Chapter 12
Ship Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241

Chapter 1
Seafarers Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Chapter 13
General Ship Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261

Chapter 2
Services Available from the Port Chaplain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Chapter 14
Ship Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265

Chapter 3
Chapter 15
Religion On Board Ship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Chapter 4

Fire Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285

Chapter 16

Smuggling, Piracy and Stowaways

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Chapter 5

Hazardous Cargo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301

Part 5 Appendices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318

First Aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Appendix 1: Measurement Conversions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319

Part 2 Ports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Chapter 6
Ports of the World

Appendix 2: Sea Distances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322

Appendix 3: Clothing-Size Equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

Appendix 4: Languages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328

Part 3 The Sea and Regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138

Chapter 7

Appendix 5: World Time Zones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336

Appendix 6: Flags and Ensigns

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338

The Sea Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

Sources

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342

Chapter 8
What is Pollution?

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157

Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 352

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Seafarers Handbook

Dedication

Demand grew quickly and in 1966 he built the Kali Limenes and Siros
(an island in the Aegean Sea) bunkering stations, under the name
SEKA S.A. He expanded his business in 1967 to include oil shipping
activities with a fleet of 20 tankers, all flying the Greek flag. On Nov. 11,
1972 Nicos Vardinoyannis inaugurated the Motor Oil Hellas Corinth
Refinery. Unfortunately, he passed away only eight months after the
opening of the refinery at the age of 42.
As well as being a caring husband and father, Nicos Vardinoyannis
was also a caring businessman and employer. He was personally
involved in the purchase and management of all his tankers and cared
deeply for the people he employed. He continually worked to improve
the harsh conditions of life of his seafarers and managed the group
like one big family. His love for the sea made him a pioneer in envi-

Dedication

ronmental protection issues.

Our father was an idealist. He believed in what he was pursuing and
pursued what he believed in. He created a healthy and dynamic busi-

This book is dedicated to the work, ideas and memory of our father,

ness which reflected his ideas, values, and vision. His name is well

Nicos J. Vardinoyannis. It is dedicated to all his accomplishments and

known in Greece and throughout the shipping world. For us, his

the many more time didnt allow him to complete.

memory was, is, and always will be a source of strength, inspiration

and pride. We know he would love the book we are today dedicating

Nicos Vardinoyannis was born in 1931 in a small town near the

to him with all our love and respect.

northern shore of the island of Crete. The sea had always been his big
love and it was this love that marked, from the very beginning, the

In this effort we had the valuable assistance of The Seamens Church

course of his life. He joined the Greek Navy in 1952 where he served

Institute, without which the realization of this edition would be very

for ten years, leaving with the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

difficult, if not impossible. Therefore we express our deep feelings of

respect and our sincere thanks to The Seamens Church Institute and

He left the Navy but remained close to the sea. What he lacked in cap-

all the people who have worked hard on this edition.

ital he made up in perspicacity and courage he founded a bunker

fuel business in 1962, having perceived a shortage of bunker fuel on

Ioanna N. Vardinoyannis - Fournier

the Mediterranean side of the Suez Canal. In 1962 he began leasing two

Pyrros N. Vardinoyannis

old oil tankers from Aristotle Onassis, the Ariston and the Aristophanes.
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Seafarers Handbook

We l c o m e

Welcome

receive messages . Satellites also send weather information to onboard

As a seafarer, you belong to a unique community of hardworking men

and women from more than one hundred nations.
Seafarers typically are people who love
adventure and enjoy learning new
things. Seafarers come from many
cultures, but share a common way
of life while at sea. You are all familiar
with the rigid rules and long hours that
are part of life on a ship. You all leave family
and friends at home. You all have a lot
in common.
Your workplace is a curious mixture of the very old and the very
new. Over the years, the size of the
average ship has grown tremendously, but
some basic elements have not changed. The modern ship still has
many similarities to the ships that sailed the oceans in the 16th century. Your job titles and many ship terms were developed during the
16th century. You travel on trade routes that are hundreds and even

computer systems. And satellites are used to send and receive distress
messages. Some ships use high-tech equipment to detect hazards in
cargo holds. They also employ sophisticated fire prevention and suppression equipment. You are probably working with some of the
worlds best technology.
To keep up with the latest technologies, and to safeguard yourself from
hazards, you need training. This book, with its overview of many seafarer and ship-related topics, is a good reference for this training.
The Seamens Church Institute of New York and New Jersey is an
advocate for the personal and professional well-being of merchant
seafarers. The Institute provides hospitality, social services, maritime
training, and legal assistance to seafarers of all nationalities.
We care about you. Because we care, we have compiled, in this handbook, safety information, crime prevention tips, and disease prevention information, along with an overview of international conventions
that affect your profession. We want you to stay well. We also want you
to enjoy your career at sea.
The Rev. Peter Larom
Executive Director

thousands of years old. But there are also aspects of your ship that are
altogether new.
The shipping industry has always been and continues to be a leader in
communication technologies. Many ships employ the latest technologies for navigation and communication. For more than a decade,
ships have been using satellites and digital equipment to send and

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Chapter

Part 1
The

Seafarer

Seafarers Rights
YOUR RIGHTS
As a seafarer aboard a merchant ship, you have many rights
that are protected by law. Most seafarers are capable and
responsible individuals, but because of their vulnerability,
courts and legislatures regard seafarers as a category of workers entitled to special consideration and treatment.
Maritime law has long recognized that seafarers need special
protection and care. Seafarers work has always been difficult
and dangerous, requiring long separations from home, family, and friends, as well as exposure to perils at sea. The law
reflects the concern that if commerce is to move safely and
efficiently over water, it is necessary to care for the people
who work on ships. To a large extent, admiralty and maritime law (the law governing ships and shipping) was developed to protect seafarers and preserve their rights. Many
maritime laws are based on ancient texts, dating back to the
Crusades or even earlier. These ancient laws form the basis
for all modern laws.

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Seafarers Handbook

BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS

Seafarers Rights

minimum levels of pay, and some flag states

Some rights are so basic that you are entitled to them regard-

also determine minimum levels of

less of where you live or with whom you are employed. These

pay. The International Labour

basic human rights include:

Organisation (ILO) has recommended that the mini-

The right to life.

mum pay for an able sea-

Your job should not put your life in unreasonable danger.

man (A/B) in 1998, should

You have the right to receive a fair salary and enjoy safe

be US$435 per month, but

working conditions and appropriate rest periods.

this is not binding. Unless the

contracted wage rate is in

The right to respectregardless of age, ethnic

violation of flag-state or labor-supply-

background, race, religion, or sex.

ing-state laws, the rate of pay in your contract is the

All human beings are entitled to be treated with equal dignity.

controlling element.

You have the right to such basic necessities as food, clothing,

and shelter. You also have the right to worship freely, provided

The right to free medical care, wages, and living

this worship does not interfere with your work or with the

expenses during your recuperation if you become

rights of another crew member to worship.

ill or injured during the performance of your work.

This right is called maintenance and cure. If you become
ill or injured (except through your own deliberate act) while

BASIC SEAFARERS RIGHTS

you are working, you are entitled to medical care up to the

The following are basic seafarers rights that apply in most

point of maximum medical cure paid for by the shipowner,

maritime nations. A few nations, however, limit one or more

and to wages, food, and shelter during the period of your

of these rights.

recovery (through the end of the voyage). Some contracts

restrict the amount of your recovery for maintenance, but

The right to a written contract (ships articles).

your contract may not otherwise reduce or restrict your right

All seafarers are entitled to a written contract, which should

to maintenance and cure. Any contractual terms that

contain details about your salary, the time period for which

attempt to do so should be deemed unlawful by a court.

you are hired, and other important employment rights.

The right to be repatriated.
The right to wages.

When your contract ends or when your contract is terminat-

All seafarers are entitled to be regularly paid a fair wage for

ed without cause by the shipowner, you have the right to

their work. Many labor-supplying countries determine the

return to the port where you were hired, the port where you

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joined the vessel, or another port mutually agreeable to you

Seafarers Rights

If you have a question about your rights, contact:

and the master. The shipowner pays for all repatriation costs.
The right to shore leave.

THE CENTER FOR SEAFARERS RIGHTS

Shore leave is necessary for your emotional and physical

THE SEAMENS CHURCH INSTITUTE OF

well-being. This is a basic right that should be granted to all

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY

seafarers except in the most extreme circumstances. Some

countries, however, do place limits on shore leave.
The right of free association.
You have the right to associate with other seafarers and to

241 WATER STREET

NEW YORK, NY 10038
TEL. (212) 349-9090 x240
FAX: (212) 349-8342

engage in collective bargaining. The International Labour

E-MAIL: [email protected]

Organisation (ILO) has determined that seafarers have the

WEBSITE: http://www.seamenschurch.org

right to join unions. Union activity, however, is prohibited

in some countries.

EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS
The right to a written contract is one of your most important

THE CENTER FOR SEAFARERS RIGHTS

rights. Employment contracts are sometimes called ships

The Center for Seafarers Rights assists thousands of seafarers

articles. From seafarers contracts flow the various rights of

each year. The center is a division of The Seamens Church

seafarers, such as wages and maintenance and cure. Maritime

Institute of New York and New Jersey. It serves as a center for

law enables you to force the shipowner, the master, and even

research, legal assistance, and training on issues relating to

the ship itself to honor the terms of your contract.

seafarer abuse and exploitation. It provides free counseling,

assistance, and referrals to merchant seafarers and to seafar-

You should not sign a contract unless you understand your

ers welfare agencies worldwide.

rights and responsibilities under that contract. You have a

right to understand all the terms of your contract. You may

The Center for Seafarers Rights can help you understand

ask the manning agent or your union representative to

your employment contract, be repatriated, obtain shore

explain the terms of your contract. Most maritime nations

leave, receive medical care or benefits, and deal with other

require your shipowner either to give you a copy of your con-

seafarers rights issues.

tract or to make it available to you on your ship. Get a copy of

your contract if it is offered to you. You should also get a copy
if you feel that you have a dispute with your employer.

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Seafarers Rights

The International Labour Organisation has determined that all seafarer contracts should contain
the following information:
Your name, date of birth or age,
and birthplace
Date and place that agreement
was completed
Name of the vessel(s)
Your job on the ship
Your wages
Sometimes seafarers are asked to sign two contracts that
The duration of your agreement

specify two different rates of pay. Sign only one contract.

and conditions thereof

When a dispute arises over employment-related rights, the
terms of your contract will usually be the most important
Sometimes seafarers have no written contract. If you work with

factor in resolving the dispute.

no contract, you are at the mercy of your employer because you

have no proof of the terms of your employment. Although the
flag state and the courts of some countries may protect some of

WAGES

your basic rights, you should insist upon a written contract that

In wage matters, the claims of seafarers are highly favored by

clearly defines the terms of your employment.

the courts. Seafarers wage claims have been called sacred

claims by the courts and are protected by a lien (property

Sometimes seafarers are asked to sign blank contracts when

right) against the vessel.

they apply for employment. The terms of the contract can

then be filled in without the seafarers knowledge. Do not

Is there a minimum wage?

sign a blank contract.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO), a United

Nations agency, recommends minimum wages for seafarers.

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Seafarers Rights

As of 1 January 1998, the minimum ILO wage for an able-

Similarly, if you want help in negotiating your contract terms

bodied seaman (A/B) is US$435 (per month). Although

or initiating a collective bargaining agreement, you should

several governments and industry organizations recognize

contact the ITF or your trade union.

the ILO minimum wage for their seafarers, this minimum

wage is only a recommendation to shipowners. It is not your
right to receive this wage rate unless it is specified in your

RECRUITMENT

contract. Unless your pay scale is less than that required by

Manning agents work for the shipowners, who pay them to

law, you do not have a right to any particular minimum

find seafarers to work on their ships. It is illegal for manning

wage. The only minimum wage is that specified by the laws

agents to charge seafarers for finding them work. Manning

of a flag state or a labor-supplying nation. If you wish to

agents may only charge small fees for processing applica-

increase your wages, the most effective way of doing so is to

tions. Reputable manning agents do the following:

negotiate a new contract through collective bargaining by a

Do not charge seafarers fees for

trade union.

finding them jobs

What is Collective Bargaining?
Collective bargaining is a process by which a trade union

Do not charge fees for obtaining

negotiates with a shipowner for better wages or working con-

government documents for

ditions for everyone. This process generates a collective bar-

seafarers

gaining agreement (CBA) that provides similar contracts for

all the seafarers that are represented. When you are part of a

Do not charge seafarers trans-

collective bargaining agreement, your contract rights are the

portation fees

same as those of your coworkers under the same contract.

Respond quickly and accurately to
A common feature in CBAs is a procedure for handling griev-

questions from the family mem-

ances. Whenever you have a problem with your contract or

bers of seafarers

working conditions, you should first try to solve the problem

through your grievance procedure. The International

Forward mail to seafarers

Transport Workers Federation (ITF) is an association of

transport workers unions, and it has a section devoted to sea-

Make allotment payments to family

farers. It is a good resource for help with grievance procedures.

members and bank accounts, on

See Part II for telephone numbers of local ITF representatives.

time and at a fair currency

exchange rate

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MAINTENANCE AND CURE

Seafarers Rights

agreements limit the amount of recovery for maintenance.

The one remedy that seafarers have been able to count on

Courts have differing opinions about whether such limita-

over the centuries is the right to be taken care of when they

tions are valid.

became sick or injured in the service of their vessel. As mentioned earlier, shipowners have a duty to provide medical care

Every seafarer who becomes sick or is injured while

and other benefits for seafarers working aboard their ships.

employed aboard a vessel, without willful misbehavior, is

entitled to wages to the end of the voyage. Every seafarer is
also entitled to sustenance, lodging, and medical care to the
point where maximum medical cure attainable has been
reached. Your injury or illness does not have to occur while
you are on the vessel, as long as you became ill or injured
while you were in the service of the vessel.
If you normally receive tips as a part of your salary, your
wages during recuperation should include what you would
customarily receive in tips.

REPATRIATION
International conventions, the domestic laws of most flag
states, and general maritime law all recognize your right to
What is Maintenance and Cure?

be repatriated at the end of your contract.

Maintenance is reasonable and actual room and board

expenses. If you recuperate ashore, your actual room and
board expenses should be paid by the shipowner. Cure is the
reasonable medical expense needed to bring you to maxi-

Who Pays Repatriation Costs?

The shipowner is required to pay the costs of repatriating seafarers who are left behind by reason of injury or illness (not
due to the seafarers willful act), shipwreck, or for any other

mum medical cure.

cause for which the seafarer cannot be held responsible.

Maintenance and cure is a basic right that is part of every
employment contract for seafarers even if it is not mentioned in your contract (ships articles). Maintenance and
cure cannot be contracted away. Some collective bargaining

24

Do You Have to Return to the Port Where You

Joined the Vessel?
You should be repatriated to one of three places: the port

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where you were hired, the port where you joined the vessel,
or any other port on which you and the master agree.

Seafarers Rights

SAFETY
The Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention aims to guard
your most important right, your right to life. It requires

Is the Shipowner Always Required to Pay

shipowners to maintain and operate safe ships and to supply

Repatriation Costs?

enough safety equipment to keep all crew members secure. It

The shipowner may not be required to pay repatriation costs

requires fire protection systems, survival craft, and Global

for a seafarer who quits without cause before the term of his

Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) radio equip-

or her employment contract expires.

ment. It also mandates a safety management system on each

vessel through the International Safety Management Code (ISM).

SHORE LEAVE

SOLAS also addresses your right to accurate information

Shore leave is necessary to a seafarers emotional, spiritual,

cultural, and physical well-being. Shore leave is a basic right
that should be granted to all seafarers except in the most
extreme circumstances. Some countries, however, place limits on shore leave.

about possible hazards associated with your work. It requires

that you be informed about the properties of each cargo carried, and that you receive safety training for that cargo. It also
states that you have a right to ask for and be given a Cargo
Information Sheet that lists all physical and health hazards
for the cargo.

Most countries do not require visas for seafarers to come ashore.

A seafarers identity card is sufficient. Some countries, however,
do require a visa.

The International Convention on Standards of Training,

Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) aims
to guard your right to life. It protects your basic rights to a
safe work environment and to adequate rest periods. STCW
requires minimum training standards and minimum rest
requirements for crew members. It describes minimum
manning requirements. It also requires that, before the start
of each voyage, you be given detailed familiarization training
that emphasizes safety.
The Merchant Shipping (Minimum Standards) Convention
(ILO 147) is an international convention that grants port
authorities permission to inspect ships. The inspections are
to ensure that the ships meet minimum standards for safety,

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health, and seafarers rights. If the inspectors find hazardous,

Seafarers Rights

NATIONAL LAWS

unclean, or unsafe conditions, the port state government

Many nations have detailed laws

may detain the ship and order that repairs be made.

that cover contracts, wages, and

other seafarers rights. You have

For more information on SOLAS, STCW, and ILO 147, see

the protection of a nations laws

chapter 11 p. 199.

when you work on a ship flying

the flag of that nation or when
you are a citizen of that nation.

UNIONS
You have the right to associate freely and to bargain collectively for better wages and working conditions. This includes
your right to join a union. Regrettably, some countries do not
accept this basic internationally accepted right and prohibit

The Center for Seafarers Rights

publishes booklets describing your rights under the laws of the
following nations: Bahamas, Cyprus, Liberia, Malta, Norway,
Panama. Some of the issues covered in these booklets are:

normal union activity.

Contract requirements
Unions are involved in protecting your rights under collective
bargaining agreements and in negotiating new contracts for
the betterment of all the workers covered by the same contract.
The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) can help
you identify unions that have met its rigorous standards for membership. For more information about unions and the ITF, contact:

When wages begin and frequency

of pay
How wages are distributed
between cash payments and
allotments
Injury and illness

INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT
WORKERS FEDERATION

Vacation pay and holiday pay

49-60 BOROUGH ROAD

LONDON SE1 1DS, UNITED KINGDOM

Accommodations and provisions

TEL. 011-44-171-403-2733

E-MAIL: [email protected]

Union representation

WEBSITE: http://www.itf.org.uk

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Chapter

Repatriation

Death benefits
Redress of grievances

Services Available
from the
Port Chaplain

Sources of help
Safety
Termination

ASSISTANCE
When you have questions concerning your employment,
first speak with your supervisor. If you believe that your
supervisor is not giving you good information, or if you have
additional questions about your rights, contact the Center

Port Chaplains intend to welcome you and to offer assistance. Telephone numbers for many seamens centers are
included in Part II.

for Seafarers Rights or a trade union representative.

When you are in port, a ship visitor from the local seamens

MINISTRY

club or agency might come on board. Ship visitors are port

Chaplains lead worship

chaplains, priests, ministers, rabbis, and volunteers who are

services on board ship,

trained to understand your work and the maritime industry.

when requested, or
pray with an individual seafarer. In many
ports, they can provide

ASK FOR SEAFARERS RIGHTS BOOKLETS WHEN YOU VISIT A

SEAMENS CLUB, OR DOWNLOAD THEM AT NO CHARGE

FROM THE INTERNET (http://www.seamenschurch.org).

30

you with Bibles and

devotional materials in
different languages.

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If there is a major crisis, such as a death or serious injury on

S e r v i c e s A v a i l a b l e f r o m t h e Po r t C h a p l a i n

RECREATION

one of your voyages, contact a chaplain at the first opportu-

Many seamens clubs provide food, drinks, and recreation.

nity. Chaplains are trained to counsel people who are upset

They can help you arrange transportation to the club or into

and grieving. They can also assist your vessel with the diffi-

town for shopping. Some clubs have sports facilities. Ask the

cult job of notifying the deceased persons family at home.

chaplain to help you arrange basketball or football competi-

Chaplains visit and help seafarers who are in hospital or

prison. If you are in trouble and need help, or have been the
victim of a crime, the chaplain will help you find the appropriate aid from the local seafarers agency, or union, or your
nations consulate.
Chaplains also will share information about AIDS and other
sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). For a free pamphlet on
AIDS prevention, contact:

THE SEAMENS CHURCH INSTITUTE OF

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY
118 EXPORT STREET

tions for crews from different ships. In some ports, chaplains

can arrange sightseeing tours for groups of seafarers.

PORT NEWARK, NJ 07114

TEL: (973) 589-5828
FAX: (973) 817-8565

E-MAIL: [email protected]

COMMUNICATION
Chaplains know it is very difficult to communicate with family
members while on board ship. Each seamens club offers
different services, and many are organized to provide these kinds
of services for you. Ask your ship visitor for the help you need.

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This is a blank page. We can decide what to do with them at

the end. But I need a page here.

Chapter

Religion On
Board Ship
INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS
On board ship, many religions may be represented. Your religion affects the deepest part of your being and culture and
should be respected by everyone. Show the same respect for
the religions of others. You may have an opportunity on board
ship to learn about faiths other than your own. You should
learn about and honor each others beliefs, worship practices,
moral codes, and cultural practices. The five major religions
are Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism.
The religious backgrounds of your fellow seafarers may dictate
their eating habits, their holidays, and their prayer practices.
Strict observance of some religions requires no drinking, no
smoking, no swearing, and no eating of certain foods.
Around the world, there are about one billion Christians. Christianity is the faith of
those who follow Jesus Christ and believe

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Religion On Board Ship

that he is the promised redeemer and the son of the one all-

first Veda, Rig-Veda, includes hymns and

powerful God. Christians are chiefly divided into Orthodox

verses in Hindi. It was written around 2000

Catholics, Roman Catholics, and Protestants. For historical

BC. The third Veda, Upanishad, written

and political reasons, Orthodox Catholics are found mostly

somewhere between 1000 and 500 BC, dis-

in the countries of Eastern Europe. Roman Catholics and

cusses the relationship between people and the gods. There are

Protestants are found mostly in the countries of Western

three supreme gods and a great number of lesser gods; the

Europe and in former European colonies.

lesser gods often represent natural forces. The most supreme

god is Brahma. Hinduism incorporates many diverse practices.

The Jewish people believe in the same God

that Christians do, but Jews do not revere

The Indian subcontinent is also the home of Buddhism. This

the person of Jesus Christ. Judaism, much

is the religion of about one-eighth of the worlds people.

older than Christianity, traces its origins

Buddhism is the name for a complex system of beliefs devel-

back nearly 4,000 years to Abraham, the

oped around the teachings of a single man.

patriarch who is considered the father of the Jewish faith.

This man, known today as Buddha, was

Both Jews and Christians use the Bible as a treasured source

Siddhartha Gautama, who lived 2,500 years

of beliefs. The first five books of the Bible are known as the

ago in India. Buddha means Awakened or

Torah. These books contain the early history of the Jewish

Enlightened One, and all Buddhist teachings try to share the Buddhas experience of awakening

people and of Israel.

to truth.
Muslims, followers of Islam, believe in the same God that
Jews and Christians do. They also believe that God (Allah)

Whatever religion your shipmates practice, it is important to

sent them a special prophet, Muhammad, who revealed

honor their beliefs. It is good to learn about the faiths of others.

Gods law to them and wrote Gods teachings in a book

Sometimes learning about another faith, and seeing how it is

called the Koran. The Koran is sacred to

Muslims.

treasured, helps us to treasure our own faith.

Muslims are also familiar with

Bible traditions. There are two branches of

Islam, Sunni and Shia.

SIMPLE SERVICE: CHRISTIAN WORSHIP

When in port, you may choose to worship on board in a ser-

Hinduism is the oldest of the major religions. It is believed

vice conducted by the local chaplain or attend a service at the

to have begun almost 4,000 years ago. Hinduism is a faith

seamens club, or you may be able to arrange transportation

that reveres the many gods described in the Indian Vedas.

to a house of worship of your own faith. At sea, daily wor-

The Vedas are four holy books that are sacred to Hindus. The

ship is up to you and your shipmates. In this section, we pro-

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One or more persons may comment briefly, or all may meditate on

the passage in silence.
Prayers of the People
The Lords Prayer
Dismissal

vide resources to help you create a simple service of prayer

and praise to be used on board ship.

PRAYERS AND HYMNS

Prayers for Daily Worship
Prayers of the People.

Daily worship offers a time to reflect on the past and the hope

This prayer is offered aloud. A leader reads these or similar

of the future. It provides the opportunity to turn to God in

verses. After each verse, all respond: Lord, hear our prayer.

thanksgiving for the blessings of this life, to ask God for courage,
wisdom, peace, and well-being for your family and friends.

For our families at home, keep them safe, grant them your
gift of peace, and help them grow strong in their faith, we

ORDER FOR DAILY WORSHIP

GATHERING
First Reading: Old Testament

pray to the Lord For all who labor far from home, that
they may do so safely, and know that you are watching over
them and protecting them, we pray to the Lord For this
ship, all aboard her, and for us, that we may learn to deal with
each other honestly and fairly, we pray to the Lord, For
those who lead us, that they look to you for wisdom and skill

Psalm

and will lead us with compassion and understanding, we

Second Reading: New Testament

or Gospel

pray to the Lord For those who are sick, especially

____________ and ___________ , that they may soon worship you in fullness of health, we pray to the Lord For all

Response to Scripture:

who have died, especially ____________ and ___________,

that they may rest in peace and their families shall come to
know your comforting grace, we pray to the Lord Amen.

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Prayer of Confession

the day when Allah will not abase the prophet and those who

I confess to almighty God, to you, my brothers and sisters,

believe with him. Their light will run before them and on

that I have sinned through my own fault in my thoughts and

their right hands; they will say, Our Lord! Perfect our light for

in my words, in what I have done, and in what I have failed

us, and forgive us! Lo! Thou art able to do all things!

to do; and I ask blessed Mary, ever Virgin, all the angels and
saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the

Hindu Prayer

Lord our God. Amen.

May all the beings reach happiness and peace.

May their happiness be as great as possible.

Lords Prayer (As Taught by Jesus)

Whatever beings live in our world

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy

Weak or strong

Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Prone or standing

Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses,

Small, medium, or large

as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into

Healthy or frail

temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom

Hiding or in the open

and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

From the egg or the womb or seed

May all beings be happy

Jewish Shema

With a mind free of prejudice,

Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one and you

A mind of loving kindness

shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your

Our minds open outward

soul, and with all your might. And these words, which I

In all directions

command you this day, shall be upon your heart; and you

Toward Infinity.

shall teach them diligently to your children, and you shall

Free of hatred and spite

talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk

We radiate loving kindness.

by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up.

Thus in this our world of suffering and death

And you shall bind them as a sign upon your hands, and they

The true nature of Divinity

shall be like frontlets between your eyes. And you shall write

Appears here among us all.

them on the doorposts of your house, and upon your gates.

Sutta Nipata
(World Interfaith Education Association)

Muslim Prayer of Faith

Ye who believe! Turn unto Allah in sincere repentance! It
may be that your Lord will remit from you your evil deeds
and bring you into gardens underneath which rivers flow, on

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Buddhist Prayer

love; watch over any who are sick or in trouble, linking us

Loving Kindness, Sutta Nipata

through prayer with all who have a place in our hearts.

May all beings be filled with joy and peace.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Source: Chaplain Corps, U.S. Navy)

Let no one deceive another,

Let no one anywhere despise another,

Eternal Father Strong to Save

Let no one out of anger or resentment

Eternal Father, strong to save,

Wish suffering on anyone at all.

Whose arm has bound the restless wave,

Who bade the mighty ocean deep, its own appointed

Just as a mother with her own life

limits keep:

Protects her child, her only child, from harm,

Oh hear us when we cry to Thee

So within yourself let grow

For those in peril on the sea.

A boundless love for all creatures.

Lord stand beside all those who sail
Let your love flow outward through the universe,

Our Merchant ships in storm and gale.

To its height, its depth, its broad extent,

In peace and war watch they keep

A limitless love, without hatred or enmity.

On every sea on Thy vast deep

Be with them, Lord, by night and day,

As you stand or walk,

For Merchant Mariners we pray.

Sit or lie down,

As long as you are awake,
Strive for this with a dedicated mind and
Your life will bring heaven to earth.
This is known as living her life divine.

SAINT NICHOLAS, PATRON SAINT OF

SEAFARERS
In the fourth century, Saint Nicholas was Bishop of Myra in
Lycia, an ancient region of what is now Turkey. Nicholas has

Occasional Prayers

been recognized as a saint by the Orthodox Church since the

For Health and Strength

fifth century and by the Roman Catholic Church since the

For health and strength and daily food,

eleventh century. Legend says that he miraculously saved

We praise Thy name, O Lord.

seafarers in distress off the coast of Lycia, which is why he is

the patron saint of seafarers. His feast day is December 6.

Prayer for Our Loved Ones

Lord God, keep under Your protection all those whom we

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Smuggling,
Piracy and
Stowaways
Life at sea presents temptations and dangers that are unique
to seafaring. Here are some warnings about smuggling practices and penalties, as well as warnings about piracy and
about stowaways.

SMUGGLING
Smuggling has several meanings.
Smuggling can mean secretly
importing into a country items
that are legal to sell without paying customs and duties. Cigarettes
and liquor are examples of items
that are frequently smuggled to
avoid duties.

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S m u g g l i n g , P i r a c y a n d S t ow a w ay s

Smuggling can mean secretly

importing items that are illegal to
own and sell. Illegal drugs are the
most common items smuggled.

Smuggling can also mean secretly

exporting items that are illegal to
export. Each country bans certain items for export. Most countries ban the export of endan-

When you go ashore in a drug-producing country, be

gered wildlife, artifacts from

careful who you socialize with. Do not accept large gifts.

ancient ruins, sophisticated military

Never agree to deliver packages to someone in another

equipment, and nuclear materials.

country, especially if you are offered money or gifts to do so.

Most smuggling is controlled by

large criminal operations. The
individuals running these criminal

PIRACY

operations often use violence to

Pirates and armed robbers still attack ships and their crews.

control the people they have

Pirates are criminals who force their way into seafarers quar-

hired to smuggle items. They fre-

ters and steal their belongings. Sometimes they injure and

quently threaten to harm the fam-

kill seafarers. These attacks occur with alarming frequency in

ilies of smugglers who try to quit.

Southeast Asia, South America, and West Africa.

The punishment for smuggling is

always severe; in some countries,

Pirates often use small, high-speed vessels to attack ships

it is death.

moving through the Strait of Malacca and the South China

Seas. In South America and West Africa, armed robbers
most often board ships that are anchored or in a berth.

Smugglers often recruit seafarers by befriending them and

Pirates have become a major problem off the coast of

giving them plenty of free food and liquor. Once they have

Somalia. Pirates and robbers usually take what is in the ships

become a seafarers friend, they then ask him to carry a pack-

safe and anything of value from the crews living area.

age to a friend in Europe or North America. A very small

amount of an illegal drug can be worth a lot of money, and
it can be hidden in what appears to be a harmless package.
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S m u g g l i n g , P i r a c y a n d S t ow a w ay s

If attackers board your ship, do not resist them with force.

navigation. The bow and overside

Remember what is important: Human lives are more impor-

lights should be left on if possible.

tant than money, personal property, or cargo. The items that

pirates steal are not worth risking your life to protect. Your

Maintain secure areas on your

personal property is probably covered by your ships insur-

ship. All doors leading to the

ance. Most shipowners would rather pay your personal-

bridge, engine room, steering gear

property claims than pay death and injury claims that would

compartments, and crew quarters

result from your attempt to protect property.

should be secured and controlled.

Preventing Pirate Attacks

Remain in a secure area during

What can you do to protect yourself from pirates and armed

the night.

robbers?
The best protection is prevention.

If an attack occurs.

Pirates seek out easy targets. If your

If your ship is attacked, sound alarms and alert other crew so

ship looks as though it will respond

they can proceed to a secure area. Do not resist attackers.

to an attack, pirates might decide

Violent responses to a pirate attack increase the risks to the

not to approach your vessel. We

crew. Remember that your life and the lives of your co-workers

recommend that you do the following:

are worth more than any property a pirate might steal.

Practice! Conduct regular training

and drills on anti-piracy procedures.

REPORT ALL ATTACKS. BY REPORTING AN ATTACK,

Maintain vigilance; keep a good look-

REPORTS MAY BE MADE TO YOUR SHIPS FLAG

out.Illuminate suspect vessels and take

STATE AND TO THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME

evasive maneuvers.Sound alarms and

BUREAU (IMB) REGIONAL PIRACY CENTER IN

YOU CAN HELP PREVENT FUTURE ATTACKS.

whistles. Pirates may avoid vessels

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA:

that are aware of their presence.

TEL: 603 201 0014

FAX: +603 238 5769

Illuminate your vessel as much as

possible without hampering

48

TELEX: MA 31880 IMBPC1

E-MAIL: [email protected]

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ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF
INFORMATION:

S m u g g l i n g , P i r a c y a n d S t ow a w ay s

ship operators, masters, port authorities, and governments.

The basic principles addressed in these guidelines are:

Piracy and Armed Robbery, Merchant Shipping Notice

M.1517, United Kingdom Department of Transport.

Asylum-seeking stowaways should

Available from Room G3 Spring Place, 105 Commercial

be given the protections spelled

Road, Southampton SO1 OZD, United Kingdom.

out in international laws.

Pirates and Armed Robbers: A Masters Guide,

Stowaways should be treated

International Shipping Federation, 30-32 St. Mary Axe,

humanely.

London EC3A 8ET, United Kingdom.

Shipowners, masters, port authorities, and governments should have

PREVENTING STOWAWAYS

measures in place for preventing

A stowaway is a person without proper authority to obtain

stowaways from coming on board

passage who hides on board a ship. Stowaways might simply

ships, and for detecting them

be trying to flee from persecution or they might be trying to

before ships leave port.

obtain a better life in another country. An individual who is

leaving a country because he or she is being persecuted is

After stowaways are found, the

often seeking asylum abroad.

country where the ship is scheduled to make its next port of call

The immigration policies of some countries impose an

should accept the stowaways. The

unfair burden on shipowners and crew members.

government of this country

Shipowners and seafarers sometimes find themselves in a

should identify the stowaway and

predicament when port countries do not let stowaways dis-

repatriate him with the help of

embark, even to be repatriated. Some countries impose fines

the shipowner.

on ships for bringing stowaways ashore, and the shipowners

must pay all costs associated with repatriating the stowaways.

The stowaways apparent or

claimed country of nationality

There is no uniform procedure accepted by all governments

should make every effort to help

for the handling of stowaways. The International Maritime

determine the stowaways identity

Organization (IMO) has prepared guidelines for handling

and citizenship. Countries should

stowaways. These guidelines address the responsibilities of

accept the return of their citizens

or nationals.

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S m u g g l i n g , P i r a c y a n d S t ow a w ay s

When stowaways are found, a

You will probably find that stowaways are tired, frightened,

standard procedure should be fol-

and very hungry. Whether the stowaway is seeking asylum or

lowed to return the individual to

seeking better economic conditions, he or she is still a

his home country. It is primarily

human being. Provide all stowaways with food, water, and

the shipowners responsibility to

protection from the weather. Also provide first aid if it is

repatriate stowaways. Every ship

required.

should have procedures for handling stowaways, and these proce-

Points to Remember

dures should be carried out by

It is not your job to decide whether or not an asylum claim

the master or his delegates.

is legitimate. That is the responsibility of immigration

authorities in the next port.

The most humane way to deal with stowaways is to prevent them

You do have a responsibility as a

from coming on board. You can do this by maintaining a deck

crew member to take actions that

and gangway watch and by checking accommodation areas.

will avoid jeopardizing the safety

of the crew or the ship. Keep

Treatment of Stowaways When Found

stowaways away from critical

If you find a stowaway or a group of stowaways, report the

areas of the ship and away from

discovery immediately. The master needs to report the find-

areas where crew members are

ing to the shipowners and to immigration authorities at the

working.

next port of call.

You have a responsibility to treat
stowaways humanely.

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Chapter

First Aid
WHAT IS FIRST AID?
The information given here is basic, not a replacement for
good first-aid training. You are encouraged to get knowledge
and practice by taking cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
and first-aid courses when
they are offered to you.
First aid is the immediate care
given to a person with minor
injuries, such as cuts, minor
burns, and sprains. It may
also be the initial stabilizing
treatment given to a person
with more serious injuries,
such as broken bones.
Reporting medical emergencies and getting medical help are
also first-aid functions. The first-aid provider who runs for
help is just as important as the first-aid provider who stays with
the victim. In an emergency, time is often wasted looking for

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First Aid

a phone. Memorize the locations of your ship phones and

Carbon-monoxide poisoning

intercoms that you can use in an emergency.

Gas poisoning
Serious injuries require a doctor. Below are examples of injuries
Smoke inhalation

and illnesses that require medical treatment from a doctor:

Excessive bleeding

Near-drowning

Poisoning

Spinal injuries

Loss of consciousness

Broken bones

Severe head injuries

Eye injuries

Open chest wounds

When You Are First on the Scene
Open abdominal wounds

You may need to rescue the victim from a dangerous situation. Move the victim if he or she is in danger, or have the

Severe shock

electric power shut off.

Burns covering more than 15 per-

Here is the order of actions that you might take in a major

cent of the body

emergency:

Burns on the face

1.

Survey the scene. Is there a hazard from which the

victim needs to be rescued?

Severe allergic reactions

2.

If necessary, rescue the victim and yourself.

Check for breathing and for a pulse. If necessary, restore

Cardiac problems
breathing and heartbeat.

Cardiac arrest
4.

Electrical shock

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Stop heavy bleeding by applying pressure.

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5.

Treat for poisoning.

First Aid

6.

Be sure the head is still tipped back. Pinch the nose again.
Take a deep breath. Put your mouth over his mouth and

6.

Prevent shock.

blow. Watch his chest rise as you blow.Take a breath. As

you are taking your breath, watch his chest fall.

7.

Check the victim carefully for other injuries.

7.

Victim Not Breathing

Again, make sure his head is still tipped back, pinch the
nose, put your mouth over his mouth, and blow.

If a person is not breathing, you must take action immediately. To perform rescue breathing:

8.

Give the victim a breath about every five seconds.

1.

9.

About every minute, or 12 breaths, check the victims

Lay the victim on his back on a flat surface and tip the
head back to open the airway. (Do not tip the head

pulse, and watch to see if the victim has resumed

back if there might be a neck injury.)

breathing. If you find no pulse and are trained in CPR,

administer CPR. If the person is still not breathing,

2.

Open the mouth and make sure nothing is blocking

continue with the rescue breathing.

the airway.
10. Continue with the rescue breathing until the person
3.

Pinch the persons nose shut. Then position your mouth

starts breathing on his own or someone else takes over

over his mouth.

for you. Do not stop unless you are certain that the
individual is dead.

4.

Give the person two good blows of air. Blow in enough

air to make the chest rise.

When a person starts to breathe again, watch him or her

closely to make sure that breathing continues. Stay with the

5.

Check the carotid artery on the side of the neck for a

person until medical help arrives. A person who has stopped

pulse. Check pulse for at least five seconds. If there is no

breathing should be seen by a doctor.

pulse and you are trained in CPR, administer CPR. If

there is a pulse, continue administering rescue breaths.
(If you do not find a pulse and you are not trained in CPR,

SHOCK

continue with the rescue breathing. The heart may be

Shock is a condition where an injured persons vital

beating even though you did not find a pulse, so mouth-

organs slow down. Shock can happen to anyone who is

to-mouth breathing could keep the person alive.)

badly injured, and it is worsened by extreme pain or

fright. Here are the signs that a person has gone into shock:

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First Aid

Pale or bluish skin, cold to the

Do your best to comfort, quiet,

touch and sometimes clammy

and soothe the victim.

Weakness

HEAVY BLEEDING
Immediately apply pressure to the wound that is bleeding

Rapid pulse

heavily. Cut clothing to expose wound. When a clean pad is

Increased breathing rate

available, place the pad on the wound and press firmly with
your hand. Add extra pads as needed. Do not remove the

Nausea, vomiting

blood-soaked pads. Wrap the wound with a bandage and

elevate the wound if possible. Continue to apply pressure

Apathy

and follow steps for preventing shock.

Unresponsiveness

If you apply direct pressure and

elevate the wound and you
still cannot control the bleed-

Dilated pupils

ing, and if the wound is to an

arm or leg, then you need to
There is nothing a first-aid provider can do to stop shock

apply pressure at a pressure

symptoms once they occur. There are, however, several ways

point.

to prevent shock from occurring:

press firmly on the major

With your hands,

artery supplying blood to

Control heavy bleeding, often the

the limb that is wounded.

cause of shock.

Do not apply pressure at a pressure point unless you really

need to, and do not stop applying pressure to the wound.

Keep victim lying down.

Use a tourniquet only as a last resort. Before you use a

tourniquet, ask yourself if the situation is bad enough to risk

Keep victim at a comfortable tem-

losing a limb. Once a tourniquet is used, it must be removed

perature. In cold weather, keep

by a doctor.

him warm. In hot weather, keep

All persons who have been bleeding heavily should be seen

him cool.

by a doctor. While you wait for the doctor, keep the person

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lying down. If the wound was not to the head, elevate the

The signs of a major stroke are unconsciousness, heavy

feet. If the wound was to the head, then elevate the head.

breathing, paralysis of facial muscles, paralysis of hands or

Keep the victim warm.

feet, or paralysis on one side of the body.

The signs of a minor stroke are dizziness, headache, pupils of

ELECTRICAL SHOCK

unequal size, blurred vision, sudden failure of memory,

Remember to survey the scene. If you can de-energize the

change of mood, muscular difficulty, difficulty speaking, or

circuit locally, do so. Otherwise, use your radio or send

ringing in the ears.

someone to de-energize the circuit. Do not leave the victim.

Move the victim away from the live circuit as quickly as pos-

If you believe a person has suffered a major stroke, have the

sible. Do not touch the victim with your bare hands unless

victim lie down, maintain normal body temperature, and get

the power has been turned off. You may use rubber gloves,

medical help. Do not give the victim anything to eat or drink.

pieces of wood, and other nonconductors to try to move the

Unconscious victims should be rolled on their sides so that

victim away from the live circuit.

fluids can drain from their mouths. Frequently check breathing and pulse.

If the victim is not breathing after being moved away from

the live current, give him or her rescue breaths as soon as

If you believe a person has suffered a minor stroke, urge him

possible. Then check for pulse. If there is no pulse, admin-

or her to see a doctor. Minor stroke victims often do not

ister CPR.

want to believe that something is seriously wrong.

After breathing and heartbeat are restored, check for other

injuries. Keep the victim lying down and warm. Try to main-

GAS POISONING AND ASPHYXIA

tain a normal body temperature. Treat electrical burns the

Gas poisoning occurs when a person is exposed to a haz-

same way that you treat heat burns.

ardous concentration of gases or vapors. Asphyxia occurs

when a person cannot get enough oxygen. Both conditions

All electrical-shock victims should be seen by a doctor.

are life-threatening and should not occur if proper procedures are followed. Never enter a confined space before the
atmosphere is tested with two instruments. A toxic-gas

STROKE

instrument that measures the expected gases must show that

A stroke is a brain injury. It can be caused by a blood clot

these gases are not present. An oxygen-deficiency meter must

entering the brain or it may be caused by a blood vessel rup-

show that the oxygen concentration is at least 19 percent.

turing in the brain. The symptoms of a stroke depend on

Seafarers have died when they entered cargo holds that con-

whether the stroke is a minor one or a major one.

tained hazardous vapors or insufficient oxygen. Very often,

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the would-be rescuers also died for the same reason.

If the chemical was a strong acid or a strong caustic, you

Rescuers frequently believe that they can hold their breath

might need to use a neutralizing solution. Follow ship pro-

long enough to pull a co-worker to safety. Sadly, that is usu-

cedures for use of these solutions. Do not use such solutions

ally not the case.

unless you have been trained in their use.

Workers who have been overcome in a cargo hold or any

Closely watch the victim. Call for medical help. Take pre-

other confined space should be pulled into fresh air by a

cautions to prevent shock.

trained rescue team. Your ship should have a team of individuals trained in the use of SCBA (self-contained breathing

Eye contamination

apparatus) gear, safety harnesses, rescue hoists, and first aid.

Immediately flush eyes with water while holding the lids

open. This is difficult because victims instinctively close

Once the victim has been pulled into fresh air, check for

their eyes. You will need to hold the head down in the eye-

breathing. If he or she is not breathing, tip the head back and

wash and you will need to help the victim hold his eyelids

give two full rescue breaths. Check for pulse. If there is no

open. If possible, have another co-worker help you. If you

pulse, begin CPR. Call for medical help.

do not have an eyewash station, turn the victims head sideways with the contaminated eye lower than the uncontaminated eye and flush with clean, fresh water. Flush the eyes for

CONTAMINATION BY POISONOUS OR
CORROSIVE CHEMICALS

30 minutes. If the injured worker wears contacts, they will

need to be removed, but do not waste time trying to remove

When working with chemicals, always wear the personal

them immediately. Flush the eyes. Then have the injured

protective equipment (PPE) suggested by the Cargo

worker remove the contacts and then flush some more.

Information Sheet, Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), or

product label. Even very hazardous chemicals can be han-

Do not use any neutralizing solution in the eyes. After flush-

dled safely with the right protective equipment.

ing, cover the eyes with clean eye pads and seek medical help.

Skin contamination
Put a contaminated person under a shower or hose immediately. Remove clothing while under the shower. Do not,

INGESTION OF A POISONOUS
CHEMICAL

however, pull contaminated clothing over the face. If a shirt

Check to see if the victim is conscious and breathing. If the

cannot be unbuttoned, cut it. Victims have suffered serious

victim is not conscious and not breathing, give two good res-

eye injuries when they have pulled contaminated clothing

over their heads. Wash skin for at least five minutes.

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cue breaths. Check for pulse. If there is no pulse, perform

First Aid

FOOD POISONING

CPR. If there is a pulse, but no breathing, perform rescue

Some signs of food poisoning are nausea, vomiting, chills,

breathing. Call for medical help. If possible, call a poison

diarrhea, and cramps. You should suspect food poisoning if

control center, and follow the instructions given to you over

the victim recently consumed food that did not taste right or

the phone.

made others sick. Call for medical help.

If the victim is conscious, try to determine from the victim

If the person is conscious, not vomiting, and is not having

what poison was ingested or inhaled. If the person cannot

trouble swallowing, then you can give milk or water in small

speak, look for clues such as smell of breath, burns around

sips. This will help dilute the poison. Never induce vomiting

the mouth, and labels on nearby cans and bottles.

unless you are instructed to do so by a poison control center.

If there are clues that the poison was a petroleum product or

There are three major types of food poisoning: botulism,

a strong acid or caustic, and the person is not convulsing,

shellfish poisoning, and general food poisoning.

encourage the victim to drink one glass of water or milk in

small sips. Call for medical help. Keep the victim calm and

Botulism usually comes from eating smoked meats. Its

warm until medical help arrives.

symptoms are muscle weakness, headache, dizziness, slurred

speech, disturbed vision, breathing difficulty, and swallowing

If there are clues that the poison was some other chemical,

difficulty. This person needs a doctor. While waiting for the

such as a pesticide, follow the instructions for that product

doctor, keep checking breathing and pulse.

on the Cargo Information Sheet or the Materials Safety Data

Sheet. Call for medical help. Keep the person calm until

Shellfish poisoning comes from eating contaminated shellfish.

medical help arrives.

Its symptoms are numbness (starting in the face and spreading throughout the body), dizziness, increased salivation, and

If the victim is having convulsions, do not give anything to

muscle weakness. This person needs a doctor. While waiting

drink. Lay the victim down. Protect his head by placing pil-

for the doctor, keep checking breathing and pulse.

lows and rolled blankets around it. Stay with the victim and
check breathing and pulse until medical help arrives.

General food poisoning comes from eating poisonous plants,

mushrooms, and berries. Symptoms include nausea, vomit-

When the victim is taken to the hospital, bring with you informa-

ing, cramps, hallucinations, and slurred speech. If the victim

tion on the chemical that you believe was ingested. You can bring

vomits, save a sample of the vomit so it can be analyzed by the

the Cargo Information Sheet, the Materials Safety Data Sheet, or

doctor. If that is not possible, note the color and texture of

the product label. This information may be useful to the doctors.

the vomit so that you can describe it to the doctor. If there is

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going to be a delay before this person is seen by a doctor, give

shoulder or a rib, have the person lie as quietly as possible.

30 grams of medicinal charcoal in a glass of water. The vic-

Immobilize and protect the injured area by surrounding the

tim should sip it slowly. The charcoal will absorb some of the

person with pillows, rolled blankets, or rolled towels.

poison and lessen the amount absorbed into the victims

Prevent shock.

bloodstream. (Only give charcoal for general food poisoning.

Do not give it for botulism or shellfish poisoning.)

Dislocations
A dislocation is the movement of a bone end out of a joint.
Dislocations usually are caused by falls. Broken bones and

BROKEN BONES

dislocations can occur together. The signs of a dislocation are

Broken bones are also called fractures. A simple fracture is a

similar to those of a simple fracture. They include swelling,

broken bone that does not pierce the skin. A compound

tenderness, deformity, pain, and discoloration. Do not try to

fracture is a broken bone that does pierce the skin. The signs

move the dislocated bone back into place. Immobilize the

of a broken bone are the sound of bone snapping, a bone

injured area, and transport the injured person to a doctor.

with a strange or deformed appearance, a bone poking

through the skin, or a swollen and discolored area that is

Sprains and Strains

painful when touched.

A sprain is an injury to a ligament, tendon, or blood vessel.

Sprains usually happen when an arm or leg is jerked or

Do not move the victim until the broken bone has been

moved in a way that is not natural. A strain is an injury to a

splinted (unless he is near live electrical wires or some other

muscle. When a muscle is strained, it is torn away from the

hazard). There are three steps to follow: Stop the bleeding.

bone or muscle to which it is normally attached. Strains usu-

Splint. Prevent the victim from going into shock.

ally happen when a muscle is overworked.

If clothing is bloody or wet, remove it without moving the

The signs of a sprain are swelling, tenderness, discoloration,

injured part of the body. You may need to cut away the wet

and pain when the sprained area is moved. Treat the sprain

clothing. If the fracture is a compound one with the bone

by immobilizing the sprained area with a splint. Use ice

protruding, do not try to push the bone in. Cover the bone

packs to reduce swelling.

with sterile gauze or clean cloth. If there is heavy bleeding,

stop the bleeding by applying pressure. If the fracture is in a

The primary sign of a strain is muscle soreness. Back strains

finger, hand, arm, foot, leg, or other part of the body that can

are frequently caused by improper lifting. Treatment for a

be immobilized with a splint, use a splint. Keep the injured

strain is rest and heat. A heating pad or hot moist towels can

area warm by covering it with a blanket or clothing. If the

be used to provide some relief. If the strain is to a back mus-

fracture is to a bone that cannot be splinted, such as the

cle, the victim should lie on his back on a hard surface. Get
medical attention for serious strains.

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If a person is unconscious, check breathing and pulse. If

FAINTING

necessary, administer CPR.

Fainting happens when the brain does not get enough blood
for a few minutes. A person who feels faint should either sit

If the person has received chemical burns, immediately flush

down with his head between the knees, or lie down. It is

important to try to breathe deeply. A person who faints
actually loses consciousness for a moment, recovering almost

the area with water. Follow the instructions detailed earlier

for chemical contamination (pp. 6465).

immediately. After the fainting spells, the victim should lie

down and rest for at least 10 minutes. If a victim does not

Remove clothing and jewelry from the burned area. If cloth-

recover from a faint immediately, there is a more serious

ing sticks to the burn, do not try to remove it. Determine

problem. Call for a doctor. Stay with the victim and keep

whether the burn is a first-, second-, or third-degree burn. If

checking for breathing and pulse.

you are unsure, choose the higher degree. Follow the steps
given below for the appropriate degree.

BURNS

First-Degree Burns

Burns can be caused by steam leaks, hot oil leaks, hot metal

Apply cold, wet cloths to the burned area or immerse the

surfaces, the sun, electric shock, and chemicals. The treatment

burned area in cold, clean water. Do not use salt water. Keep

for the burn depends on the burns depth, size, and location.

applying cold, wet cloths or keep immersed in cold water

until the pain subsides. Usually this takes 5 to 10 minutes.

The terms first degree, second degree and third degree all

Either leave the burn uncovered or cover with clean, dry

describe the depth of a burn. Deep burns damage more tissue

gauze. The skin should heal by itself. If the skin does not

and are therefore more serious than shallow burns.

heal by itself, seek medical attention.

The signs of a shallow first-degree burn are red skin, pain,

Second-Degree Burns

and swelling. The signs of a second-degree burn are deep red

Immerse burned area in cold, clean water. Do not use salt

skin with a glossy appearance caused by leaking fluid. There

water. Keep immersed in cold water for 10 to 15 minutes.

may also be some skin loss and blisters. The sign of a third-

Gently dry the area with sterile gauze and cover with gauze.

degree burn is the loss of all skin layers. There may also be

Do not break blisters. If the burn covers a large area, have the

some charring of the skin.

person lie flat with legs elevated. Watch for signs of shock.
Keep the victim warm. Get medical attention. Second-degree

Burns to the hands, feet, face, and genital organs are critical

burns require hospitalization when they cover 15 percent of

because of their location. Hospitalization is required for

the body or involve one of the four critical body locations

such burns.

(hands, feet, face, genitals).

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Third-Degree Burns
Do not immerse third-degree burns in water unless they are

First Aid

1st Degree

2nd Degree
(Requires
hospitalization
for burns to
critical areas)

chemical burns. With chemical burns, it is important to wash

away all the chemical. With all third-degree burns, it is important to prevent infection. Water increases the danger of infec-

3rd Degree
(Always
requires
hospitalization)

tion, so it should not be used for cooling. Cover the wound

loosely with sterile gauze. Do not wrap the burn tightly (as

Red skin

Deep red skin

with glossy
appearance

Lost skin layers

Swelling

Blisters

Charred skin

Cool with
water (not salt water)

Cool with
water (not salt water)

Do not use
water (unless
needed to
flush out
chemical
in a chemical
burn)

Do not
bandage

Bandage
loosely

Bandage
loosely

you would do with a bleeding wound) and do not use tape.

Do not use any cloth that might leave lint in the wound. After
the burn is loosely covered, you can apply ice packs for cooling, but do not let the dressing get wet. Do not use ice packs
if the weight of the packs causes pain. Have the person lie flat
with legs elevated. Watch for signs of shock. Keep the victim
warm. Get medical attention. One cause of shock for burn
victims is loss of fluids. You can give a burn victim water to
drink, but do not give fruit juice or alcohol. Third-degree
burns always require hospitalization.

HEATSTROKE AND HEAT EXHAUSTION

Heatstroke and heat exhaustion are two forms of heat stress.
Watch your co-workers for signs of heat stress, and encourage them to watch for signs of heat stress in you.
Heatstroke is the more severe form of heat stress, and it is an
emergency. A person with heatstroke has a very high internal body temperature and has lost the ability to control body
temperature by sweating. This persons body temperature is
so high that brain damage and death are both possibilities if
the person is not cooled quickly. The signs of heatstroke are
red or flushed skin that is hot and dry, dizziness, nausea,
headache, rapid pulse, and unconsciousness. The body tem-

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perature can be as high as 106F

First aid for heat cramps consists of drinking water that con-

(41C). You may have noticed

tains table salt. Add one teaspoon of salt to a full glass of

that this person was sweating

water and sip it slowly.

profusely a short time earlier but

now is not sweating at all. Cool a

Heatstroke

Heat Exhaustion

heatstroke victim quickly. Soak

(Requires medical
attention)

(Requires rest
and fluids)

water. You can sponge the per-

Red or flushed skin

Pale skin

son with rubbing alcohol or cool

Hot and dry skin

Clammy skin

water. Do so until his body tem-

High body temperature

Body temperature is
almost normal

Dizziness, nausea

Headache

No sweating

Lots of sweat

Strong, rapid pulse

Weak pulse

Unconsciousness, grogginess,
slurred speech

Heat cramps

the person in cool, but not cold

perature falls below 102F (39C).

Then stop the cooling and observe for 10 minutes. If the victims temperature starts to rise again, start cooling again. Give
the victim water to drink. Do not give any coffee, tea, or alcohol.
Heat exhaustion is less serious than heatstroke. The signs of
heat exhaustion are fatigue, weakness, and collapse. First aid
for heat exhaustion includes moving the victim out of the

Convulsions

heat and encouraging the victim to drink lots of water or

sports drink, but not alcohol. If the victims temperature
starts to rise, or if there is no improvement in one hour, get

FROSTBITE AND COLD EXPOSURE

Frostbite occurs when exposure to cold weather causes fluids

medical attention.

under the skin to freeze. Frostbitten skin looks white or

Heat cramps are muscle pains and muscle spasms that can

grayish yellow. It also looks pale and glossy. If the victim has

occur after working or sweating in the heat. The cramps hap-

lost feeling in the frostbitten part or if it is blue or blistered,

pen after excessive salt loss and are made worse by drinking

the frostbite is severe and requires medical attention.

too much water. Prevent heat cramps by drinking a sports

drink that contains salts or by eating a snack food that con-

Cover the frostbitten area with clothing or with a blanket and

tains salt. (Do not eat salty snack foods if you have a heart

take the victim indoors. If the feet or legs are frostbitten, do

or kidney problem or have been told by a doctor to restrict

not allow the victim to walk. If the hands have feeling and are

your salt intake.)

not shaking violently, give the victim a warm drink, but not
coffee, tea, or alcohol. Gradually warm the affected area.

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The warming process is frequently painful and the victim

First Aid

EXCESSIVE FATIGUE

may shiver or shake as frostbitten areas warm. Still, it is

Not everyone needs the same amount of sleep. Most people

important to warm the skin quickly. If possible, immerse the

need about eight hours of sleep each day. That sleep is most

frostbitten part in a bowl of warm water. As the skin thaws,

effective when all eight hours are taken at once; two four-hour

it swells and becomes red. Stop the warming when the skin

naps do not equal an eight-hour sleep. STCW 95 (Standards of

does turn red. Never massage frostbitten skin. Place sterile

gauze between frostbitten fingers and toes. Elevate frostbit-

Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping) recognizes this need

for rest. See chapter 11 for more information on STCW 95.

ten parts. Get medical attention quickly for frostbite. The

victim should not smoke. Smoking constricts blood vessels
in the skin and slows the healing process.
Overexposure to cold weather can cause the following symptoms: shivering, numbness, low body temperature, drowsiness, and muscle weakness. Take a cold-exposure victim
indoors. Remove any wet or frozen clothing. Warm cold,
numb hands by running them first under cold tap water.
Cold tap water is many degrees warmer than the numb skin,
so it will feel like hot water. Remove any clothing or jewelry
that might interfere with circulation as frozen arms and legs
thaw and swell. Give the victim something warm to drink.
Do not give alcohol.
An extreme case of overexposure is called hypothermia.The

People who are sleep-deprived are less coordinated and more

hypothermia victim may be pale or even unconscious. The

easily confused than those who have had sufficient sleep.

breathing and pulse will be very weak. Take the hypothermia

They are also more susceptible to illness because their

victim indoors. Bring the body temperature back to normal by

immune systems are weakened. Learn to recognize signs of

wrapping the victim in warm blankets. Do not give any hot

fatigue in yourself and in your co-workers.

drinks until he is fully conscious. Get medical attention quickly.

Fatigue can occur even when a person appears to be getting
enough sleep. It can be caused by anemia, thyroid imbalance, or other medical conditions. Encourage anyone who is
fatigued all the time to see a doctor.

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DISEASE PREVENTION

First Aid

WHAT TO DO

There are numerous diseases spread by hundreds of kinds of

bacteria, viruses, and parasites. We can prevent most of these

Boil local water for five minutes before drinking it,

by reducing our exposure to harmful germs. Four common

or drink only bottled water.

ways we catch diseases are:

Consuming contaminated water
or contaminated food

Open all bottled water yourself. Do not drink from

one that is already open (it may have been filled from a tap).
Wash your hands, using soap, before you eat.
Peel all fresh fruits.

Breathing bacteria and viruses

spread in the air

Eat foods that grow with a protective covering such as

oranges, bananas, and corn.

Being bitten by an insect or animal

Acquiring a sexually transmitted
disease (STD)

Eat in well-established restaurants.

Eat hot, well-cooked foods.
WHAT NOT TO DO

There are some simple precautions that you can take to

Dont eat raw seafood.

reduce your chances of catching diseases spread in each of

Dont eat meat that is raw or rare.

the above ways.

Dont drink unpasteurized milk or eat unpasteurized cheeses.

Dont drink from a water bottle that has already been opened.

DISEASES SPREAD BY WATER AND FOOD

There are numerous diseases spread by water and food. The
infectious agents are viruses, bacteria, and parasites. When
you are in an area where you are not sure whether the food
and water are safe, follow these rules:

Dont eat raw foods that cannot be peeled.

Dont eat foods that require a lot of human handling
during their preparation.
Dont purchase street food from small stands or pushcarts.
Dont put ice cubes in your drinks.

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Disease

Symptoms

AMEBIASIS
Nausea, diarrhea, weight loss.
Cause: A parasite that can exist in water and in food. The parasite can also be
transmitted by sexual contact with an infected person.
ANGIOSTRONGYLIASIS Severe headaches and stiffness in the neck and back
Cause: A worm-type parasite found in raw or undercooked snails, prawns, fish, and
land crabs in Asia and the South Pacific. Lettuce and other leafy vegetables that have
come in contact with infected slugs and snails can also be contaminated.

First Aid

DISEASES SPREAD BY AIRBORNE

AGENTS
A few serious diseases are spread through the air. The germs
can be bacteria or viruses that float in the air, near someone
who is coughing or sneezing. You can avoid catching these
diseases by staying away from strangers who appear to have
them. During outbreaks of these diseases, avoid congested
places such as buses and trains. You can also reduce your risk
by washing your hands regularly. You pick up germs by

ANISAKIASIS

Sudden severe stomach pain, with nausea and vomiting.

Symptoms usually occur within six hours of eating
seafood.
Cause: A worm-type parasite found in raw or undercooked seafood.
CHOLERA
Diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration.
Cause: Vibrio cholerae bacteria found in water and in food.
CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS
Abdominal cramps and diarrhea.
Cause: Cryptosporidium bacteria found in water and in food. Can be transmitted by
close contact with someone who has this illness.
GIARDIASIS
Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, gas pain, and weight loss.
Cause: Giardia lamblia bacteria found in water, dairy products, fruit, and
vegetables.
POLIO

Some people have few or no symptoms. Others have

fever, headache, vomiting, severe muscle pain, stiffness of
the neck and back, paralysis.
Causes: 1. Exposure to an individual who has been recently infected with polio. The
bacteria live in the throat for about a week. 2. Poliomycetium bacteria found in water in
regions where sanitary conditions are poor.
TRAVELERS DIARRHEA Diarrhea, fever, nausea, vomiting.
Cause: E. Coli bacteria found in water, dairy products, fruit, and vegetables.

touching surfaces where airborne germs have fallen. Then

you infect yourself by rubbing your eyes with contaminated
hands, and by handling your food with contaminated hands.
Disease

Symptoms

DIPHTHERIA
Sore throat, low-grade fever, swelling in the neck.
Cause: Corynebacterium diphtheriae bacteria spread by contact with fluids
from an infected person. You can also get it from handling blankets, towels,
and clothing used by an infected person.
MENINGITIS

Intense headache, fever, appetite loss, intolerance to light and sound, stiffness in neck and
back, and tightening of hamstring leg muscles.
Cause: Three kinds of bacteria and one virus. It is spread person to person through the air or through close contact.
TUBERCULOSIS (TB)

Persistent cough with sputum or blood, fatigue,

weight loss, fever, night sweats.
Cause: TB bacteria spreads through the air from person to person. Generally,
you have to be close to a TB-infected person for a long time to become
infected. There is a difference between being infected with TB and having TB.
Most people have defense systems that fight the TB bacteria by producing antibodies. Only about 10 percent of infected people develop TB disease.

TYPHOID FEVER
Sustained fever, headaches, constipation, fatigue.
Cause: Salmonella typhi bacteria found in shellfish, dairy products, fruit, and vegetables.
Take advantage of vaccines that are available for polio, diphtheria, cholera, typhoid fever
and several types of hepatitis.

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DISEASES SPREAD BY MOSQUITOES,

FLIES,AND TICKS

First Aid

pain and fever. Dengue fever is a disease that you can catch
more than once. Sometimes the second case is much worse

Some of our most feared diseases are carried by mosquitoes.

than the first, and is called dengue hemorrhagic fever. Dengue

Luckily, only a tiny portion of mosquitoes are infected with

hemorrhagic fever is a very serious illness in which the patient

viruses and transmit diseases to humans. Most mosquitoes

has abnormal bleeding and very low blood pressure.

are annoying, but not harmful. Mosquitoes breed in standing water. Mosquitoes feed in the early morning and again in

Malaria

the late afternoon and evening. During these periods, wear

Malaria is caused by a virus carried by the anopheles family

insect repellent, or at least wear long sleeves and long pants.

of mosquitoes. The virus infects a patients red blood cells

and causes fever, chills, muscle aches, and headaches. The

Here are some simple rules for avoiding insect-borne diseases:

malaria patient usually has several cycles of fever, each followed by chills. There are four kinds of malaria, only one of
which is life-threatening. The correct medical treatment

WHAT TO DO

depends on the malaria type. Anyone who experiences

malaria symptoms following travel in a malaria zone should

Get vaccinations.

see a doctor immediately. Malaria can be treated, and a comUse mosquito netting over your bed.

plete cure is possible if the medical treatment is started right

Use insect repellent, one that contains DEET= diethytoluamide

away. Two of the malaria viruses can lie dormant for long

(N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide).

periods of time yet cause a relapse of the disease up to four

Wear long pants and long sleeves when mosquitoes are numerous
and feeding.

years later.
The medications that can be taken to prevent malaria have
side effects, and they need to be taken regularly (before, dur-

WHAT NOT TO DO

ing, and after exposure) in order to be effective. The most

Dont leave standing water around where mosquitoes could breed

common side effects are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and

and multiply.

dizziness. In some regions, the malaria viruses are resistant to

some of the preventive medicines. The medications are recommended for use only in high-risk malaria areas during the

Dengue Fever

wet season; the risk of infection during the dry season is

Dengue fever is a viral illness spread by aedes mosquitoes. It

small. The malaria risk is also smaller in urban areas than in

is found primarily in tropical Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean.

rural areas.

Dengue fever is treated with bed rest and medications for

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First Aid

Yellow Fever

for HIV infections. HIV causes AIDS (acquired immunode-

Yellow fever is caused by a virus carried by the Aedes aegypti

ficiency syndrome) which can result in premature death.

mosquito. This disease causes a high fever with chills, mus-

Early medical treatment for HIV can improve health and

cle aches, headache, and vomiting. Victims may appear to

prolong life, so it should be sought.

recover and then become more ill. In the more serious stage
of the illness there may be bleeding, jaundice, and kidney

Disease

Symptoms

failure. There is an effective vaccination for yellow fever.

DISEASES SPREAD BY SEXUAL

CONTACT
There are more than 20 disease-causing microbes that can be
spread by sexual contact. Diseases spread by sexual contact

AIDS/HIV
There may be no symptoms for years. Earliest
Incubation period:
symptoms are persistent swollen glands and chronic
years
infections.
Cause: HIV virus is spread by: 1.Vaginal, oral, or anal sexual contact with infected
person. 2. Contaminated needles used for drugs, tattooing, and body piercing.
Comments: HIV is a disease with many stages. During the early stages, which can
last years, there typically are no symptoms.The final stage of this illness is AIDS. HIV
illnesses have been reported in 160 countries. There is no cure at this time.

are called sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

To absolutely prevent STDs, you can abstain from sex or be
monogamous with someone who is not infected. Being
monogamous means you have sex only with your lifetime
partner, and your partner has sex only with you.
All STDs have an incubation period during which people are
hosts to dangerous microbes. They can transmit diseases to
other people, but they have no disease symptoms themselves.

CHANCROID
Chancre sores.
Incubation period:
2-14 days
Cause: Bacterial infection
Comments: Chancroid chancres are not as firm as syphilis chancres (see below).
CHLAMYDIA
Abnormal genital discharge; painful urination; pain in testes
Incubation period:
during sex, for men; pain in lower abdomen during sex, for
1-3 weeks
women.
Cause: Bacterial infection spread through direct contact with secretions in genitals,
mouth, and throat.
Comments: Can be cured with antibiotics.

This means that you cannot tell who might be carrying a

dangerous disease. To minimize your chances of acquiring
STDs, use latex condoms. Condoms provide significant
protection from many bacterial infections.
If you experience any STD symptoms, get prompt medical
attention. Most STDs are treatable. If left untreated, some
can cause very, very severe illnesses, including cancer, liver

CRAB LICE
Itching; visible lice and lice eggs in pubic hair.
Comments: Can be treated with anti-lice treatments.
GENITAL HERPES
Blister-like sores, mild itching, and burning.
Incubation period:
The sores will heal and be gone for months, but they
2-20 days
return.
Cause: Viral infection spread by skin-to-skin contact.
Comments: There is no complete cure, but medication relieves symptoms and
reduces the number of repeat outbreaks.

disease, and blindness. At the present time, there is no cure

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Disease

First Aid

Symptoms

GRANULOMA
INGUINALE
Lumps or blisters in the genital area. Blisters
Incubation period:
slowly enlarge into sores.
8-80 days
Cause: Bacterial infection spread through sexual contact.
Comments: This disease is common in the tropics and subtropics. It can be treated
with antibiotics.
Fever, headache, muscle ache, fatigue, appetite loss,
vomiting, darkened urine, yellow eyes, diarrhea.
Cause: Viral infection spread through sexual contact, through the sharing of hypodermic needles, and by unsanitary body piercing and tattooing.
Comments: A vaccine is available. This virus is able to penetrate natural condoms;
use latex condoms.

Disease

Symptoms

MENINGITIS

Intense headache, fever, appetite loss,

intolerance to light and sound, stiffness
in neck and back, and tightening of
hamstring leg muscles
Cause: Three kinds of bacteria and one virus. It is spread person to person through the air or through close contact.

HEPATITIS B

PAPILLOMAVIRUS

Painless, fleshy warts on genitals, anus, and throat. If left

untreated, it can cause cancers of the cervix, penis, and
anus.
Cause: Viral infection spread through sexual contact.

TUBERCULOSIS (TB)

Persistent cough with sputum or blood, fatigue,

weight loss, fever, night sweats
Cause: TB bacteria spreads through the air from person to person.
Generally, you have to be close to a TB-infected person for a long time to
become infected. There is a difference between being infected with TB and
having TB. Most people have defense systems that fight the TB bacteria by
producing antibodies. Only about 10 percent of infected people develop TB
disease.

SYPHILIS
Incubation period:
10 days to 3 months

Painless open sore in the genital area called a chancre.

Later symptoms include a skin rash that begins on hands
and feet. If left untreated, bacteria can damage heart, eyes,
brain, spinal cord, bones, and joints.
Cause: Direct contact with the chancre on an infected person.
Comments: Can be treated with antibiotics.
TRICHOMONIASIS
Painful urination. If left untreated, it can lead to
Incubation period:
inflammation of bladder or urethra.
4-20 days
Cause: Parasite is spread through sexual contact.
Comments: Treatment is available.
DIPHTHERIA
Sore throat, low-grade fever, swelling in the neck
Cause: Corynebacterium Diphtheriae bacteria spread by contact with fluids from an
infected person. You can also get it from handling blankets, towels, and clothing used
by an infected person.

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First Aid

This is a blank page. We can decide what to do with them at

ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF
INFORMATION

the end. But I need a page here.

Health CanadaPublic Health Information:

http://hwcweb.hwc.ca
Epidemiology Fact Sheet, a list of contagious diseases, their
causes, symptoms, and steps that can be taken to avoid contracting and/or spreading diseases. (Hawaii Department of
Health Communicable Disease Division):
http://www.hawaii.gov/health/cdd/chicdd01.htm
Travel Health Information and Referral Service:
http://www.travelhealth.com/genguide.htm
TravelinfoSouthern AfricaHealth Tips (Malaria):
http://rapidttp.com/travel/healthm.html
United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
Diseases, Health Risks, Prevention Guidelines, and Strategies
http://www.cdc.gov/diseases/diseases.html
ATSDR Science Corner, Agency for Toxic Substances and
Disease Registry:
http://atsdr1.atsdr.cdc.gov:8080/cx.html

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Chapter

Part 2

Ports

Ports of
the World
Perhaps the best thing about a maritime career is the chance
to visit many of the worlds ports. Here are some tips for
staying safe while ashore, plus some basic information for
many large ports.

BE SAFE WHILE IN PORT

When you are in port, eat at respectable restaurants. Take
advantage of seafarers clubs. In places where the tap water is
not safe, do not drink any beverage except those that come in a

can or bottle that you open yourself. (More health tips are given
in the Port List later in this chapter, as well as in chapter 5.)
Know how to contact your ship by phone. Know how to contact the local police. Phone numbers for the police at many
ports are included in the Port List. If you are robbed, injured,
or arrested, contact your ship, the ships agent, or a chaplain
at the local seafarers club.

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twist: thieves dress like policemen and offer to check your US

dollars for counterfeits! The thief will claim the dollars are
fake and try to keep them.
Historically, thieves have seen seafarers as easy targets.
Thieves know that you carry cash and that you are unfamiliar with the area. Do not carry more money than you need
when you go ashore. Do not carry all your money in one wallet or one pocket. Never put your money or wallet in your
back pocket, where pickpockets can grab it easily.
Pickpockets operate in many ports, and they often work in
groups. If you are jostled or if you are approached by someone asking for something, be extra alert. They may be trying
to distract you while a partner steals from you. Be extra careful when you are in a train or bus station, on a train, in an
If your ship leaves without you, contact the ships agent in

elevator, at a tourist site, or in any area that is known to be

the port where you are. You may also want to contact your

dangerous. Also, watch for thieves around hotels, discos,

union or a local chaplain.

bars, nightclubs, and beaches. Do not walk in narrow alleys

or poorly lit streets. Try not to travel alone. Stay in a group

Protect Your Money

with some of your shipmates.

In some places, criminals prey on foreigners, including seafarers. In one common scam, thieves operate illegal taxis.
These taxis often have a driver with a companion, and the car
has unusual markings. (Generally, legitimate taxis are operated by one driver only.) The thieves use scopolamine and
other drugs to incapacitate foreigners and then rob them.
Scopolamine can be put into drinks, cigarettes, or gum, or
concealed in a piece of paper. Do not accept cigarettes or
gum from taxi drivers!
In another scam, thieves on trains offer travelers a drink containing drugs. When you pass out, they rob you. Another

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Watch Out for Smugglers

Po r t s o f t h e Wo r l d

PORT LIST

Remember that unsuspecting seafarers have been jailed

This section contains some basic information about some of

because they unknowingly carried contraband. In places where

the worlds larger ports. For a longer version of this list, contact:

illegal drug trafficking is a problem, do not accept gifts of any

kind from strangers. Be suspicious of anyone trying to befriend

you. They may be trying to get you to carry drugs for them.
THE CENTER FOR SEAFARERS RIGHTS

There is more information on this danger in chapter 4, p.45.

THE SEAMENS CHURCH INSTITUTE OF

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY

Watch Out for Prostitutes

Life in port presents many temptations and risks. You should

241 WATER STREET

know that bar girls and prostitutes sometimes work with

NEW YORK, NY 10038

thieves. In one familiar scam, a bar girl befriends you and

TEL. (212) 349-9090 X240

asks you to buy her a drink. You buy the drink, not realizing

FAX: (212) 349-8342

that the bar will charge you 10 or 20 times its value. Always
E-MAIL: [email protected]

ask,How much? before you buy anything. In another scam,

WEBSITE: http://www.seamenschurch.org

a bar girl encourages you to become drunk and then leads

you to a deserted spot, where you are beaten and robbed by
her friends.

In the directory that follows, phone numbers are given in the

Several risks are associated with engaging in sex with prosti-

form needed when dialing them from within the country. To

tutes. One is the obvious risk of infection and disease. It is

call these numbers from outside the country, dial:

important to use condoms if you engage in this activity. Do not

[International access code] + [Country code] + number

use any petroleum lubricant with the condom, because the

shown.

lubricant damages the condom. The second risk is that you may
be arrested. In many countries, prostitution is illegal, and visit-

The numbers shown include the city/area codes in parentheses.

ing a prostitute can land you in jailor at least under arrest.

You do not need to use the area/city code if you are dialing from
inside the city. If you are outside the city but within the country,

When you are relaxing in port, do so with friends. Do not

dial: [Long-distance code] + [City code] + local number.

visit bars alone, and always ask, How much? before making
any purchase.

Every effort has been made to find current phone numbers. If

we were unable to verify a phone number or service, it has been
omitted. Please use local directory assistance.

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Key to Symbols
phone number for a Port State Control agency

a Christian center

international telephone

snacks

meals

bar

beds

transportation to center or to town

Ports of North American Atlantic Coast

The Port List is divided into the following subsections: North

America (Atlantic and Pacific), South America, Northern
Europe, Southern Europe, Middle East and West Asia, East
Asia and the South Pacific, and Africa.
Ports of North America
The ports selected here are in the countries of Canada, the
United States of America, Mexico, and the Netherlands
Antilles. This region also includes the following countries:
Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica,
Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic.
To come ashore in the United States, you need a crew member visa and a shore pass. Leave your passport with the ship
master for safekeeping.

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Ports on the North American Atlantic Coast

Po r t s o f t h e Wo r l d

Currency: US dollar ($); 1 dollar = 100 cents

Languages: English, Spanish

Curacao, Netherlands Antilles

Climate: Hot and humid summers; mild winters.

Lat./Long.: 1206' N, 6857' W

Telephone Country Code: 1 Long-Distance Code: 1

Time Zone: GMT - 4

Area Code: 713

Currency: Netherlands Antillean guilder, guilden or florin

Police/Fire/Ambulance: 911

(Naf); 1 Naf = 100 cents

7 Coast Guard: (713) 671-5100

Languages: Dutch, Papiamento, English, Spanish

Barbours Cut Seamens Center in La Porte: (281) 470-8332.

Climate: Tropical

Volunteers are available to pick up seafarers at the dock.

Health: Take precautions against sunburn and heatstroke.

t Cp0

Crime: Burglary is commonplace.

British and International Sailors Society:

Telephone Country Code: 599 City Code: 9

Genoa United Methodist Church: (713) 944-1855 Vt

Police/Fire: 4444 Ambulance: 625822

Houston International Seafarers Center, Dock 23:

Apostleship of the Sea: (9) 369-378 t

(713) 672-0511. Volunteers are available to pick up

Seafarers Center in Curacao: (9) 377-272 C p 0

seafarers at the dock. tX x C p 0

Seamens Club in Willemstad: (9) 375-317

Seafarers Center Inc.: 713-672-0511,

http://www.wwsites.com/TX/Seafarers/

Halifax, Canada

ITF: (713) 928-3381

Lat./Long.: 4438' N, 6345' W

Time Zone: GMT - 4

Jacksonville, Florida, USA

Currency: Canadian dollar ($); 1 dollar = 100 cents

Lat./Long.: 3020' N, 8124' W

Languages: English, French

Time Zone: GMT 5

Climate: Seasonal. Cold winters; cool summers.

Currency: US dollar ($); 1 dollar = 100 cents

Telephone Country Code: 1

Languages: English, Spanish

Long-Distance Code: 1 Area Code: 902

Climate: Hot and humid summers; mild and wet winters.

Police: 4105 Fire: 4103 Ambulance: 429-5151

Telephone Country Code: 1 Long-Distance Code: 1

Harbor Police: 426-3629

Area Code: 904

7 Halifax Coast Guard: 426-6030

Police/Fire: 911 Ambulance: 633-2211

Missions to Seamen at Pier 24: (902) 422-7790 t x p 0

7 Coast Guard: (904) 791-2648

Apostleship of the Sea: (904) 356-3104 t

Houston, Texas, USA

Seafarer Fellowship Center at Blount Island:

Lat./Long.: 2945' N, 9520' W

(904) 751-3785 t p 0

Time Zone: GMT - 6

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Seafarer Fellowship Center at Tallyrand Avenue:

(904) 633-9971 t p

Po r t s o f t h e Wo r l d

Area Codes: Manhattan: 212; Brooklyn/Bronx/Staten

Island/Queens: 718; Jersey City: 201; Newark: 973
Police/Fire/Ambulance: 911

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

7 Coast Guard: (212) 668-7494

Lat./Long.: 4530' N, 7333' W

Time Zone: GMT - 5
Currency: Canadian dollar ($); 1 dollar = 100 cents
Languages: French, English
Climate: Seasonal. Very cold winters; mild summers.
Health: During winter months, take precautions against frostbite.
Police/Fire/Ambulance: 911
Telephone Country Code: 1 Long-Distance Code: 1
City/Area Code: 514

SEAFARERS CENTERS IN NEW YORK

APOSTLESHIP OF THE SEA, SEAFARERS CENTER, PIER 88: : (212) 307-1937t
SEAMENS CHURCH INSTITUTE OF NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY,
241 WATER STREET: (212) 349-9090

t
t Xx70

DANSK SMANDSKIRKE, BROOKLYN: (718) 875-0042

Mariners House of Montreal, International Seamens

Centre: (514) 935-2160 t x C p 0
Missions to Seamen: (514) 843-6577 t
Montreal Seamens Club, Pier #3: (514) 849-3234 X x p 0
The Seafarers Center: (514) 844-1476 t x p 0
ITF: (514) 931-7859

DEUTSCHE SEEMANNSMISSION, C/O SEAFARERS &

INTERNATIONAL HOUSE: (212) 677-4800

t Xx170

THE NORWEGIAN SEAMENS CHURCH INC.: (212) 319-0370

SEAFARERS & INTERNATIONAL HOUSE: (212) 677-4800
SEAMENS HOUSE,YMCA: (212) 741-0012

STELLA MARIS CENTER, BROOKLYN: (718) 834-1234

Time Zone: GMT - 5

tx 1 7 0

tx 1 7 0

New York/Newark (New York/New Jersey), USA

Lat./ Long.: 4300' N, 7400' W

tx 7 0

SVENSKA SJMANSKYRKAN: (212) 832-8444

tX x 7 0

t x70

UNITED SEAMENS SERVICE: (212) 775-1033 OR 775-1034

Currency: US dollar ($); 1 dollar = 100 cents

Languages: English, Spanish. New York City has many
ethnic neighborhoods where other languages are spoken,
including Chinese, German, Greek, Italian, Korean,
Russian, Arabic, Ukrainian.
Climate: Seasonal. Cool to cold winters; hot summers.
Other: It is illegal in New York City to drink alcohol on a
public sidewalk or in a public park.

SEAFARERS CENTERS IN NEW JERSEY

GREEK ORTHODOX MARITIME MINISTRY: (201) 792-0697

SEAMENS CHURCH INSTITUTE OF NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY:

(973) 589-5828

t xC7

STELLA MARIS CHAPEL: (201) 589-7946

ITF (MANHATTAN): (212) 244-4000

Telephone Country Code: 1 Long-Distance Code: 1

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Norfolk/Newport News, Virginia, USA

Norfolk Lat./Long.: 3651' N, 7619' W
Newport News Lat./Long.: 3659' N, 7626' W
Time Zone: GMT - 5

Ports of North American Pacific Coast

Currency: US dollar ($); 1 dollar = 100 cents

Language: English
Climate: Seasonal. Cool winters; hot summers.
Telephone Country Code: 1 Long-Distance Code: 1
Area Code: 757
Police/Fire/Ambulance: 911
International Seamens House, 1222 W. Olney Rd.,
Norfolk: (757) 623-4222 t x p 0
International Seamens Friend House, 2901 Huntington
Ave., Newport News: (757) 247-6113 t x p 0
Lighthouse Baptist Seamens Mission, 1455 W. 38th St.,
Norfolk: (757) 626-3935
ITF (Baltimore): (301) 994-0010 x5236
Veracruz, Mexico
Lat./Long.: 1909' N, 9610' W
Time Zone: GMT - 6
Currency: Mexican peso ($); 1 peso = 100 centavos
Language: Spanish
Climate: Tropical. Between November and April, strong
northerly winds are prevalent. Very wet summers.
Telephone Country Code: 52 City Code: 29
Police: 2-28-23 Fire: 2-25-00 Ambulance: 2-01-40
Ports on the North American Pacific Coast
San Francisco/Oakland, California, USA
Lat./Long.: 3748' N, 12225' W

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Time Zone: GMT - 8

Po r t s o f t h e Wo r l d

Apostleship of the Sea, Seafarers Communication Center,

Currency: US dollar ($); 1 dollar = 100 cents

Climate: Mild winters; warm summers.

Berth 93A, San Pedro: (310) 548-3200

ITF (San Pedro): (310) 830-9646

Telephone Country Code: 1 Long-Distance Code: 1

Area Codes: San Francisco: 415; Oakland: 510

Seattle, Washington, USA

Police/Fire/Ambulance: 911

Lat./Long.: 4736' N, 12220' W

7 Coast Guard (Oakland): (301) 980-4429

Time Zone: GMT - 8

Apostleship of the Sea, 399 Fremont St., San Francisco:

Currency: US dollar ($); 1 dollar = 100 cents

(415) 421-7845 tx p 0
Den Norske Sjmannskirke (Norwegian Seamens Church),
2454 Hyde St., San Francisco: (415) 775-6566 t x p
International Maritime Center in Oakland: (510) 839-2226

Climate: Cool summers; rainy winters.

Telephone Country Code: 1 Long-Distance Code: 1
Area Code: 206
Police/Fire/Ambulance: 911
Catholic Seamens Club: (206) 441-4773 t X x p 0

xCp0

Norwegian Government Seamens Service, Norway House:

(415) 346-4711 x p 0
Scandinavian Seamens Mission: (415) 775-6566 t p 0
Seafarers Ministry of the Golden Gate (Oakland):
(510) 553-5599, http://www.acts.org/smgg t

Christian Seamens Center: (206) 937-0277 t X x

Episcopal Seamens Service: (206) 938-3890 t
Seattle International Seamens Center, 101 Alaskan Way:
(206) 748-0347 t x p 0
United Seamens Service: (206) 935-7037

ITF (Los Angeles): (310) 830-9646

ITF: (206) 824-8993

Los Angeles/Long Beach and San Pedro, California, USA

Valdez, Alaska, USA

Lat./Long.: 3343' N, 11816' W

Lat./Long.: 6107' N, 14617' W

Time Zone: GMT - 8

Time Zone: GMT - 9

Currency: US dollar ($); 1 dollar = 100 cents

Currency: US dollar ($); 1 dollar = 100 cents

Climate: Warm summers; mild winters.

Climate: Very cold winters; cool summers. Winter winds

Telephone Country Code: 1 Long-Distance Code: 1

reach gale force but usually only for short periods. Valdez

Area Codes: Long Beach: 562; Los Angeles: 213; San Pedro: 310

receives more than 40 inches of rain and 200 inches of

Den Norske Sjmannskirke, 1035 S. Beacon St., San Pedro:

snow each year.

Health: Winter winds combine with low temperatures to

(310) 832-6800
International Seafarers Center, 120 S. Pico Avenue, Long
Beach: (562) 432-7560
Seamens Church Institute, Seafarers Communications
Center, 101 West 11th St., San Pedro: (310) 832-2563
104

produce very low windchill factors. Take precautions

against frostbite and hypothermia.
Telephone Country Code: 1 Long-Distance Code: 1
Area Code: 907
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Ports of South America

International seafarers have been visiting these ports since the
late 15th century. The ports selected here are in Argentina,
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Panama. The South America
region also includes Bolivia, Ecuador, French Guiana,
Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, and
Uruguay.
Buenos Aires, Argentina

Ports of South America

Lat./Long.: 3436' S, 5822' W

Time Zone: GMT - 3
Currency: Austral; 1 austral = 100 centavos
Languages: Spanish, English, Italian, German, French
Climate: Summer occurs in January and is hot. Winter
occurs in July and is cool and rainy.
Crime: Watch for pickpockets.
Telephone Country Code: 54 City Code: 1
Police/Ambulance: 101 Fire: 107
Stella Maris Club: (01) 342-6749
The Missions to Seamen
Axel Johnson Minne till Svenska Sjoman
Dansky Kirke
ITF: 01-331-4043

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Cartagena de Indias, Colombia

Telephone Country Code: 507 City Code: None

Lat./Long.: 1026' N, 7533' W

The Marine Bureau, Marine Safety Unit: 52-4243

Time Zone: GMT - 5

ITF: 441-5067/225-6954

Currency: Colombian peso; 1 peso = 100 centavos

Language: Spanish

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Climate: Tropical.

Lat./Long.: 2254' S, 4311' W

Shore Leave: Shore leave is available. Crew members are

Time Zone: GMT - 3

issued a card that must be signed by both the ship master

Currency: Cruzeiro (Cr$); 1 Cr$ = 100 centavos

and the port captain. The master is responsible for

Languages: Portuguese, Spanish, English, French

guaranteeing that all crew members reboard the ship.

Climate: Seasonal. Mild winters; warm summers. Winter

Deserters are arrested by local police and a fine is levied

months are May to August.

Inoculations: Yellow fever vaccination is recommended.

on the ship.
Telephone Country Code: 57
Terminal Fire Department/Terminal Ambulance: VHF

Shore Leave: An identification card with photo is required.

The card is provided by the agent, and you must give it to
the Federal Police as you leave the ship.

Channel 16
ITF (Bogot): (1) 287-2093

Telephone Country Code: 55 City Code: 21

Police: 190 Fire: 232-1234 Ambulance: 222-2121

Cristobal/Balboa, Panama (Panama Canal)

ITF: (21) 233-2812/263-1965

Cristobal Lat./Long.: 921' N, 7954' W

Balboa Lat./Long.: 858' N, 7934' W

Valparaiso, Chile

Time Zone: GMT - 5

Lat./Long.: 3302' S, 7139' W

Currency: Panamanian balboa (B); 1B = 100 centesimos;

Time Zone: GMT - 4

Currency: Chilean peso (Ch$); 1 Ch$ = 100 centavos

1B = 1 US$
Languages: Spanish, English

Language: Spanish

Climate: Tropical. Hot and humid.

Climate: Seasonal. Cold, rainy winters; hot, dry summers.

Health: Take precautions to avoid heatstroke and sunburn.

Inoculations: If traveling outside the urban area, hepatitis,

Winter months are May to September.

Health: Tap water is usually OK, but it is not potable after

typhoid, tetanus, yellow fever, and polio vaccinations are

occasional winter floods. Do not eat unwashed raw foods

recommended. Malaria suppressants are also recommended.

or undercooked meats.

Other: Canal towns are Cristobal, Gatun, Darien, Gamboa,

Las Cascadas, Empire, Culebra, Paraiso, Pedro Miguel

Inoculations: Typhoid, hepatitis, and tetanus vaccinations

are recommended.

Locks, Balboa.

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Shore Leave: Shore leave is allowed. You must carry an

identification card with you.
Telephone Country Code: 56 Long-Distance Code: 0
City Code: 32
Apostolato del Mare: (32)239-838
Deutsche Seemannsmission: (32) 660-720
Missions to Seamen
Valparaiso Seamens Institute: (32) 212-717 t x p

Ports of Northern Europe

Maritime Federation of Chile: (32) 217-727

ITF: 257-721
Ports of Northern Europe
The ports selected here are in Belgium, Finland, France,
Germany, Great Britain, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia,
Sweden, and Ukraine. The Northern Europe region also includes
Belarus, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Luxembourg.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Lat./Long.: 5222' N, 453' E
Time Zone: GMT + 1
Currency: Netherlands guilder, gulden, or florin (f);
1 f = 100 cents
Languages: Dutch, Frisian, English
Climate: Rainy winters; cool summers.
Shore Leave: Shore leave is available. No special requirements.
Telephone Country Code: 31 Long-Distance Code: 0
City Code: 20
Police: 222222 Fire: 555555 Ambulance: 212121
Apostleship of the Sea: (20) 633-3537 t
British and International Sailors Society
Seamens Welfare of Amsterdam
Seamens Centre: (20) 611-7708 x C p 0
ITF (Rotterdam): (010) 215-1166
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Antwerp, Belgium

Currency: Danish krone; 1 krone = 100 ore

Lat./ Long.: 5113' N, 423' E

Climate: Cold winters; cool summers. Frequent rain.

Time Zone: GMT + 1

Shore Leave: There are no restrictions. You are advised to

Currency: Belgian franc (BF) 1 BF = 100 centimes

carry some photo identification.

Languages: French, Flemish

Telephone Country Code: 45 City Code: 33

Climate: Cool summers and cooler winters. A raincoat and

7 Danish Maritime Authority: (39) 27-15-15

umbrella are required year-round.

Police/Fire/Ambulance: 112

Shore Leave: Identification cards are required.

Apostleship of the Sea, Bishops office: (33) 116-080 t

Telephone Country Code: 32 Long-Distance Code: 0

Danish Government Seamens Service: (33) 3543-3111

City Code: 3

Dansk Smandskirke I Fremmede Havne: t

Police: 232-1840 Fire/Ambulance: 100

Norwegian Seamens Church: t x (33) 574-1005

Antwerp Seafarers Centre (Seemannsheim): (3) 233-3475

Deutsche Seemannsmission: t p C (33) 152-610

tXxC1p0

Indenlandsk Smandsmission (Bethel): (33) 130-370 t x

Antwerp Mariners Club: (3) 542-1458

tXxC1p0

1p

ITF (Esbjerg): 75-139940

British and International Sailors Society: t

Norwegian Government Seamens Service: (3) 542-1180/1/3

Felixstowe, United Kingdom (UK)

Swedish Seamans Service: (3) 541-3707

Lat./Long.: 5158' N, 121' E

Dansk Smandskirke: (3) 232-1376 t x X 1 p 0

Time Zone: GMT

Den Norske Sjmannsmisjon: (3) 232-1376 t x p

Currency: UK pound (UK); 1 = 100 pence

Deutsche Seemannsmission: t x

Climate: Cool summers; mild winters. Raingear needed

Suomalainen Merimieskirkko: (3) 232-8047 t X x 1 p

International Seamens Mission: x X 1 p 0
(3) 232-1609

year-round.
Shore Leave: There are no restrictions. You must carry a
Seamans Book or passport.

Svenska Sjmanskyrkan: (3) 541-3707 t x 0

(3) 541-3707

Telephone Country Code: 44 Long-Distance Code: 0

City Code: 1394

ITF: (03) 224-3502/3506

Police/Fire/Ambulance: 999; within dock area: 4300

British & International Sailors Society: (1703) 337-333

Copenhagen, Denmark

Deutsche Seemannsmission: (1394) 271-021

Lat./Long.: 5542' N, 1237' E

Felixstowe Seafarers Centre: (1394) 673-599 t X x C

Time Zone: GMT + 1

p0

Languages: Danish, Faeroese, Greenlandic

112

ITF (London): (0171) 403-2733

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Gdansk/Gdynia, Poland

Po r t s o f t h e Wo r l d

Shore Leave: There are no restrictions. You must carry with

Gdansk Lat./Long.: 5421' N, 1840' E

you a Seamans Book or passport.

Gdynia Lat./Long.: 5432' N, 1834' E

Telephone Country Code: 358 Long-Distance Code: 0

Time Zone: GMT +1

City Code: 9

Currency: Zloty (zl); 1 zl = 100 groszy

Police: 002 Fire: 112 Ambulance: 112

Language: Polish

Apostleship of the Sea: (9) 637-853 t

Climate: Cold winters with frequent snow; mild summers

Deutsche Seemannsmission: (9)63-6070

Finnish Seamens Service: (9) 668 9000

with frequent rain.

Shore Leave: You must have your Seamans Book and a shore

Hotel Skatta (Finnish Seamens Service): (9) 668-9000

permit from Polish Immigration authorities. The shore

Missions to Seamen:

permit is only valid within the Gdansk/Sopot/Gdynia area.

Seamens Club (Finnish Seamens Service): (9) 668-9000

Other: There are duty-free shops on Ziolkowsiego Quay

and at Wolnoici 16 Street in Nowy Port.
Telephone Country Code: 48 Long-Distance Code: 0

Suomen Merimiesletysseura:
Svenska Olaus-Petrifrsamlingen: (00) 443-831 t
ITF: (9) 615 202 0155

City Code: 58
Police: 997 Fire: 998 Ambulance: 999

Kiel, Germany

Apostolatus Maris Gdansk: t (58) 430-346

Lat./Long.: 5419' N, 1010' E

The Finnish Seamens Mission GdanskBrzezno:

Time Zone: GMT + 1

(58) 434-496 t x 0

Currency: Deutsche Mark (DM); 1 DM = 100 pfennige

Apostolatus Maris Gdynia: t (58) 208-741

Language: German

Svenska Sjmanskyrkan: t p 0 (58) 200-263

Climate: Cool, cloudy, and wet.

National Section of Port Workers: (58) 43 16 30

Shore Leave: Crew members from nations that normally

ITF: 627-8103

require visas to enter Germany need to obtain shore

passes. For crew members who do not require visas to

Helsinki, Finland

enter Germany (such as EU nationals), no shore passes

Lat./Long.: 6010' N, 2457' E

are issued. These crew members can use their Seamans

Time Zone: GMT + 2

Book or passport as identification.

Currency: Markka /Finnish mark (FMk); 1FMk = 100 pennia

Telephone Country Code: 49 City Code: 431

Languages: Finnish, Swedish

Police: 110 Harbor Police: 579-320 Fire/Ambulance: 112

Climate: Very cold winters; cool, wet summers.

Deutsche Seemannsmission und Seemanns-Frauenheim:

Temperatures are mild for the subarctic because of the

North Atlantic current and the Baltic Sea.

114

(431) 331-492 t x 1 p
ITF (Hamburg): (40) 285-8870

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Le Havre/Antifer, France

Po r t s o f t h e Wo r l d

2-51-03-4 Interclub, 1 Karl Marx Street

Lat./Long.: 4929' N, 006' E

Police: 02 Fire: 2252/2254 Ambulance: 003/2395/2422

Time Zone: GMT + 1

ITF (St. Petersburg): (0812) 114-9732

Currency: French franc (F); 1F = 100 centimes

Language: French

Odessa, Ukraine

Climate: Cool and wet winters; mild and wet summers.

Lat./Long.: 4629' N, 3046' E

Shore Leave: Shore leave is limited. You are restricted to the

Time Zone: GMT + 2

port and town area. You should carry your passport or

Currency: Ukrainian ruble

Seamans Book with you for identification. You are not

Languages: Ukrainian, Russian

allowed to travel to Paris or other parts of France unless

Shore Leave: Shore leave is permitted during the day only.

you have police authorization and a pass.

Telephone Country Code: 33 City Code: 235

There is no overnight shore leave. Carry your Seamans

Book or passport for identification.

Police: 17 Fire: 18 First Aid: 15

British International Sailors Society

Apostolatus Maris:

Seamens Center: (482) 335-854

British and International Sailors Society:

Telephone Country Code: 380 City Code: 482

Deutsche SeemannsmissionInternational Seafarers Centre:

Police: 02 from town, 902 from port Fire: 01 from town,

(235) 495-836 also (235) 423-532

901 from port Ambulance: 03 from town, 903 from port

Maison du Marin: (235) 413-532 x 1

Seamens Club, 15 Rosa Luxemburg St., Odessa:

ITF: (235) 23 63 73

Ukrainian Marine Trade Unions Federation: (482) 22-35-58

Black Sea Christian Center: (482) 323-459

Murmansk, Russia
Lat./Long.: 6858' N, 3303' E

Oslo, Norway

Time Zone: GMT + 2

Lat./Long.: 5954' N, 1043' E

Currency: Ruble

Time Zone: GMT + 1

Language: Russian

Currency: Norwegian krone (NKr); 1 NKr = 100 ore

Climate: Seasonal. Cold winters; cool summers.

Languages: Norwegian, Lapp, Finnish

Customs Information: Items of historical or cultural value,

Climate: Mild winters (for this latitude); cool summers.

such as icons, rugs, art, and antiques, cannot be taken out

Shore Leave: There are no restrictions on shore leave.

of the country without permission from the Ministry of

Telephone Country Code: 47 Long-Distance Code: 0

Culture. A 1001 percent duty is charged on these items.

City Code: 22

Telephone Country Code: 7

Police: 002 Fire: 001 Ambulance: 003

7 Main Inspection on Safety of Navigation (Moscow):

Apostleship of the Sea, St. Hallvards Kirke: (22) 672-383 t

Apostleship of the Sea, St. Olavs Domkirke: (22) 207-268 t

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Den Norske Sjmannsmisjon: (22) 338-333 t x

Deutsche Seemannsmission:

Po r t s o f t h e Wo r l d

Climate: Seasonal. Cold winters; cool summers. Sweaters

and raingear are needed in the summer.

Svenska Margaretafsamlingen: (22) 209-408 t x

Languages: Finnish, Swedish

ITF: (22) 42 58 72

Health: During winter months, take precautions against

frostbite and hypothermia.
Shore Leave: Shore leave is allowed. There are no special

Stockholm, Sweden
Lat./Long.: 5920' N, 1803' E

requirements.

Time Zone: GMT + 1

Telephone Country Code: 358 City Code: 2

Currency: Swedish krona (Skr); 1 Skr = 100 ore

Police/Fire/Ambulance: 112

Language: Swedish

Apostolatus Maris:

Climate: Very cold winter, spring, and fall. Bring warm out-

Bridgettine Convent Guest-house: (2) 501-910

door clothing. Mild summers. Bring sweaters and raingear.

Shore Leave: Shore leave is allowed. If traveling outside the port
area, carry a Seamans Book or passport for identification.

Finnish Seamens Service: (2) 304-995

Meremieskako: (2) 303-940
ITF (Helsinki): (9) 615 202 0155

Telephone Country Code: 46 Long-Distance Code: 0

City Code: 8

Ports of Southern Europe

Police/Fire/Ambulance: 90-000

The ports selected here are in Greece, Italy, and Spain. The

Norsk Kirke i Stockholm:

Southern Europe region also includes Albania, Bosnia-

Seamens Hotel:

Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Malta, Portugal, Romania,

Sjfartsklubben Kaknas (Seamens Club): (8) 667-9690

Slovenia, and Yugoslavia.

or 663-2421
Sjfartsklubben Katarine Seamens Club at Seamens Hotel:

Algeciras, Spain
Lat./Long.: 3607' N, 526' W

(8) 640-9496
Sjmansinstitutet (Swedish Seamens Club): (8) 615-8800

Time Zone: GMT + 1

Currency: Peseta (Pta); 1 peseta = 100 centimos

or 428-270
Swedish Government Seamens Service: (8) 667-9690

Language: Spanish

ITF: (8) 643-2742/714-5325

Climate: Hot summers; mild winters.

Shore Leave: You need a valid Seamans Book.

Turku (bo), Finland

Telephone Country Code: 34 City Code: 956

Lat./Long.: 6027' N, 2215' E

7 Maritime Inspector General (Madrid): (314)580-1400

Time Zone: GMT + 2

Police: 091 Fire: 662222 Ambulance: 604144

Currency: Markka (FMk); 1 FMk = 100 pennia

ITF: 956-63 45 24

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Genoa (Genova), Italy

Lat./Long.: 4424' N, 854' E
Time Zone: GMT + 1
Currency: Italian lira (L); 1 L = 100 centesimi
Languages: Italian, French
Climate: Seasonal.
Shore Leave: You must have a Seamans Book or passport
and a shore pass.

Ports of Southern Europe

Telephone Country Code: 39 Long-Distance Code: 0

City Code: 10
Police: 25-69-75 Fire: 25-25-25 Ambulance: 59-59-51
Apostolatus Maris: (10) 299-562
Deutsche Seemannsmission: (10) 214-545 t C 1 p
ITF: (10) 28-39-41
Piraeus, Greece
Lat./Long.: 3757' N, 2342' E
Time Zone: GMT + 2
Currency: Greek drachma (Dr)
Languages: Greek, English, French
Climate: Seasonal. Mild and wet winters; hot and dry summers.
Shore Leave: Shore passes are required.
Customs: It is illegal to purchase or export Greek archaeological finds or antiquities.
Telephone Country Code: 30 Long-Distance Code: 0
City Code: 1
Police/Fire: 100 Ambulance: 166
7 Merchant Ships Inspectorate: (1) 4111214-18

Apostleship of the Sea, c/o St. Pauls Church: (1) 412-9377

Deutsche Seemannsmission / British Sailors Society:
Seafarers Centre: (1) 428-7566
Skandinaviska Sjmanskyrkan (Scandinavian Church):

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(1) 451-6564 t x p
Pan-Hellenic Seamens Federation: (1) 429-2958
Ports of Middle East and West Asia
The ports selected here are in India, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Sri

Ports of Middle East and West Asia

Lanka, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Other countries

in this region are Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, and Syria.
Abu Dhabi (Mina Zayed), Dubai (Jebel Ali), United Arab
Emirates (UAE)
Lat./Long.: 2500' N, 5503' E
Time Zone: GMT + 4
Currency: Emiriandirham (Dh); 1 Emiriandirham = 100 fils
Languages: Arabic, Persian, English
Climate: Extremely hot and dry desert.
Shore Leave: Shore leave is allowed. You need a valid
Seamans Book.
Customs: The following items cannot be brought ashore in
the UAE: pornographic materials, alcohol, narcotic drugs,
wireless transmitters, firearms, Israeli products, movies,
political literature, religious literature.
Telephone Country Code: 971
City Code: 2 (Abu Dhabi), City Code: Dubai: 4
Apostlesip of the Sea in Dubai: (4) 470-087 t
Dubai International Seafarers Center: (4) 435-551 X x
1p 0

Norwegian Seamens Center, Dubai: (4) 370-062 x p 0

Jebel Ali International Seamens Center: (84) 36805 X x
1p 0

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Aden, Yemen

Po r t s o f t h e Wo r l d

Caution: Penalties for possession of illegal drugs are harsh.

Lat./Long.: 1247' N, 4503' E

Time Zone: GMT + 3

Minimum jail sentence is 10 years.

Customs: India requires you to declare any gold or gold

Currency: S. Yemeni Dinar 1S. (YD); Yemeni Dinar = 1,000 fils

Language: Arabic

objects when you enter the country.

Shore Leave: Shore passes are issued. Carry passes with you

Climate: Extremely hot and dry desert. During rainy

season, flash floods can strike without warning.
Health: Chloroquine-resistant malaria suppressants are
recommended for travel outside the city of Sanaa.
Other Hazards: There are land mines and other unexploded

at all times. Return the passes prior to vessel departure.

Telephone Country Code: 91 Long-Distance Code: 0
City Code: 22
Police: 100 Fire: 101 Ambulance: 102
Apostleship of the Sea, Holy Name Catherdral: (22) 202-1365

ordnance left over from the 1994 civil war in areas

Royal Bombay Seamens Society, Prince of Wales Seamens

where fighting took place around Aden.

Club: (22) 261-3731 or 261-2260 t X x 1

Shore Leave: You need an international certificate of proof

ITF: (22) 261-8368/8369

of vaccination against yellow fever and cholera. Give

passport to the Immigration Officer-in-charge and carry

Colombo, Sri Lanka

your shore pass with you at all times while on shore leave.

Lat./ Long.: 657' N, 7951' E

Shore leave expires at 2300 hours. There is no overnight

Time Zone: GMT + 5 1/2

shore leave.

Currency: Sri Lankan rupee (SLRe); 1 SLRe = 100 paise

Telephone Country Code: 976

Languages: Sinhala, Tamil, English

Fire: 22222 Police: 22851

Climate: Tropical, hot, monsoonal. NE monsoons:

December to March; SW monsoons: June to October.

Port Medical: 22626/7

Apostleship of the Sea: (2) 232-146
The Missions to Seamen: (2) 232-146

Health: Tap water is not potable. Do not eat unwashed raw

foods or undercooked meat. If you become seriously ill,
you may need to be evacuated to Thailand or Singapore

Bombay (Mumbai), India

Lat./Long.: 1854' N, 7249' E
Time Zone: GMT + 5 1/2

for medical treatment.

Shore Leave: There are no restrictions. You are advised to
carry some photo identification.

Currency: Indian rupee (Re); 1 Re = 100 paise

Telephone Country Code: 94 Long-Distance Code: 0

Languages: Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, English

City Code: 1

Climate: Warm. Summer clothing is suitable year-round.

Harbor Police: 21075 Ambulance: 20428

Health: Tap water is not potable.

Missions to Seamen: (1) 448-522

Crime: Watch for pickpockets. Theft is very common.

ITF: (1) 328-157/158

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Dubai/Port Rashid, United Arab Emirates

Po r t s o f t h e Wo r l d

Police (Istanbul): 527-45-00 Police (Haydarpassa):

Dubai: Lat./ Long.: 2516' N, 5518' E

144-94-03 Fire (Istanbul): 521-42-22 Fire (Uskudar):

Pt. Rashid: Lat./ Long.: 2516' N, 5516' E

333-20-30 Fire (Haydarpassa): 163-60-20 Ambulance

Time Zone: GMT + 4

(Istanbul): 521-42-22 Ambulance (Haydarpassa):

Currency: Emiriandirham (Dh); 1 Dh = 100 fils

354-38 Ambulance (Uskudar): 333-0401

Languages: Arabic, Persian, English

Seafarers Union of Turkey: (212) 245-3130/3131

Climate: Extremely hot and dry desert.

Shore Leave: Daytime shore leave is allowed. There is no

Kuwait

overnight shore leave. Passports and Seamans Books are

Lat./ Long.: 2923' N, 4759' E

held by the agent or the Immigration Office while you are

Time Zone: GMT + 3

ashore.

Currency: Kuwaiti dinar (KD)

Customs: The following items cannot be brought ashore:

Languages: Arabic, English

pornographic materials, alcohol, narcotic drugs, wireless

Climate: Desert. Very hot summers; short, cool winters.

transmitters, firearms, Israeli products, movies, political

Shore Leave: Shore leave is very restricted. It is permitted

literature, religious literature.

only for consular matters and medical reasons, or to

Telephone Country Code: 971 City Code: 4

make emergency telephone calls. A passport or Seamans

7 Coast Guard: (4) 450-520

Book is required. Crew members who join a vessel in

Apostleship of the Sea:

Kuwait are not allowed any shore leave in Kuwait.

Dubai International Seafarers Centre, c/o Missions to

Telephone Country Code: 965

Seamen: (4) 452-951 t x C p 0

Apostleship of the SeaKuwait, Bishops House, P.O. Box

Norsk Sjmanscenter: (4) 370-062 x p 0

266: t

Istanbul/Haydarpasa, Turkey

Ports of East Asia and the South Pacific

Lat./ Long.: 410' N, 2859' E

The ports selected here are in Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan,

Time Zone: GMT + 2

New Zealand, Philippines, and Singapore. Other countries in

Currency: Turkish lira (TL)

this region are Malaysia, Myanmar (formerly Burma), Papua

Languages: Turkish, Kurdish

New Guinea, Solomon Islands, South Korea, and Thailand.

Climate: Hot, dry summers. Mild, wet winters.

Shore Leave: Shore leave is allowed. A Seamans Book is
required for identification.

Auckland, New Zealand

Lat./ Long.: 3651' S, 17449' E

Telephone Country Code: 90 Long-Distance Code: 0

Time Zone: GMT + 12

City Codes: European sideIstanbul: 212,

Currency: New Zealand dollars (NZ$); 1 NZ$ = 100 cents

Asian sideHaydarpasa: 216

Language: English

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Climate: Wet, windy, and cool. Warm clothing and raingear

needed year-round.
Shore Leave: Shore leave is available. No special requirements.

Ports of East Asia and the South Pacific

Customs: Handguns cannot be brought ashore. Many food

items cannot be brought ashore.
Telephone Country Code: 64 Long-Distance Code: 0
City Code: 9
Police/Fire/Ambulance: 111
International Seafarers Centre: (9) 373-4352
ITF New Zealand Waterfront Workers Union:
(9) 358-0650
Hong Kong, China
Lat./ Long.: 2215' N, 11411' E
Time Zone: GMT + 8
Currency: Hong Kong dollar (HK$); 1 HK$ = 100 cents
Languages: Chinese (Cantonese), English
Climate: Tropical monsoon. Cool, humid winters; hot, wet
summers. Average June rainfall: 18 in./45 cm. Warm and
sunny fall.
Shore Leave: There are no restrictions when staying 14
days or fewer.
Telephone Country Code: 852
Director of Marine Shipping Division: 852-4404
Apostleship of the SeaMariners Club, #2 Container Port:
(03) 425-8077
Danish Mariners Club, Container Port Kwai Chung,
Kowloon: (24) 286-771
The Mariners Club: (03) 425-8077
Apostleship of the SeaHong KongMariners Club, 11
Middle Road, Kowloon: 2-368-8261 t X x C 1 p 0
Hong Kong Seamens Union: 2-384-2279/2-332-0766

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Po r t s o f t h e Wo r l d

Jakarta (Tanjung Priok), Indonesia

Philippines has diplomatic relations are allowed shore

Lat./ Long.: 608' S, 10645' E

leave. You must obtain a shore pass from the Immigration

Time Zone: GMT + 7

officer in the port. Sufficient crew must remain on board

Currency: Rupiah (Rp); 1 Rp = 100 sen, but the sen is no

the vessel to manage the vessel in case of unforeseen

incidents.

longer used.
Languages: Bahasa Indonesian (form of Malay), English,

Telephone Country Code: 63 Long-Distance Code: 0

City Code: 2

Dutch
Climate: Tropical. Hot and humid.

Police: 59-90-11 Fire: 47-43-24 Ambulance: 62-38-58

Health: Tap water is not potable. Do not eat unwashed raw

7 Philippine Coast Guard: 483-257

foods or undercooked meat.

Apostleship of the Sea, Pope Pius XII Catholic Center:

Shore Leave: You need a shore pass issued by the Malaysian

Port Authority, plus a passport or Seamans Book for

(2) 524-3167 t
Seamens Center of the Associated Marine Officers and
Seamens Union of the Philippines (members only):

identification.
Telephone Country Code: 62 Long-Distance Code: 0

United Seamens Service, Manila International Seafarers

Center: (2) 527-2585/63 or (2) 527-2638

City Code: 21
Police: 430-1080 x6400 Fire: 430-1080 x2222

ITF: (2) 863-011

Ambulance: 440-3026 x199

Apostleship of the SeaSeafarers Centre:
(21) 494-667/539/543
Deutsche SeemannsmissionSeafarers Centre:
(21) 494-667/539/543
Wisma Pelaut InternationalSeafarers Centre:
(21) 494-667/539/543
ITF (Kesatuan Pelaut Indonesia): (21) 314-1495

Singapore
Lat./ Long.: 116' N, 10350' E
Time Zone: GMT + 8
Currency: Singapore dollars (S$); 1S$ = 100 cents
Languages: Chinese, Malay, Tamil, English
Climate: Tropical. Hot, humid, and wet.
Shore Leave: Shore leave is allowed. You will need a Seamans
Book and a passport or photo identification card.

Manila, Philippines

Telephone Country Code: 65

Lat./ Long.: 1440' N, 12100' E

Police: 999 Fire: 995 Ambulance: 995

Time Zone: GMT + 8

7 Marine Department: 278-5611

Currency: Peso (P); 1P = 100 centavos

Danish Seamens Church: 274-6344

Languages: Tagalog, English

Dutch Seamens Mission:

Climate: Tropical. Rainy season is May to November.

Korean Seamens Mission: 354-9382

Health: Do not drink the tap water.

Stella Maris Maritime Club:

Shore Leave: Crew members from countries with which the

Japanese Seamens Centre: 221-8621/8262

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Ministry to Netherlands Seamen: 272-5000 t

Time Zone: GMT + 9

Missions to Seamen: 737-2880 t X x C p 0

Currency: Yen (Y); 1Y = 100 sen

Norwegian Seamens Mission: 775-7835 or 775-7628

Language: Japanese

txp0

Climate: Seasonal. Rainy in the summer, especially during July.

Norwegian Government Seamens Service: c/o Norwegian

Shore Leave: Shore leave is allowed for up to three days. You

Seamens Mission (above)

need a shore landing pass from the local immigration official.

Singapore Mariners Club, Maritime House:

Telephone Country Code: 81 Long-Distance Code: 0

ITF: 336-2388

City Code: 45
Police: 110 Fire/Ambulance: 119
7 Maritime Safety Agency, Yokohama (Coast Guard):

Sydney, Australia
Lat./ Long.: 3355' S, 15110' E

(45) 201-4522

Time Zone: GMT + 10

Apostleship of the Sea: (45) 662-1871 t 0

Currency: Australian dollar ($A); 1$A = 100 cents

Missions to Seamen, Stella Maris, Deutsche

Language: English

Seemannsmission, Flying Angel Club: (45) 662-2231 t x

Climate: Seasonal. Mild winter. Winter months are May to

September. Sweater or overcoat needed in winter.
Shore Leave: There are no restrictions on shore leave. Your
passport and Seamans Book must be left with the ship master.
Telephone Country Code: 61 City Code: 29
Police/Fire/Ambulance: 000

Cp

Norwegian Government Seamens Service:

United Seamens International Service Center:
(45) 623-2231 X x p 0
Yokohama International Seamens Hall: (45) 681-2358
X1

ITF: (45) 201-7172 or 623-5693

Apostleship of the Sea:

Deutsche Seemannsmission:
Missions to Seamen, Flying Angel, International Seafarers
Centre: (29) 264-9900 x X p 0

Ports of Africa
The ports selected here are in Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya, and
South Africa.

Stella Maris Centre:

Mobile: 0-418-724-713
ITF Boomerang Seafarers Club: (29) 669-3538 X x C p

Durban, South Africa

ITF: (29) 267-9134

Lat./ Long.: 2953' S, 3100' E

Time Zone: GMT + 2

Yokohama, Japan

Currency: Rand (R); 1R = 100 cents

Lat./ Long.: 3527' N, 13938' E

Languages: English, Afrikaans

Climate: Mild, warm.

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Po r t s o f t h e Wo r l d

Po r t s o f t h e Wo r l d

Shore Leave: Shore leave is allowed. You are advised to carry

some photo identification.
Telephone Country Code: 27 Long-Distance Code: 0
City Code: 31
Police: 310-2714 Fire: 62333 or 4502222 Ambulance: 62333
Seafarers Center at Bayhead: (31) 466-1326/7 t
International Sailors Society: 113 Umbilio Road, Durban
P.O. Box 18148 Dalbridge 4014 Tel: 3014380
Deutsche Seemannsmission: (31) 254-953 t x C p 0
Flying Angel Chaplaincy and Missions to Seamen:
ITF: (031) 257 318/319

Ports of Africa

Lagos, Nigeria
Lat./ Long.: 627' N, 324' E
Time Zone: GMT + 1
Currency: Naira (N); 1N = 100 kobo
Languages: English, Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo, Fulani
Climate: Warm year-round.
Health: Do not drink the tap water.
Shore Leave: Shore leave is allowed after clearance by
Health and Immigration authorities.
Telephone Country Code: 234 City Code: 1
Police/Fire/Ambulance: 199
Apostleship of the Sea
Seafarers Club: (1) 587-1357
Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria: (1) 87-01-17/19
Mombasa, Kenya
Lat./ Long.: 44' S, 3940' E
Time Zone: GMT + 3
Currency: Kenya shillings (KSh); 1 KSh = 100 cents
Languages: English, Kiswahili (Swahili)

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Climate: Tropical; humid and hot. There are two rainy

seasons: OctoberNovember and MarchMay.
Health: Tap water everywhere but in Nairobi is unsafe!

Po r t s o f t h e Wo r l d

Customs: You must declare all valuables, jewelry, and

electronic items brought into Egypt.
Other: Drug enforcement is very strict. The death penalty

Train travel is unsafe because of poor maintenance and

may be imposed for smuggling marijuana, hashish,

safety standards.

opium, LSD, and other illegal drugs.

Shore Leave: Shore leave is allowed for all crew members.

Telephone Country Code: 20 Long-Distance Code: 0

You must have a shore pass from the Port Authority.

City Codes: Suez: 62; Port Said: 66

Shore leave for crew members from socialist countries is

Missions to Seamen, The Church of the Epiphany:

restricted to Mombasa Island.

Telephone Country Code: 254

(66) 221-617
City Code: 11

Police: 567-444 Fire: 1333 Ambulance: 33

Apostleship of the Sea, P.O. Box 85656 t

Norwegian Government Seamens Service: (66) 224-706

General Trade Union of Maritime Transport:
(2) 93-03-05/(2) 91-77-76

Deutsche Seemannsmission:
Missions to Seamen: (11) 312-817 or 226-152 t X x C
1p0

National Seamens Union of Kenya, P.O. Box 96132,

Mombasa. Tel.: (11) 31 28 17
Dockworkers Union, P.O. Box 98207, Mombasa. Tel.:
(11) 49 14 27 and 49 14 90
Suez Canal/Port Said, Egypt
Lat./ Long.: 3115' N, 3219' E
Time Zone: GMT + 2
Currency: Egyptian pound (E), 1E = 100 piasters
Languages: Arabic, English
Climate: Desert. Hot, dry summers; mild winters.
Health: Do not swim or walk barefoot along the Nile River.
The Nile contains the bilharzia parasite. Do not eat
undercooked meats, which can transmit Rift Valley fever
(RVF).
Shore Leave: Shore leave is allowed. You will need a shore
pass, which the agent usually obtains for you.

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Chapter

Part 3
The

Sea and

Regulations

The Sea
Environment
SEA DYNAMICS
Ocean water is always moving. It is pulled by the moons
gravity (tides) and is affected by the earths spinning movement. It is blown by the winds. It evaporates and is replenished by rainfall and fresh water from rivers and streams.
In the tropical Atlantic, the ocean is evaporating faster than it is
being replenished with rainwater, hence it is becoming saltier.
The ocean currents and temperatures play a crucial part in
determining weather on both the sea and the land. For more
on weather, see chapter 9, p.171.
Convection Currents
Convection currents carry warm surface water away from
the equator toward the poles. The water then cools and sinks
to great depths before flowing back toward the equator.

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Deepwater Currents
Even though the ocean waters are constantly moving, the
extent of this motion is unseen, because it is happening far
below the surface. The cool waters from the polar regions sink
and flow toward the equator. The waters from the polar
regions are very dense, because they are very cold and have
high salt content. When ice forms on the surface of the water

Stirred by the Wind

Winds that blow strongly in the same direction for extended
periods of time, such as trade winds, push the ocean surface
waters. (See chapter 9 for more on trade winds.) The surface
waters pull on the deeper waters. The ocean is affected by the
winds as far down as 2,500 feet (763 meters). These wind
currents carry water toward the continents, where it is
deflected by the land and forced to flow along the coast.
in the polar regions, it is almost salt free. So the remaining
water underneath becomes saltier. The dense polar waters
sink all the way to the ocean floor. The path these deep, cold
currents take is frequently dictated by the shape of the ocean
floor. Underwater ridges and trenches channel the currents.
The North Atlantic deepwater current, for example, carries
high-saline/water all the way to the South Atlantic. These
deepwater currents move slowly, at only a fraction of the
speed of wind-driven surface currents. These deep currents
are important because they are the only currents that move
water between ocean basins. These currents also carry mineral deposits from the ocean floor.

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Coriolis Force
The spinning movement of the earth creates a force that
affects both ocean currents and wind currents. It affects the
direction of wind, the rotation of storms, and the direction
of whirlpools. This so-called Coriolis force pushes clockwise
in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the
Southern Hemisphere. The Coriolis force is responsible for
water forming a circular pattern when it flows into a drain.
The Coriolis force is also responsible for creating the spiraling winds in a hurricane or waterspout.
Large-Scale,Wind-Driven Currents: Gyres

WAVES

The major wind-driven surface currents follow circular

All waves are created by the wind pushing on the water

paths around each of the major ocean basins. Three elements

except those created by earthquakes.

combine to create this pattern: the wind, the Coriolis force,

and the continents (which act as dams). The groups of cur-

The surface of the sea responds to pressure changes created

rents that make up a circle are called gyres. The gyres circu-

by the wind and becomes rippled. If the wind persists from

late water in circular patterns that move water clockwise in

the same direction, the ripples grow into larger waves. Very

the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the

large waves need time and distance to form. A very large

Southern Hemisphere.

wave cannot form in an enclosed bay, because there is not

enough space for it to travel in one direction and grow.

The currents that make up a gyre do not all have the same
speed. The currents that flow along the western margins of

Waves can travel long distancesthousands of miles. When

an ocean basin are narrower, and the water-flow rate is much

the wave travels, it is energy that is travelingnot water. The

faster. The Gulf Stream current on the western edge of the

water that makes up a wave travels up and down, but it does

Atlantic flows at approximately 9 kilometers per hour, while

not travel horizontally with the wave.

the Canary current on the eastern edge of the Atlantic flows

at approximately 1 kilometer per hour. The currents bring
nutrients from the coastal waters into the deeper waters.
Many marine animals follow these currents.

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Living things are present everywhere in the ocean, including

WAVE TERMS
Fetch the distance that a wave has traveled in a constant

the deepest seas. Most fish exist in the top 100 feet (31

direction

meters). The fish are most plentiful where currents bring up

deeper and more mineral-rich water. There are fewer fish in

Period the time between two wave crests

deeper water because there is less sunlight.

Trough the trench between waves

In some deepwater areas, underground volcanoes release

chemicals that contain sulfur and provide nutrients for deepsea marine creatures. While oceans are full of life close to the

Crest the wave top

surface, youll find the greatest variety of marine animals far

Height the vertical distance between wave trough and crest

below. Most of the bony fish found in the deep sea are only a
few centimeters long, although some squid and oarfish can
exceed 50 feet (15 meters) in length.

DEEPWATER ENVIRONMENT
Ocean basins account for 42 percent of the oceans underwater
floor. These areas are called the abyssal plains, are covered
with sediments more than 30 feet (9 meters) deep.

COASTAL ENVIRONMENT
The coastal shelves currently make up about 10 percent of
the total ocean area. The sea floors on the continental shelves

There are also underwater hills and mountains, called

are made of the same materials as the adjoining land.

seamounts. They are more than 3,300 feet (1,000 meters) tall
and are actually underwater volcanoes. It is estimated that

The water above the continental shelves is shallow (less than

the Pacific Ocean contains about 10,000 seamounts.

450 feet, or 135 meters) and of nearly constant depth. This

water has excellent sunlight penetration, is full of plant and
fish nutrients, and is well mixed. It is a prime environment
for many marine plants and animals. The plants and animals
that live here are highly adaptable. Coastal waters warm up
during the day and cool off at night. They also warm during
the summer. The salinity of coastal waters changes with the
flow rates of rivers that empty into the ocean.
The continental slopes are the areas just beyond the continental shelves. The layer of water just above the sea bottom

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is murky. It contains sediment and microscopic marine ani-

The continuous cooling, sinking, and mixing of water in the

mals that filter out much of the sunlight. The sea floor here

Antarctic create an environment where nutrients are plentiful

has many hollows, crevices, and canyons. In these dark

at all depths. During the short summer, the surface layer of

spaces live starfish, sea urchins, and flounder. This environ-

water is exposed to sunlight 24 hours a day. Phytoplankton

ment is very rich with marine life. Today, the coastal habitats

(simple aquatic plants) bloom, and zooplankton (simple

are the most endangered. They suffer from pollution and

aquatic animals) multiply. The dominant species is krillfood

from overfishing.

for penguins, flying birds, seals, fish, and whales. Baleen whales
migrate to the Antarctic during the summer, and each baleen
whale consumes approximately 850 liters of krill each day.

ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE BODIES OF

WATER
Several bodies of water are especially vulnerable to pollution
because of their ecological conditions and their traffic patterns. These Special Areas require extra care to protect
them from pollution damage.
Antarctic

Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a portion of the North Atlantic that separates the Scandinavian countries from the northern coast of
Europe. Two long gulfsthe Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of
Bothniaextend from the northern and eastern sides of the

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Baltic Sea. The Baltic Sea is relatively shallow and well mixed.

Asia

Rainfall and runoff from rivers exceed evaporation. The

Asia

water has low salinity, high levels of nutrients and dissolved

Black Sea
Caspian
Sea

oxygen, and plenty of sunlight. These are favorable conditions for many marine animals, including seals, porpoises,
Mediterannean
Sea

fish, and birds.

Middle East

About nine million birds (approximately 30 species) use the

Baltic Sea as a wintering area. The very large concentration

Persian
Gulf

of seabirds in the Baltic Sea heightens the environmental

risks associated with petroleum shipping in this region during the winter. A single oil spill could kill a large portion of

Africa

Red
Sea
Arabian Sea

the European seabird population.

Gulf of Aden

The first convention for protecting the Baltic Sea marine

environment was signed in 1974. Another convention was

the Mediterranean and the Black Sea is minuscule. It takes

signed in 1992. These conventions address all sources of

hundreds of years for water in the lowest layer of the Black

marine pollution, including land-based discharges, ship dis-

Sea to be replenished with Mediterranean water. Many, many

charges, and air pollution. The administering body is the

years ago (possibly centuries), the dissolved oxygen in that

Helsinki Commission (HELCOM). The conventions also

lowest layer was consumed, and today no plants or animals

require the member nations to establish port facilities for the

live in that lowest layer of the Black Sea.

reception of residues of oil, harmful substances other than

oil, sewage, and garbage.

The Black Sea is fed by many rivers that carry many nutrients, so the surface layers are full of life. The Black Seas

Black Sea

watershed covers about one-third of Europe. (The watershed

The Black Sea is of immense importance to the nations of

is the land area that contains streams and rivers that ulti-

Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine.

mately feed a sea.) Fertilizers and sewage from this immense

The Black Sea is used for fishing, mineral extraction,

area find their way into the Black Sea, where they become

tourism, and trade. Unfortunately, it has also been used for

nutrients for phytoplankton. In recent years, too many such

disposal of land wastes. It is linked to the Aegean and

nutrients have reached the Black Sea.

Mediterranean seas by the narrow Bosporus Strait, the Sea of

Marmara, and the Dardanelles. The water exchange between

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The Black Sea environment is now in crisis, but that situation

gradually become more saline. As this happens, the surface

should improve thanks to the Black Sea Environmental

waters become more dense and sink. Near the sea bottom,

Program (BSEP) formed by Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania,

the currents flow from east to west, as high-saline water

Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine in 1993. These nations are devel-

pushes into the Atlantic. Near the surface, the primary cur-

oping and implementing uniform laws to prevent Black Sea

rents are from west to east, as ocean water moves in to

pollution.

replace the water that has evaporated. These surface waters

that come from the Atlantic are low in nutrients. The river
Asia

waters do contain nutrients, but these waters sink and move

Europe

back toward the ocean. The Mediterranean is not very proMediterranean Sea

Middle East

Africa

ductive for fishing.

When sewage wastes are pumped into the Mediterranean
from cities on land, they disperse poorly and settle into the
basins. The bacteria that decompose the sewage use up dissolved oxygen, which further hurts the fish population.
In 1976 the United Nations organized a Conference of

Asia

Aral
Sea

Black Sea

Asia

Caspian
Sea

Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is approximately five times the size of

Mediterannean
Sea

the North Sea. It has an average depth of almost 5,000 feet

Middle East

(1,500 meters), which is about half the depth of the Atlantic.

The Mediterranean is located in an area that is warm and

Persian
Gulf

does not receive much rainfall.

Africa

Red
Sea
Arabian Sea

The Mediterranean Sea has a unique mixing pattern.

Because its evaporation is greater than the water replenishGulf of Aden

ment from rivers, the surface waters of the Mediterranean

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Mediterranean Governments. These nations agreed to work

Red Sea and Gulf of Aden

together to combat pollution from oil and other harmful

The Red Sea is located between the continents of Africa and

substances. They established the first Regional Oil

Asia. It is also located between two of the earths plates,

Combating Centre in Malta.

which are moving away from each other and causing the Red
Sea to grow slowly. The Red Sea widens 1 to 4 centimeters

Persian/Arabian Gulf

per year. Running down the center of this sea is a mountain

The Persian/Arabian Gulf is an arm of the Indian Ocean

ridge containing active volcanoes that are adding rich sedi-

lying between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula. It is about 220

ments to the sea bottom. These sediments contain iron, zinc,

miles across, 520 miles long, and very shallow. The average

copper, and traces of lead, silver, and gold.

water temperature is 36C (96F). The Persian Gulf contains

the warmest ocean water on earth. The Gulf is connected to

The Red Sea is connected to the Mediterranean Sea by the Gulf

the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea by the Strait of

of Suez and the Suez Canal. It is connected to the Gulf of Aden

Hormuz.

(Indian Ocean) in the south by the Strait of Bab al-Mandab.

Like the Mediterranean, the Red Sea is located in a warm, dry

The Persian Gulf is home to porpoises, narwhals, and about

region, so high evaporation rates cause the surface water to

200 species of fish.

become more salty. The Red Sea is the saltiest sea on earth.
Sargasso SeaWomb for Eels
The Sargasso Sea is located in the center of the North
Atlantic Ocean, between 20 N and 30 N and 48 W and 65
W. The Sargasso Sea does not receive any river water. It is the
saltiest area of the Atlantic Ocean. The currents that make up
the North Atlantic gyre encircle this sea. The currents bring
into the Sargasso Sea millions of tons of sargassum weed,
along with the animals that attach themselves to these weeds.
The Sargasso Sea is believed to be the only spawning ground
for all the eels that find their way to both the U.S. coastal
waters and the European coastal waters. Eels need warm
ocean water of moderate depth to spawn. The Sargasso Sea is
one of the few places in the world with the right spawning
conditions for them. The ocean floor in this area is a nice,

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Greenland

North America

Sargasso Sea

South
America

There are regulations on the handling of ballast water that

apply only to the North American Great Lakes. These regulations are designed to protect the marine wildlife in these lakes
round basin that retains water and allows it to warm up. The

from nonindigenous species. The regulations are part of the

newly hatched eels are called leptocephali. They look more

Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act.

like fish than eels. They take about three years to reach the
coastal waters, where they acquire their eel shape.

Estuaries and Inland Areas

Estuaries are bodies of water that are partly river and partly

North American Great Lakes

ocean. When the ocean is at low tide, fresh water flows down

The five North American Great LakesErie, Huron,

the estuary to the sea. When the ocean is at high tide, seawater

Michigan, Ontario, and Superiorlie in both Canada and the

flows from the ocean up the estuary. Estuaries are relatively

United States. They were formed by glaciers at the end of the

shallow and filled with nutrients. They are the nursery area for

most recent ice age, approximately 18,000 years ago. They are

many species of fish. About 75 percent of the fish caught by

not seas. They are freshwater lakes. Together, they have an area

commercial fishermen off the coast of North America spend a

of 94,710 square miles (222,637 square kilometers). They pro-

portion of their lives in estuaries. Each estuary is different, and

vide drinking water to millions of people. Because of their

the salinity in all estuaries changes daily with the tides.

large size, they have much in common with seas. They are connected to the Atlantic Ocean by the St. Lawrence Seaway.

The salinity varies widely among estuaries since some are fed
by small rivers and some by large rivers. The marine life
varies from estuary to estuary. Usually there are only a few

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different species in each estuary, because only highly adaptable species can survive where temperature and salinity are

Chapter

changing constantly. But those species are large in number

because the estuary is so full of nutrients.
Many ports are built on estuaries, so prevention of pollution
is especially important. Pollutants can be very damaging
because these areas are breeding grounds for fish and the pollutants may remain trapped in the estuary for long periods.

What is
Pollution?
WHAT IS POLLUTION?
Pollution refers to any harmful substances or heat released
into the marine environment by people. The harmful substances can be solids, liquids, or gases.
Where Does Marine Pollution Come From?
In 1990 the United Nations estimated that 77 percent of the
marine pollution, for that year, was land-based pollution. The
waterborne land-source pollution was 44 percent and the airborne land-source pollution was 33 percent. The United
Nations also estimated that marine-based pollution was
responsible for the remaining 23 percent of the total marine
pollution. Marine-based pollution is pollution from marine
transportation, marine dumping, and offshore facilities.

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POLLUTION TYPES
There are thousands of items that pollute our ocean. We clas-

years. These plastics kill. The ocean is filled with fish that are

sify them in four pollution groups: garbage, sewage, chemi-

not fussy about their diet. Many fish eat anything that floats,

cals, and oil.

including bits of plastic. These plastic pieces stay inside the

fish and cause the fish to feel full. The fish then starves to
death.

Garbage
Why is garbage a problem?
Garbage from ships and cities has been dumped into the sea for

Thousands of marine animals, including birds, sea turtles,

many years. The amounts were relatively small and a generation

seals, and whales, die each year when they become tangled in

ago garbage dumping was not seen as a problem. Today, the sit-

plastic trash.

uation is very different. Most nations have curtailed disposal of

land-generated garbage into the sea and there are many restric-

Plastic trash is also a menace to ships. Plastic debris becomes

tions on the dumping of ship-generated garbage.

trapped on propellers and in seawater intakes.

Who Regulates Garbage Dumping in International
Waters?
The fifth annex to MARPOL 73/78 regulates the disposal of
garbage generated at sea. These regulations went into force
on 31 December 1988. See chapter 11 p201 for more information on the regulations. The most important rules are:
Total ban on the disposal of plastics anywhere in the sea.
Severe restrictions on discharges
of garbage from ships into coastal
waters and Special Areas. These
special bodies of water are: the
Mediterranean Sea, the Baltic Sea,

A major reason for the garbage-dumping restrictions is the

the Black Sea, the Red Sea, the

growing use of plastics that are nonbiodegradable. When

Gulfs area, the Gulf of Aden, the

plastics are thrown into the sea, they can stay there for many

Antarctic (oil; Annex I); Baltic Sea

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and Black Sea (liquid chemicals;

Who Regulates Sewage Dumping in International

Annex II); Baltic Sea, Mediterranean

Waters?

Sea, Black Sea, Red Sea, Gulfs

Sewage disposal from vessels is already regulated or banned

area, North Sea, Antarctic, wider

in many coastal waters. The fourth annex to MARPOL 73/78

Caribbean region (garbage; Annex

covers sewage disposal in international waters. This annex is

V); and the Baltic Sea as a sulphur

not yet in effect, but it will go into effect when 15 major

emissions control area (air pollu-

nations ratify it.

tion; Annex VI).

When the Annex IV regulations take effect:
Sewage

Ships will not be permitted to dis-

Why is sewage a problem?

charge sewage within four miles

Sewage is the major cause of two serious and related envi-

of the nearest land unless they

ronmental problems: algae blooms and eutrophication.

have in operation an approved

onboard treatment plant.

Sewage contains the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus, which

cause the single-celled plants called algae to multiply rapidly.

Between 4 and 12 miles from

When the algae population grows and multiplies, it consumes

land, sewage must be disinfected

dissolved oxygen needed by the fish. Fish kills usually accom-

before discharge.

pany algae blooms. The blooms of algae float on the water surface, and reducing sunlight penetration. Some algae contain
poisons. When these algae are consumed by shellfish, the shell-

Chemicals

fish in turn become poisonous to humans.

Why are chemicals a problem?

There are many kinds of chemicals. Some are nutrients that

Eutrophication is an aging process that begins when large

can cause algae blooms. Some kill fish by removing dissolved

quantities of nutrients are added to a body of water. First,

oxygen from the water. Some change the waters pH. Some

plant growth is overstimulated. The plants are algae, sea-

are poisonous.

weed, and grasses. Then, fish disappear because there is no

dissolved oxygen. Next, a sediment layer composed of dead

Marine chemical pollution can be divided into two types.

plants accumulates on the sea floor. The sediment gives off

First, there is chemical pollution from chemical supplies.

poisonous hydrogen sulfide gas. Over time, the water body

These chemicals are extremely poisonous to marine animals.

fills in and becomes marshland. Sewage from coastal com-

Second, there is pollution from bulk chemical cargoes. These

munities has caused eutrophication in many coastal waters.

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chemicals find their way into the marine environment

What is being done to reduce pollution from chemical

during sloppy loading and unloading operations, or during

cargoes?

ship emergencies such as collisions and groundings.

The vessels that carry bulk chemicals are complex. Safety

precautions have to be built into the ship and the ships

Crew safety and the prevention of accidental pollution are

equipment. Seafarers need training on using the safety

very closely related. Any breach in the integrity of the vessel

equipment and on the chemicals. In 1972 the IMO devel-

endangers the safety of the crew as well as the environment.

oped the Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships

Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (the BCH Code). As
of 1986, all chemical tankers are required to be built according
to that code.
Annex II of MARPOL 73/78, which entered into force in
April 1987, describes requirements for vessels carrying liquid
chemical cargoes. These vessels should have an International
Pollution Prevention Certificate for Carriage of Noxious
Liquid Substances in Bulk (INLS).
The IMO also developed Standards of Training, Certification,
and Watchkeeping (STCW) in 1978 and expanded them in
1995. These regulations require shipowners to give seafarers
extensive training on all safety equipment and on the chemi-

cals being transported. See chapter 11 for more information

on STCW 95 requirements.
What Are the Most Common Chemical Cargoes?

What are the dangerous chemical supplies?

Some common chemical cargoes are sulfur, fertilizers, petro-

Some examples of chemicals used on board ships are clean-

chemicals, liquefied natural gas, caustic soda solutions, and

ers, degreasers, paint solvents, paints, and boiler-water addi-

sulfuric acid. Chemical pollution occurs when tankers carry-

tives. Use these products with care. Some of these products

ing these chemicals collide with another vessel or with a

have safety warnings and require you to use protective equip-

structure, or are grounded.

ment. All of these products are marine pollutants. Never dump

leftover products, or product containers, overboard.

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What are dangerous goods?

Dangerous goods are hazardous cargoes. These cargoes are
marked with the IMO Dangerous Goods (IMDG) label or
placard. See chapter 16 p.301 for more information on hazardous cargoes and the IMDG labeling system.
What is a noxious liquid?
Noxious liquid means a hazardous liquid cargo carried in
bulk.
What is a harmful substance?
Harmful substance means any hazardous, noxious, or
other substance that causes pollution if introduced into the
sea. The substance may be a solid, liquid, or gas.

What Are the Oil Discharge Regulations?

MARPOL contains some amendments that aim to reduce the
number of oil spills from tankers. The 1983 MARPOL

Oil

amendments ban the carriage of oil in the forepeak tankthe

Why is oil a problem?

In terms of quantity, the most serious pollution threat is
from oil. Oil kills two ways. First, oil is toxic for several days
to many forms of marine life. Second, oil slicks prevent sunlight from penetrating the water, thereby killing plant and
animal species that require sunlight.
Seabirds are killed in large numbers by oil spills. Bird feathers normally trap air and help a bird to float. They also keep
the bird warm. When a bird lands on or dives through an oil
slick its feathers become coated with the oil. The bird frequently dies from exhaustion after struggling to keep afloat
and keep warm. The bird can also die from ingesting oil
when it attempts to clean its feathers.

164

ships most vulnerable point in a collision. The 1992 amendments require new tankers to be fitted with double hulls, or
an alternative design approved by IMO. The 1992 amendments apply to all tankers ordered after 6 July 1993. The
amendments are phased in for existing ships, beginning in
1995. See chapter 11 for more information on the regulations.
Another treaty designed to help governments combat major
oil-pollution incidents became international law on 13 May
1995. The treaty is the International Convention on Oil
Pollution Preparedness, Response, and Cooperation
(OPRC). It was adopted in November 1990 by a conference
convened by the IMO.

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The treaty requires an Oil Pollution Emergency Plan for:

Disposal of Oil Residues from Oily Bilges and Slop

Tanks

Oil tankers of 150 gross tons and

above
DO
Other ships of 400 gross tons and
Use port facilities for oily bilge and slop-tank waste.

above

Properly maintain and use oil/water separator to remove oil from bilge
Offshore installations
Seaports where there is a risk of

waste when in international waters away from any coasts.

Only discharge to the sea during daylight hours, and watch for an oil sheen.
Shut off discharge pump if oil sheen is visible.

pollution

Maintain equipment in engine room so that oil leakage and drainage into
bilge are minimized; for example, do not overfill oil reservoirs.

WAYS TO PREVENT POLLUTION

Planned Operations with Potential for Creating
Pollution
All planned operations
should have procedures

DONT
Allow solvents or detergents to get into bilge or slop water.They interfere
with oil/water separator operation.

that are written and dis-

Discharge slop tank if contents have emulsified or foamed. Emulsions can

cussed before starting.

be separated by a slow heating of the slop tank.

Safety and environmental

Discharge bilge waste in Special Areas (see chapter 7).

concerns should be discussed jointly by crew and

Discharge bilge waste if oil/water separator or monitor is not working.

officers before the opera-

Bypass discharge monitor for regular discharges. (In a flood emergency, the

tion begins. The recom-

pump shutoff function of the discharge monitor may be bypassed to keep the

mendations provided here

bilge pumps running.The monitor should still be recording.)

are general guidelines only.

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Disposal of Garbage

Tank-Cleaning Operations and Ballasting

Operations

DO
DO
Use port facilities for garbage and recyclables.
Use port facilities for oily ballast water when available.
Recycle.
Use oil/water separators for oily ballast water when more than 12 nautical
Follow ship procedures for separating plastics, food wastes, recyclables, and

miles from shore.

other garbage types.

Slow discharge pumping rate as oil/water interface is approached.
Dispose of excess packaging before bringing items on board.
DONT
DONT
Take on ballast water into any tank that has not been cleaned.
Allow plastics or packing materials to go overboard.
Bypass oil/discharge monitoring equipment.
Throw anything overboard on your own. All discharges must be approved
by officers and properly logged.
Discharge non-food/non-plastic garbage larger than 25 millimeters within

Disposal of Residues and Noxious Materials from

12 nautical miles of shore or within a Special Area.

Chemical Tankers

Discharge food waste smaller than 25 millimeters within three nautical

miles of shore outside Special Areas, or within 12 miles of shore inside

DO

Special Areas.
Discharge food waste larger than 25 millimeters within 12 nautical miles of

Use port reception facilities.

Know MARPOL limits for chemical residue being handled.

shore anywhere.

Know hazard information about chemical residue being handled.

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Transferring Liquid Cargoes or Fuels

W h a t i s Po l l u t i o n ?

Machinery Operations with Potential to Pollute

Some pieces of machinery can cause pollution when they malfunction. If you are assigned to engine-room watch, be familiar with all

BEFORE STARTINGDO

the machinery and know the possibilities for oil pollution that can
come from internal equipment problems. Here are some examples:

Have a safety briefing. Discuss hazards and safety equipment.

Have suitable absorbent materials available on deck.

All air compressors carry over a trace of oil

into the compressed air receiver. This oil is

Plug deck scuppers.

removed by a coalescing filter. An air com-

Have portable emergency transfer pump ready.

pressor with worn or incorrect seals can

Close all sea valves and overboard valves.

carry over large quantities of oil. The oil will

then overwhelm the filter and be drained

Establish communication between off-loading vessel and on-loading vessel.

out with the condensed moisture in the air-

Arrange an emergency stop signal.

cooler section of the air compressor.

DURING PUMPINGDO

Oil coolers and heat exchangers can pollute if oil seeps through a tube leak to the

Check the sea regularly for signs of leaks.

water side.

Ensure good communication between people on deck and people in cargo

Oil can carry over into an inert gas scrub-

control room.
Leave enough ullage in cargo tanks for line drainage and thermal expansion.

ber and be discharged with the scrubber

discharge.

DONT
Top off tanks at full loading rate. Go slowly.
Disconnect hoses before they have drained. Remember to vent them so
they can drain.

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ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF
INFORMATION

Chapter

Guerrini, Francesco, The Great Book of the Sea: A Complete

Guide to Marine Life. Courage Books, Philadelphia, 1993.
Managing Oily Waste and Garbage from Ships. U.S. Coast
Guard, Marine Environmental Protection Division, 1994.

Weather

Parker, Henry S., Exploring the Oceans. Prentice-Hall Inc.,

Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1985.
United Nations Links to Environmental Treaties:
http://www.unep.ch/

Weather is something we like to talk about and something

for which we wish we could plan better. In most places on
earth, the weather is constantly changing, and we are constantly guessing what tomorrows weather will be.
This section describes two phenomena you can use to predict
the weather: wind and atmospheric pressure. This section also
describes two types of violent storms you might encounter at
sea: waterspouts and tropical revolving storms (hurricanes, typhoons, cyclones).

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We a t h e r

The three underlying causes of wind direction combine to

WIND
There are some things about weather that are remarkably

create the earths normal wind pattern, as shown here:

constant. One of these is general wind directions. Usually, the

steady winds blow from the same direction. This is because
some underlying causes of wind do not change:
The earth and the air at the equator
are warmer than at the poles.This
creates an air circulation pattern.
Warm air rises and blows toward
the poles whereas cooler air sinks
and blows toward the equator.
The earth rotates from west to
east, dragging the air with it as it
rotates.
The Coriolis force changes wind
direction.This force, generated by
the spinning movement of the
earth, also affects the currents. For

Here is a summary of the earths wind zones:

more information on the Coriolis

force, see chapter 7 p139.

The Intertropical Convergence Zone

(ITCZ), also called Equatorial
Convergence Zone, is a belt of
converging trade winds and rising
air that encircles the earth near
the equator. Its precise location
changes from day to day. It lies
slightly in the Northern
Hemisphere when it is summer in
that hemisphere. It lies slightly in
the Southern Hemisphere when it

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We a t h e r

is summer there. Low-level northeast-

In many locations, local geographical features (usually

erlies from the Northern Hemisphere

mountains) channel airflow into very predictable winds that

and southeasterlies from the Southern

have names. The table below lists some of these.

Hemisphere meet here.The rising air

produces frequent thunderstorms and
heavy rainfall.When the surface air is

BORA

Cold northeasterly across the Adriatic Sea.

calm the regular winds are very light

BURAN

Cold northeasterly over central Asia.

and are called the doldrums.

CHINOOK

Warm, dry westerly in North America just east of

the Rocky Mountains.

The Tropical Zones extend from the

ETESIAN

Summer winds that blow from the north across the

Aegean Sea.

KHAMSIN

Dry, dusty southerly in Egypt.The same wind in

Sudan is called the Haboob.

LESTE

Hot, dry southerly in North Africa.The same wind in

Spain is called the Leveche.

called the southeast trade winds.

LEVANTER

Humid easterly that causes storms near the Strait of

Gibraltar.

One Midlatitude Zone lies to the north

MISTRAL

Cold, dry northerly over the Mediterranean coast of

France and northwestern Italy.

PAMPERO

Squally southwesterly that brings cold weather to

Argentina and Uruguay.

SIROCCO

Hot, dry southerly from northwestern Africa that

picks up moisture over the Mediterranean and brings
cloudy weather to Italy and France.

ITCZ to the tropics of Cancer and

Capricorn.In the Northern Hemisphere,
the winds in this zone are called the
northeast trade winds.In the Southern
Hemisphere, the winds in this zone are

of the tropic of Cancer.The other

Midlatitude Zone lies to the south of the
tropic of Capricorn.The normal winds in
these zones blow from the west and are
called the changeable westerlies. In the
Southern Hemisphere, these winds are
also called the Roaring Forties.
The Polar Wind Zones surround

ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE

the North and South Poles.The

Atmospheric pressure, also called barometric pressure, is the

winds near the North Pole blow

force per unit area exerted by an atmospheric column (that

from the northeast.The winds

is, the weight of the entire column of air above the specified

near the South Pole blow from

area). The air is composed of several gases that have mass

the southeast.These winds are

and weight. The weight of the atmosphere is different in dif-

called the easterlies.

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We a t h e r

ferent locations. The atmospheric pressure decreases as you

When new air masses and weather systems move into an

go higher on a mountain because the air decreases. The small

area, the barometer reading will change. Below are guidelines

variations in pressure largely determine the wind and storm

for interpreting changes in barometer readings.

patterns of the earth. The atmospheric pressure changes

when air temperature or humidity changes. Cold, dry air is

Falling Barometer

heavier than warm, dry air. Dry air is heavier than moist air.

When the fall is from normal and

Steam rises because water vapor is lighter than air.

the temperature and humidity are

risingexpect rain.

The atmospheric pressure can change dramatically when

tropospheric winds pump additional air into or out of a sec-

When the fall is sudden and there

tion of the atmosphere. Violent storms can form in these

is windexpect more severe wind.

areas of low pressure.

When the fall is faster than 0.04
Interpreting Barometer Readings

inch per hour (1.35 mb/hr)

We use a barometer to detect changes in atmospheric pres-

expect heavy winds.

sure. Barometer readings tell us the nature of the new air

mass blowing toward us. The barometer calculates atmos-

Rising Barometer

pheric pressure by measuring the distance that a column of

When the rise is from normal and the

mercury (Hg) moves when the weight of the atmosphere

temperature and humidity are falling

pushes on it. That is why barometer readings have tradition-

expect less precipitation and winds.

ally been recorded in inches or millimeters. Today, most

weather maps and weather forecasts give atmospheric pres-

When the rise is from below nor-

sure in millibars (mb). A millibar is a metric unit of pressure.

mal (about 29.5 inches/749 mm/

996 mb)expect less wind or

Normal Atmospheric Pressure

29.92 inches Hg

760 mm Hg

1010 mb

less precipitation.
When the rise is from very low
(29 inches/737 mm/979 mb)
expect strong winds.
A very rapid riseexpect unsettled weather.

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We a t h e r

Waterspouts have these characteristics:

Buys Ballots Law

If you stand with your back to the wind in the Northern
Hemisphere, low pressure is to your left and high pressure is

They have very powerful spiraling

to your right. The reverse is true in the Southern Hemisphere.

winds with a maximum wind

speed of about 150 mph.
They do not last long; their average duration is 15 minutes.
They move very fast.Their average speed is 20 mph. Maximum
speed is about 50 mph.
The center of the waterspout is
an area of extreme low pressure,
possibly as low as 23 inches/580
mm/ 780 mb.

When the waterspouts funnel tip drops down and touches

the sea surface, it sucks the sea upwardpulled by the par-

WATERSPOUTS

tial vacuum that exists inside the funnel.

Waterspouts are very violent wind storms with a very recognizable funnel cloud. They are similar to tornadoes, and
when they move over land they become tornadoes. In the

TROPICAL REVOLVING STORMS

North Atlantic Ocean, waterspouts usually appear between

Tropical revolving storms (TRS) are a special type of violent

May and October. They form over the warm waters of the

windstormthe most destructive type of storm. They form

Gulf of Mexico and the Florida Straits. Waterspouts often

in the tropics around areas of low pressure, and when they

form in groups, and groups of waterspouts often form

have reached full strength, they have wind speeds of 100

around hurricanes.

knots or more. They have great masses of clouds that spiral

into the low-pressure center. They bring very heavy rain.
They are not as violent as a tornado or waterspout, but they

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cover huge areas of the sea with their high winds and rains

We a t h e r

Warm sea-surface temperature

and last for days. The winds of a TRS often cover a circular
area more than 500 miles in diameter.

Correct latitude to produce cyclical

winds

Tropical revolving storms are known by several names,

including:
Hurricanes that form in the North Atlantic usually travel
Typhoon or cyclone, in Asia

southwest, then west, and then northwest. If they reach the

latitudes of westerly winds, they turn northward. The aver-

Tropical cyclone or baguio, in the

age speed for an Atlantic hurricane is about 12 mph. This

Philippines

speed increases when the hurricane turns and moves northward. The average life of a hurricane is nine days. During

Willy-willy or williwaw, in Australia

that lifetime, it travels about 2,600 miles.

Hurricane, in North America

The first sign of a hurricane is the storm

swell. These are

Tropical revolving storms form in a region just north of the

giant waves that

equator (from 5N to 30N) or just south of the equator

travel at 30 mph

(from 5S to 30S), when the ocean is warmer than usual.

or more. They can

The water needs to be 80F/26.7C. (In 1995 the sea-surface

be seen 400 to 500

temperature in this area of the North Atlantic was

miles ahead of the

82.4F/28C. There were 19 hurricanes and tropical storms

hurricane. The swell waves

that year.) The TRS season for each hemisphere is late sum-

have a lower frequency, or

mer to early fall, because that is when the sea is the warmest.

beat, than regular waves. There are approximately four swells

There are four conditions needed to produce a hurricane:

per minute. (There are usually seven to eight regular waves per
minute.) The barometric pressure also falls as a hurricane

Diverging winds in the high tro-

comes closer. It reaches its lowest point in the eye of the hurri-

posphere, creating an area of low

cane, where it is about 25 inches/635 mm/846 mb.

pressure
Hot, humid air in the lower layers
of the atmosphere
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BEAUFORT SCALE
The Beaufort Scale is used to approximate the wind speed

We a t h e r

Beaufort
Number

Wind Speed
(knots)

Wind Speed
(knots
per hour)

10

48 - 55

89 - 102

WHOLE GALE (OR STORM)

Very high waves. Whole surface
of sea becomes white.Tumbling
of the sea becomes shocklike.
Visibility is affected.

11

56 - 63

103 - 114

STORM (OR VIOLENT STORM)

Extremely high waves large
enough to hide a small ship.
Everywhere the edges of the
wave crests are blown to froth.
Visibility is affected.

12 - 17

64 and above

117 and above

HURRICANE
The air is filled with foam and
spray. Sea is completely white
with spray. Rolling of the sea is
heavy and shocklike.Visibility is
very seriously affected.

from the winds effect on the sea.

Beaufort
Number

Wind Speed
(knots)

Wind Speed
(knots
per hour)

<1

<1

CALM
Sea like a mirror.

1-3

1-5

LIGHT AIR
Small ripples.

4-6

6 - 11

LIGHT BREEZE
Small wavelets.

7 - 10

12 - 19

GENTLE BREEZE
Large wavelets.
Crests break.
Glassy foam.

11 - 16

20 - 28

MODERATE BREEZE
Small waves.

17 - 21

29 - 38

FRESH BREEZE
Moderate waves. Chance of
some spray.

22 - 27

28 - 33

39 - 49

50 - 61

Description

STRONG BREEZE
Large waves. Extensive foam
crests. Probably some spray.

WEATHER TERMS
Air mass. A large body of air that is moving across land or water
and has about the same temperature and humidity. Air masses
have properties similar to the part of the earth surface from which

MODERATE GALE (OR NEAR

GALE)
Sea heaps up. Foam from
breaking waves is blown in
streaks.

they came. Air masses that form over the desert are warm and

above a piece of earth. This force is also called barometric pressure.

34 - 40

62 - 74

FRESH GALE (OR GALE)

Moderately high waves. Foam is
blown in well-marked streaks.

41 - 47

75 - 88

STRONG GALE
HIGH WAVES.
Dense foam streaks along wind
direction. Crests of waves
topple and roll over.

184

Description

dry. Air masses that form over the ocean have high humidity.
Atmospheric pressure. The weight of the atmosphere directly

Climate. The average weather for an area. It includes the

average temperatures and the average rainfall and snowfall
over many years.

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We a t h e r

Forecast. A prediction of what the weather will be. It is usu-

Isobar. A line drawn on a weather chart through points of

ally based on wind speed, air temperature, air humidity, and

equal barometric pressure.

atmospheric pressure.
Low. An area of low atmospheric or barometric pressure. A
Front. The boundary between a mass of warm air and a mass

low comes before a storm. The faster the barometric pressure

of cool air. The expected weather along the front is layer-type

falls, the more severe the storm is likely to be.

clouds, fog and drizzle, poor visibility, and calm or steady winds.
In a warm front, warm air is replacing cooler air. The expected

Storm surge. A surge of water that crashes on shore as a

weather contains cirrus clouds. In a cold front, cool air is replac-

result of the churning by a hurricane. This is usually the most

ing warmer air. The expected weather contains stratocumulus

dangerous part of the storm.

clouds. Cold fronts generally move faster than warm fronts.

Swell. A very large wave that is the first sign of an approachFrontal zones. Narrow zones within which the temperature

ing hurricane or typhoon. Swell waves are taller and farther

changes quickly. These zones usually indicate rain or snow

apart than regular waves. They come at a frequency of about

and strong winds.

four waves per minute.

Gale. A strong wind that is less violent than a hurricane but

Tornado. A strong windstorm with funnel-shaped clouds

stronger than a stiff breeze. It ranks from 7 to 10 on the

that are sometimes called funnel clouds. Tornadoes that form

Beaufort Scale.

over water are called waterspouts.

High. An area of high pressure. In general, a high is a region

Tropical cyclone. A huge storm that forms in an area of low

of fair weather, except at its outer edges, where there are fronts.

atmospheric pressure and has spiral winds of 74 mph or

more. It is also called a hurricane in the Northern Hemisphere

Hurricane. A strong tropical cyclone storm with heavy rain

and a typhoon in the Southern Hemisphere.

that covers a large area, has winds over 74 mph, and forms
over the ocean in the ITCZ (see below). It measures 12-17 on

Tropical depression. A storm that forms in an area of low

the Beaufort Scale.

atmospheric pressure and has winds of less than 39 mph.

Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). A region in the

Tropical storm. A storm that forms in an area of low atmos-

Atlantic Ocean where the northeast and southeast trade

pheric pressure and has spiral winds between 39 and 73 mph.

winds converge and could become tropical systems.

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Tropical storm (hurricane) warning. An advisory stating that

a tropical storm (hurricane) is imminent within 24 hours.

Chapter

10

Tropical storm (hurricane) watch. An advisory stating that a

tropical storm (hurricane) might occur within 36 hours.
Trough. An elongated area of low pressure where poor
weather is expected.

Navigation

Typhoon. A huge storm that forms in an area of low atmospheric pressure and has spiral winds of 74 mph or more. It is
also called a tropical cyclone.

The process of finding your way from one place to another is

called navigation. This chapter provides a simple introduc-

ADDITIONAL SOURCE OF
INFORMATION
Hardy, Ralph, Teach Yourself Weather, NTC Publishing Group,
Lincolnwood, IL, 1996.

tion to navigational methods. It also provides an introduction to navigational instruments and charts.
There are four basic ways to navigate at sea: coastal navigation, dead reckoning, electronic navigation, and celestial navigation. Coastal navigation is used when the ship is near the
coastline or in a channel and uses landmarks and man-made
aids to navigation. The
other navigation methods
are used in the open water,
where there are no landmarks. Dead reckoning means
calculating the ships position from logged data concerning ship headings and
speed. Electronic navigation
uses signals transmitted by
land-based radio systems
and by satellites. Celestial

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N av i g a t i o n

navigation requires extensive knowledge of the positions of the

Buoys are floating navigational aids that are anchored. They

sun, moon, and stars and is being used less and less.

have colors, shapes, numbers, topmarks, and lights that indicate which side of a buoy a ship should pass when moving in

Large vessels generally use all forms of navigation, although

a given direction.

dead reckoning and celestial are becoming less important as

electronic navigation becomes more reliable.

Day beacons are unlit fixed structures in the water. They hold
one or more signboards called daymarks. They are only
found in waters up to 15 feet deep and are used primarily in

COASTAL NAVIGATION

channels.

A navigator steers the vessel while visually observing such

landmarks as lighthouses, beacons, buoys, and prominent

Fog signals are audible signals that provide warning during

rocks and cliffs. Radar and measurements of water depths

fog. They are usually a feature of a buoy or light.

(called soundings) are also part of coastal navigation. All

these features are shown on nautical charts.

Landmarks are prominent buildings, smokestacks, and other

structures on the shore, as well as unique land features. They

The navigator guides a ship largely by the bearings of land-

are used as signposts for navigation, but they are not aids to

marks. A bearing is the horizontal angle between an object

navigation.

and a reference point. True north is the reference point for

true bearings. Bearings are usually measured clockwise, from

Light stations and lightships are maintained along coastlines

000 at the reference point through 360, and expressed in

to warn approaching ships of potential dangers, such as

three digits, as 028.

offlying rocks. Most lights are automated and operate in onand-off cycles.

The charts for shallow areas contain numerous indications

of water depth. These values can be compared with sound-

Radio beacons are transmitters that broadcast a signal to aid

ings to help determine a ships position. The soundings come

navigators at night, in fog, or when they are beyond visible

from onboard sonic (or echo) depth finders. Sound trans-

range of the shore.

mitted from the ship-mounted instrument is reflected from

the ocean floor back to the instrument; it measures the

Ranges or leads are pairs of markers that show a pilot when

elapsed time and calculates the water depth.

the ship is in the center of a channel. When the ship is in the

center of a channel, the two ranges are in a single line.

Man-made signals used by the navigator are called aids to

navigation. They include buoys, day beacons, electronic signals, fog signals, lights, lightships, and radio beacons.
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N av i g a t i o n

Around the world there are several different systems for

marking buoys. The International Association of Lighthouse
Authorities (IALA) governs buoy color and shape for participating nations. There are two IALA systems, IALA-A and
IALA-B. The IALA-B system is used by all the nations of
North and South America and by Japan, Korea, and the
Philippines. The IALA-A system is used by the rest of the
world. When you are returning from sea, red buoys should
be on the port side of the ship under the IALA-A system; red
buoys should be on the starboard side of the ship under the
IALA-B system.
Special buoys that mark anchorage and fishnet areas are
A variety of other electronic systems are in use. Loran (long-

always yellow.

range navigation) and Decca are among the most widely

known. Radar is also of value, especially for a ship near

ELECTRONIC NAVIGATION

shore. The global positioning system (GPS), the newest elec-

When using electronic navigation, the navigator determines

tronic navigation system, uses satellites to relay exact ship

a ships position with the aid of such devices as radar, Loran,

locations back to the ship.

and GPS. By showing the positions of nearby vessels and

obstructions, radar is also used to avoid collisions.

A radar unit can see through darkness and weather conditions that humans cannot. Using radar, captains can guide

The electronic instruments use radio waves. To calculate the

their ships safely through a crowded harbor in dense fog. The

ships position, they use the differences in the times of arrival

radar screen shows ships, rainstorms, small islands, coast-

of radio signals sent simultaneously from different known

lines, and prominent landmarks. It can also be used to mea-

locations. They occasionally use the difference in speed

sure the bearing and distance, so the navigator can determine

between radio waves and sound waves to calculate the distance

how close the target will pass and the risk of collision.

between the ship and an object. The navigator can use a radio
direction finder (RDF) to determine the bearings of radio

A scanning sonar is a device that can look ahead and to the

transmitting stations on shore. These radio beacons are in

sides of a ship. It gives more information than a simple depth

lighthouses, lightships, and at prominent points along coasts.

sounder. It gives the navigator a radarlike view of underwater

conditions.

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N av i g a t i o n

A radio direction finder is a radio receiver with a directional

Why Do Compass Readings Need to Be

antenna that can be rotated. It is used to pick up the signals

Corrected?

from radio beacons. There are both MF and VHF radio

The compass points in a northerly direction, but it does not point

direction finders.

to true north. This is because the compass is a magnet, and:

The magnetic material (iron) in

THE COMPASS

the earth is not evenly distributed,

The best-known navigational instrument is the magnetic

so the north magnetic pole is in a

compass, which has been used at sea for more than 800 years

different location from the true

and is still the most important navigational aid.

north geographical pole.The

south magnetic pole is also in a

When you use a compass, you take a reading by noting the

different location from the south

degree marking that matches up with the lubber line (a fixed

geographical pole.

line on the compass that is aligned with the longitudinal axis

of the ship), and then you perform calculations to correct

There are geographical features in

that reading. The corrected reading is the true direction.

some locations that disturb magnets.

There are materials on board
ships that disturb magnets.

When a magnetic compass is installed on board ship, measurements are made of the error between the compass readings and the true readings. These error values are used to
correct all subsequent compass readings. The magnetic disturbances created by unique geographical features are shown
on nautical charts, and the direction of the north magnetic
pole also appears on nautical charts.
What Are Course, Heading, and Track?
The course is the intended direction of the ships travel. The
heading is the instantaneous direction in which the ship is

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N av i g a t i o n

pointing; it may be magnetic or gyro. The track is the path

Deviation table. A chart showing the error value for a par-

that the navigator plans to take.

ticular magnetic compass at each heading. Compass-deviation error changes for different headings.

COMPASS TERMS

Heading. The direction in which the ship is pointing. It is the

Compass rose. The circular diagram found in several places

angle that the centerline of the ship makes with a reference

on a nautical chart. It consists of two or three circles with

line. There are three possible reference lines: the direction of

scales. The outer circle is graduated in degrees and is posi-

true north, the direction of the magnetic meridian, and the

tioned so the zero-degree mark points to true north. The

direction indicated by the north point of the ship compass.

inner circle is also graduated in degrees and is positioned so

Your course and heading can be different.

that the zero-degree mark points toward the north magnetic

pole. If there is a third circle, it is graduated in points.

Lubber line. The line marked on the compass cover that, if

properly aligned, shows the true direction in which the vessel is pointing.
Points. Named directions, such as east, southeast, and southsoutheast. There are 32 points on a compass.
Variation (Var or V). The angle between the magnetic meridian and the geographic meridian. This is the angle between
the direction of true north and the direction of magnetic

Correcting. The process of converting compass headings to

north at a particular location.

magnetic headings and then to true headings. Magnetic headings are more correct than compass headings, since they do
not include the deviation error. True headings are the most
correct, since they do not include deviation or variation errors.

NAUTICAL CHARTS
One of the basic tools of the marine navigator is the nautical
chart. This is a representation, drawn to scale, of the water

Deviation (Dev or D). The angle between the magnetic merid-

and land areas of a particular region of the earths surface. It

ian and the direction of magnetic north, as shown by a com-

emphasizes features that are important to navigators. It

pass.

includes more information about water bodies than maps

do, and it usually contains less information about the land
than maps do. Some of the items marked on charts are water

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N av i g a t i o n

depths, water obstructions, and locations of all aids to navi-

The latitude lines are the set of lines in the earths grid sys-

gation. The charts primary purpose is to give the navigator

tem drawn around the globe parallel to the equator. There

the information he or she needs to avoid danger. The navi-

are 89 equally spaced lines to the north of the equator and 89

gator keeps a graphic record of the ships progress on the

to the south. The 0 line of latitude is the equator. The north

chart. Lines drawn between successive positions marked on

pole is 90N and the south pole is 90S. Each latitude line is

the chart indicate at a glance the courses that the ship has fol-

a circle. The farther a latitude line is from the equator, the

lowed. The edges of the chart always show markings for lati-

shorter it is. The 60th latitude line, for example, is only half

tude and longitude.

as long as the equator. Latitude lines are numbered from 0 at

the equator (the latitude baseline) to 89 near the poles.
Latitude lines are also called parallels.

LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE

Latitude and longitude are the basis for a system of imagi-

Lines of latitude are equally spaced. Lines of longitude are

nary lines used to locate any position on the surface of the

not always the same distance apart, because these lines meet

earth. The lines of latitude run in an east-west direction. The

at the north and south poles. One degree of latitude is 60

lines of longitude run in a north-south direction.

nautical miles. Each degree of latitude or longitude is divided into 60 minutes, and each minute is divided into 60 sec-

Each line of longitude is a half-circle that runs from the

onds. A minute of latitude is one nautical mile.

North Pole to the South Pole, two points through which all
lines of longitude pass. There are 360 of these half-circles.

Every place in the world is located at the intersection of a lat-

The zero line and the 180th line together form a complete

itude and a longitude. Therefore, any location on the earths

circle that, like the equator, cuts the earth into two hemi-

surface can be fixed using the degrees, minutes, and seconds

spheres. The half west of the zero line is the Western

of latitude and longitude.

Hemisphere; the half east of the zero line is the Eastern

Hemisphere. Each of the 360 lines of longitude is numbered,
but the numbers only go to 180 because they are also labeled
with an E for east and a W for west. One longitude line
was chosen by international agreement as the line at zero
degrees, or the baseline. It passes through Greenwich,
England (United Kingdom). Longitude lines are also called
meridians. The meridian passing through Greenwich is
called the prime meridian.

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Chapter

11

Overview of
International
Regulations
Because the oceans are so vast, it was once believed they could
not be harmed. As we now know well, this is not so.
International laws have been developed to protect the seas.
International laws have also been developed to protect seafarers. Here is an introduction to the major international laws
regulating sea pollution and seafarer safety and training. Major IMO and ILO
regulations are summarized in this
section of the book. These regulations are subject to change. Before
acting on them, consult up-todate sources as well as your ships
procedures. Many regions of the
world are subject to additional
regional and national regulations.

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THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME

ORGANIZATION (IMO)

Over view of International Regulations

Environmental Conventions
1954, Oil Pollution

The IMO is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It

develops instruments that define international standards on

1973, Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL)

topics related to maritime safety and pollution control.

1990, Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response, and Cooperation
(OPRC)
THE IMO IS LOCATED AT
4 ALBERT EMBANKMENT
LONDON SE1 7SR, UNITED KINGDOM

MARPOL
MARPOL 73/78 regulations are developed by the IMO. These
regulations aim to prevent pollution of the marine environment by ship discharges. MARPOL covers discharges caused

Here are some of the IMO conventions:

by accidents and operational practices. As technologies

change, MARPOL regulations are updated with amendments. The information here is only an overview. Before

Safety Conventions
1960 and 1974, Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)

making any environmental decision, consult the current procedure for your vessel.

1966, Load Lines

MARPOL 73/78 places requirements on both ports and ves1972, International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at

sels. Ports are required to provide reception facilities for

garbage, tank washings, bilgewater, and ballast.

Sea (COLREG)

Ports are also required

1972, Safe Containers

to have a contingency
1976, International Maritime Satellite Organization

plan for cleaning up

major spills within the

(INMARSAT)

port area.
1978, Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping
for Seafarers (STCW)
1979, Maritime Search and Rescue

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The port contingency plan for major spills includes:

Over view of International Regulations

Annex I Highlights
Vessels must carry and maintain

Information on towage, patrol

an Oil Record Book for recording

boats, traffic control

all operations involving oil.

Means of action to contain the

Most discharges must be made

spill: oil booms, recovery vessels,

above the waterline. Exceptions

vacuum trucks, transport barges

include discharges from segregated

ballast tanks (SBT) and dedicated

Vessels are required to:

ballast tanks (DBT). Some noxious

liquids must be below the waterline.

Control discharges to the sea of

all harmful substances

Oil discharges are completely prohibited in Special Areas. These

Stow all harmful substances wisely

areas include the Mediterranean

Sea, the Black Sea, the Baltic Sea,

Maintain records on operations

the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, the

involving harmful substances

Gulf of Aden, the Antarctic, and

the North American Great Lakes.

MARPOL regulations apply to five types of substances that

All oil tankers must have working

are harmful to the environment. The regulations are grouped

pollution-control equipment,

in five annexes, each of which deals with a different category

including slop tanks, oil-water

of harmful substances.

interface detectors, and oil discharge control systems.

Annex

Category of Harmful Substance

Oils: Crude, fuel, diesel, lubricating, waste, sludge

To discharge oil/water waste from

II

Noxious liquids carried in bulk

machinery spaces:

III

Harmful substances carried in packages

IV

Sewage

Garbage

Vessel must be proceeding

en route.
Vessel must not be in a
Special Area.

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Over view of International Regulations

Oil content must be less than

Oil cannot be carried in the fore-

15 parts per million (ppm).

peak tank.

Tankers built after 1978 with capac-

Annex II Highlights

ities of 20,000 DWT or more must

Vessels must carry and maintain a

have segregated ballast tanks (SBT).

Cargo Record Book. All opera-

Tankers built between 1975 and

tions involving noxious liquid car-

1978 must have SBT if they have

goes are recorded in this book.

capacities of 70,000 DWT.

Noxious liquid substances are
New oil tankers must be built to

divided into five categories for the

resist damage by collision and

purpose of discharge regulations:

stranding, which might lead to an

Category A, Category B, Category

oil spill.

C, Category D, and Appendix III

listed in order from most haz-

Some vessels are required to have

ardous to the marine environ-

an Oil Pollution Prevention Plan.

ment (Category A) to least haz-

Included vessels are oil tankers of

ardous to the marine environ-

150 gross tons and above, and all

ment (Appendix III).

other vessels of 400 gross tons

Tank washings from cargo tanks

and above.

for some noxious liquids must be

discharged to appropriate reception facilities.This includes all
washings from tanks carrying
Category A substances and all
washings from tanks carrying
Category B and C substances that
are high viscosity or solidifying.
No matter how small the concentration of a noxious liquid, no dis-

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Over view of International Regulations

charge can be made within 12

Ships must have a sewage storage

miles of land or in water that is

tank and pipeline with standard

shallower than 80 feet (25 meters).

shore connection.

Chemical tankers must follow the

Ports must have sewage reception

rules described in the International

facilities.

Code for the Construction and

Equipment of Ships Carrying
Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk

Annex V Highlights
Vessels must carry and maintain a

(IBC Code).

Garbage Record Book listing all

operations involving garbage disAnnex III Highlights

charge. For the purpose of this

Packages containing harmful sub-

record book, garbage is divided

stances must be appropriately

into categories:

labeled and stowed following the

IMO Dangerous Goods Code
1.

Plastics

mark shown here:

2.

Floating dunnage

Packages are freight containers,

3.

Ground-down domestic waste

4.

Domestic waste that is not ground down

5.

Food waste

6.

Incinerator ash

(IMDG).They must also be

marked with the Marine Pollutant

portable tanks, drums, etc.

Annex IV Highlights
The only sewage that can be discharged within four miles of land is
sewage that has been processed by
an approved onboard sewage plant.

Vessels larger than 400 gross tons must have a Garbage

Management Plan (GMP) with written procedures for:
1.

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Collecting garbage
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2.

Storing and processing garbage

3.

Disposing garbage

Over view of International Regulations

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON
STANDARDS OF TRAINING,
CERTIFICATION,AND WATCHKEEPING
FOR SEAFARERS (STCW)

Plastic dumping is completely banned. Plastic cannot be

STCW regulations are

dumped into any sea!

developed by the IMO.

These regulations aim to

Annex V Special Areas include Annex I Special Areas plus the

increase safety for seafarers,

North Sea and the Caribbean Sea.

the ship, and the marine

environment. Some ways

Summary of Discharge Restrictions in MARPOL

that STCW does this are

73/78, Annex V

by stipulating minimum
training standards and

Area

Food Wastes

Trash: Nonplastic

Plastic

(Distances
are from
shore.)

ments for crew members. Since the training require-

0 - 3 nm

No discharge

No discharge

No discharge

3 - 12 nm

No discharge
unless ground to
pieces smaller than
1 inch

No discharge
unless ground to
pieces smaller
than 1 inch

No discharge

Discharge
permitted

Discharge
permitted
except for
materials that
float

No discharge

12 - 25 nm

minimum rest require-

ments are minimums, countries can (and often do)

require higher standards. Before making any safety decision, consult the current procedures for your vessel.
The information here is an overview of the 1995 amendments to STCW. They are subject to change.
Company Responsibilities Under STCW 95
Ensure that each seafarer has an

> 25 nm

Discharge
permitted

Discharge
permitted

No discharge

appropriate training certificate.

> 50 nm

Discharge
permitted

Discharge
permitted

No discharge

Ensure that the ship is manned

No discharge

No discharge

No discharge

Special
Areas

according to the safe-manning

requirements of the flag state.
Maintain training and medical fitness records for seafarers.

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Provide ship familiarization training

Over view of International Regulations

instruction on their use

to seafarers when they are

assigned to a ship.

Procedures for proper use of fire

extinguishers

Ensure that the ship crew is adequately trained to handle safety

First aid

and environmental emergencies.

Procedures for opening and closing weather-tight and watertight
Seafarers Responsibility

doors

When assigned to a ship, take full advantage of all familiarization training and training materials, including videos and

Required Familiarization Training for Tanker Crews

posters. If there is any equipment or procedure with which

Familiarization training covers the

you are unfamiliar, notify your supervisor.

properties of the liquid cargo

carried, including:

Familiarization Training
Familiarization training includes:

Vapor pressure and temperature

relationship; flash-point, lower

Ship procedures for communicat-

flammability limit, auto-ignition

ing safety issues

temperature, and other related

fire-safety information

Explanation of safety information

symbols, signs, and alarm signals

Chemical symbols and structures

for chemical cargoes carried

Ship procedures for man overboard, fire or smoke detected, fire

Acute and chronic toxicity limits

and abandon-ship alarms

Human health hazards associated
Identification of muster and

with cargo and with iner t-gas

embarcation stations and emer-

systems

gency escape routes

How to use safety equipment,
Locations of life jackets and

including oxygen-deficiency
indicators, toxic gas indicators,

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self-contained breathing apparatus

(SCBA), personal protective

Over view of International Regulations

Escape routes from machinery spaces

Engine-room alarms,including fire alarms

equipment (PPE), resuscitators,

and rescue equipment

Location of, and proper use of, all

firefighting equipment and dam-

Unwanted reactions that can

age-control equipment located in

occur in chemical cargo and the

the machinery spaces

subsequent dangers to ship structures and personnel

Safety precautions

Procedures to prevent unwanted

reactions, such as inert gas sys-

STCW 95 Minimum Rest Requirements for Watch

tems; Water padding; drying

Personnel

agents and monitoring techniques;

You should expect to have at least 10 hours of rest in any 24-

antistatic measures; ventilation; and

hour period. The rest may be divided into no more than two

cargo segregation

periods, and one of the periods must be at least 6 hours.

Importance of compatible materials

Hazards to the environment from

YOU CAN OBTAIN AN UPDATED VERSION OF STCW

the release of oil, chemical, or gas

REQUIREMENTS BY CONTACTING
THE CENTER FOR SEAFARERS RIGHTS.

Pollution prevention: spill reporting

and shipboard spill-containment
procedures
When operating conditions require it, the 10-hour rest may
be shortened to 6 hours, but this may not be done for more
Required Familiarization Training for Crew on

than two days, and you must be given 70 hours of rest in each

Engineering Watch

seven-day period.

Use of internal communication

systems

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Over view of International Regulations

STCW 95 Certificate Requirements

To protect a ship from being overloaded, limitations are placed

STCW 95 also specifies the required training for many seafarer

on a ships draft. These limitations take into account the hazards

certificates. Major requirements for some of those certificates

present in different ocean zones during different seasons.

are listed in the following table. All requirements are subject to

change. The International Safety Management Code (ISM)

All assigned load lines must be marked amidships on each

requires that every ship have a shore-based person in charge of

side of the ship, with the marking for the deck line.

ship management who can answer all safety and STCW questions. If your shipowner

TF: Tropical freshwater line; F: Freshwater load line; T: Tropical load

participates in the ISM

line; S: Summer load line; W: Winter load line

program, this persons

name and phone num-

The Convention also contains safety regulations for doors,

ber should be available

free ports, and hatchways.

to you. Direct your questions about STCW first

INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS FOR

PREVENTING COLLISIONS AT SEA
(COLREG)

to your supervisor and

then to the designated
shore-based person.

COLREG regulations were developed by the IMO in 1972

and became mandatory in 1977. They form the international

INTERNATIONAL
CONVENTION ON LOAD LINES

Rules of the Road. (Nations can adopt local rules for navigating in their own coastal and inland waterways.) The COLREG regulations aim to prevent ship collisions by:

----

DE C K L I N E

Separating the vessels traveling in

---

one direction from the vessels

TF

S U M ME R
FREEBOARD

traveling in the opposite direction

by developing traffic lanes for con-

W
WNA

gested areas
Establishing procedures for meeting, crossing, and overtaking.

The first international conference on load lines was held in 1966.

Load-line regulations are updated by adding amendments.
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Establishing standards for signal

Over view of International Regulations

This allows the vessels to pass on the port side of the other.

lights, horns, and shapes

Vessels communicate with each other using signals: horn or
whistle, bell, gong, and light and flag signals. When a vessel
There are 38 rules in the COLREG regulations; the informa-

does not understand the intentions of another vessel, or dis-

tion here is only an overview.

agrees with the intentions of another, it sounds the danger

signal: five or more short blasts.

In general, a vessel must keep clear of any vessel with less

maneuverability. For example, power-driven vessels must
stay clear of sailing vessels and vessels engaged in fishing.

LIGHTS AND SHAPES

Every vessel must maintain a lookout by sight and hearing as

White

well as by appropriate instrumentation.

White

Every vessel must travel at a safe speed that allows enough

Green

time to take actions needed to prevent collisions.

Red

A vessel traveling in a narrow channel or fairway keeps as far

as she safely can to the channel or fairway edge on her starboard side. Sailing vessels and vessels smaller than 65 feet (20
meters) shall not impede the passage of larger ships. No vessel
shall cross a narrow channel when doing so would impede
the safe passage of another vessel.

At Night
The masthead light, sidelights, stern light, towing light, and

Sailing vessels and vessels smaller than 65 feet (20 meters)

flashing light are operated in all weather from sundown to

shall not impede the passage of a power-driven ship travel-

sunup. They are also operated from sunup to sundown when

ing in a traffic lane. Vessels should try to avoid crossing traf-

visibility is restricted.

fic lanes, but when they do have to cross, they should do so

at a right angle to the traffic flow.

POWER - DRIVEN VESSEL

When two power-driven vessels are approaching each other

When a power-driven vessel is underway, it displays two

head-on, they should each alter their course to starboard.

masthead lights.

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Red
White
White
White
Red

Green
Red

of two cones with their apexes together in a vertical line. If

Vessel Is Towing

the fishing vessel is moving, it also displays sidelights and a

When a power-driven vessel is towing, it displays two mast-

stern light.

head lights in a vertical line, sidelights, stern light, and towing light above the stern light. It also displays a diamond
shape if the length of the tow exceeds 200 meters.
Vessel Constrained By Her Draft
A vessel constrained by her draft displays three all-round red
lights in a vertical line, in addition to the lights normally displayed by a power-driven vessel.
Fishing Vessels
A fishing vessel engaged in trawling displays two all-round
lights in a vertical line. The upper light is green and the lower
light is white. It may also display the shape consisting of two

Pilot Vessel

cones with their apexes together in a vertical line. If the fishing

A pilot vessel engaged in pilotage duty displays two all-round

vessel is moving, it also displays sidelights and a stern light.

lights in a vertical line at or near her masthead. The upper

light is white and the lower light is red. If the pilot vessel is

A fishing vessel not engaged in trawling displays two all-

moving, it also displays sidelights and a stern light.

round lights in a vertical line. The upper light is red and the
lower light is white. It may also display the shape consisting

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Over view of International Regulations

Red over white Fishing at night

White
Red

White over red Pilot ahead

Red

Green

Red over green Sailing machine

Distress Signals
These signals should be used only when a vessel is in distress
and in need of assistance:
Gun or other explosive signal fired
Sailing Vessel

at one-minute intervals

A sailing vessel that is traveling displays sidelights and a

stern light. On her masthead she displays either a combined

Continuous foghorn

lantern or two all-round lights. The combined lantern is only

used on sailing vessels shorter than 20 meters. When using

Rockets or shells throwing red

two all-round lights, the upper light is red and the lower light

stars

is green.
...---... (SOS) in Morse code
These rhymes are helpful for remembering meanings of lights:
Mayday sent by radiotelephone
Red
Green

Square flag with a ball above or

below it
Flames on vessel (as from a fire in
an oil barrel)
Rocket parachute flare or hand
flare emitting a red light
Smoke signal giving off orange

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smoke

Over view of International Regulations

Required Regular Ship Inspections

SOLAS Safety Construction

Slowly and repeatedly raising and

Certificate every 60 months

lowering arms outstretched to

each side

SOLAS Safety Equipment

Certificate every 24 months

Radiotelegraph or EPIRB (emergency position-indicating radio

To meet safety requirements of

beacon) signal

the flag state

Approved signals transmitted by

GMDSS (Global Marine Distress

Instructions (Poster, Booklet, or Video) Must Be

and Safety System) equipment and

Provided For:

survival-craft radio transponders

Fire-protection system

Orange-colored canvas with a

Lifesaving appliance

black square or circle that can be

seen from the air

Lifesaving signals
Survival-craft operation

SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA (SOLAS)

The first Safety of Life at Sea Conference was held in 1960.

Fire-Protection System

The regulations from this conference are called SOLAS 60.

Every ship must have a fixed fire-

Regulations from the conference held in 1974 are called

main system for supplying water for

SOLAS 74. As technologies change, the SOLAS regulations

firefighting to every part of the ship.

are updated by adding amendments. The information here is

only an overview of SOLAS regulations and amendments.

Crude-oil tankers must have fixed

Before making any safety decision, consult the current pro-

deck foam and inert gas systems.

cedure for your vessel. On any vessel, all lifesaving equipment

must be in working order at all times.
Highlights for Dangerous Cargoes
All packages containing dangerous goods must be clearly
marked with the proper shipping name for the product and
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Over view of International Regulations

the corresponding four-digit United Nations identification

number. The International Maritime Organization (IMO)

TABLE OF LIFESAVING SIGNALS

Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG) is used to identify the dan-

Landing signals for the guidance of small boats with crews or persons in distress

gers. For information on the IMDG Code, see chapter 16.

Ships carrying dangerous cargo must comply with the safety

MANUAL SIGNALS

LIGHT SIGNALS

OTHER SIGNALS

Vertical motion of a white

flag or of the arms

or firing of a green star signal

or code letter K given by

light or sound-signal
apparatus

Vertical motion of a white

light or flare

or firing of a green star signal

SIGNIFICATION

DAY

requirements in SOLAS 74 regulation II/2-54 and chapter

VII. The regulations require:

This is the best

place to land

NIGHT

Fixed fire-detection and fire-alarm

systems

or code letter K given by

light or sound-signal
apparatus

A range (indication of direction) may be given by placing a steady white light or flare at a lower level and in line with the observer

Water spray systems

Ventilation systems

DAY
Horizontal motion of a white
flag or of the arms extended
horizontally

or firing of a red star signal

or code letter S given by

light or sound-signal
apparatus

Landing here
highly dangerous

Bilge-pumping requirements
NIGHT
Horizontal motion of a
light or flare

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

or firing of a red star signal

Portable fire extinguishers

1

3
1

DAY

Survival craft with radio transponders, as well as fire-protection systems (if on oil tankers) or SCBA

1 Horizontal motion of a
white flag, followed by
2 the placing of the white
flag in the ground and
3 by the carrying of another
white flag in the direction
to be indicated

1 or firing of a red star

signal vertically and
2 a white star signal in the
direction towards the
better landing place

(if on chemical tankers)

1
NIGHT

Rescue
Rescue boats are required on all
cargo ships.

226

1 Horizontal motion of a
white light or flare
2 followed by the placing of
the white light or flare on
the ground and
3 the carrying of another
white light or flare in the
direction to be indicated

1 or firing of a red star

signal vertically and a
2 white star signal in the
direction towards the
better landing place

227

or code letter S given by

light or sound-signal
apparatus
1 or signalling the code
letter S (...) followed by
the code letter R (..) if a
better landing place for the
craft in distress is located
more to the right in the
direction of approach
2 or signalling the code
letter S (...) followed by
the code letter L (...) if a
better landing place for the
craft in distress is located
more to the left in the
direction of approach
1 or signalling the code
letter S (...) followed by
the code letter R (..) if a
better landing place for the
craft in distress is located
more to the right in the
direction of approach
2 or signalling the code
letter S (...) followed by
the code letter L (...) if a
better landing place for the
craft in distress is located
more to the left in the
direction of approach

Landing here
highly dangerous.
A more favorable
location for landing is
in the direction
indicated

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Over view of International Regulations

TABLE OF LIFESAVING SIGNALS

Ships must respond to distress signals

Signals to employed in connection with the use of shore life saving apparatus
MANUAL SIGNALS

LIGHT SIGNALS

OTHER SIGNALS

SIGNIFACATION

DAY
Vertical motion of a
white flag or of the arms

In general; affirmative
Specifically; rocket line
is held - tail block is
made fast - man is in
the breeches buoy haul away

or firing of a green star signal

NIGHT
Vertical motion of a
white light or flare

and assist people requiring rescue.

Governments must provide
search-and-rescue capabilities for
responding to ships in distress
near their coasts.

or firing of a green star signal

Lifesaving signals are used during rescue operations. Ships must carry an

DAY
Horitzontal motion of a
white flag or of the
arms extended horizontally

or firing of a red star signal

In general; negative
specifically; slack away avast hauling

illustrated table showing these signals.

Communications

NIGHT
Horitzontal motion of a
white light or flare

The Global Marine Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)

or firing of a red star signal

requires:
Replies from lifesaving stations or maritime rescue units to distress signals made by a ship or person

DAY
Orange smoke signal

Or combined light and

sound signal (thunder-light)
consisting of 3 single signals
which are fired at intervals
of approximately 1 minute

You are seen.

Assistance will be given
as soon as possible.

Vessels to have at least two ways

to send distress messages.
Vessels to have a way to receive

Repetition of such signal

shall have the same meaning.

White star rocket consisting

of 3 single signals which
are fired at intervals of
approximately 1 minute

NIGHT

weather and navigational warnings.

Signals used by aircraft engaged on search and rescue operations to direct ships towards an aircraft,
ship or person in distress (procedures performed in sequence by an aircraft)

1) Aircraft circles the surface

craft at least once.

2) Aircraft crosses the surface

craft course close ahead at
low altitude opening and
closing the throttle or
changing the propeller pitch.

3) Aircraft heads in the direction in which the surface

craft is to be directed.

The aircraft is directing a

surface craft towards
an aircraft or surface
craft in distress.
Repetition of such signal shall
have the same meaning.

INTERNATIONAL SAFETY
MANAGEMENT CODE (ISM)
The International Safety Management Code (ISM) is a collection of requirements intended to increase safety on board ships
and decrease pollution from ships. The ISM code requires:

The assistance of the surface

craft is no longer required.

Operations procedures that

Crossing the surface crafts wake at close astern at low altitude
opening and closing the throttle or changing the propeller pitch.

228

Repetition of such signal shall

have the same meaning.

address safety and pollution issues.

229

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Over view of International Regulations

Shipboard pollution training and drills.

THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR OFFICE IS LOCATED AT
4, ROUTE DES MORILLONS, 1211

Head-office training and participa-

GENEVA 22, SWITZERLAND

tion in ship drills.

A designated person in the head

The ILO also provides nonbinding recommendations to

office to handle all questions from

member states.

seafarers concerning safety or

pollution.

Major ILO Maritime Conventions

23Repatriation of Seamen
Convention, 1926

THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR

ORGANIZATION (ILO)

55Shipowners Liability (Sick

The International Labour Organization is a United Nations

and Injured Seamen) Convention,

specialized agency that deals with labor issues affecting all

1936

workers but it periodically convenes maritime sessions to handle labor issues relating to the maritime industry. At the 84th

71Seafarers Pensions

Maritime Session, held in 1996, there were members repre-

Convention, 1946

senting 85 maritime nations, shipowners, and trade unions.

The ILO is a unique international organization because it

73Medical Examination

allows shipowners and trade unions to participate in discus-

(Seafarers) Convention, 1946

sions and to vote. Most international organizations allow participation from shipowners, trade unions, and other organiza-

108Seafarers Identity

tions, but they only allow government representatives to vote.

Documents Convention, 1958

The ILO formulates conventions that are binding on every

134Prevention of Accidents

nation that signs them. These conventions are frequently

(Seafarers) Convention, 1970

referred to by their convention number. The most significant

ILO maritime convention is number 147: Merchant Shipping

145Continuity of Employment

(Minimum Standards) Convention, enacted in 1976.

(Seafarers) Convention, 1976

230

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146Seafarers Annual Leave

Over view of International Regulations

Convention Subject

Typical Minimum Standard

MEDICAL EXAMS AND

MINIMUM AGE

Medical certificates less than two years old

should be available for inspection for every
crew member. All crew members should be at
least 14 years of age.

CONTRACT

Each seafarer should have an employment

contract that conforms to the laws of the flag
state and that specifies:
The time period covered by the contract
Rights and obligations of the seafarer and
the shipowner
The name of the vessel or vessels on which
the seafarer will serve
The seafarers job title or titles
Quantity of provisions that will be given to
the seafarer
Wage amount
Annual leave
Conditions under which employment may
be terminated

OFFICER QUALIFICATIONS

Master, Chief Engineer, and Chief Mate should

hold appropriate certificates. On tankers,
officers responsible for cargo handling should
have documents showing they have had the
proper training and experience with tanker
operations.

Convention 147 was designed to protect the health and safety

Convention Subject

Typical Minimum Standard

of seafarers, to safeguard their rights, to improve the efficien-

FOOD

Food and water should be adequate in

quantity and quality. Galley and food-storage
areas should be cleaned and well maintained.
Refrigeration systems should be working.

CREW
ACCOMMODATIONS

Accommodations should be clean, habitable,

and not used for cargo or equipment. Each
crew member should have one berth and
adequate sanitary facilities. Wash areas should
have both cold fresh water and hot fresh
water.

with Pay Convention, 1976

147Merchant Shipping (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1976
163Seafarers Welfare
Convention, 1987
164Health Protection and
Medical Care (Seafarers)
Convention, 1987
165Social Security (Seafarers)
Convention (Revised), 1987
166Repatriation of Seafarers
Convention (Revised), 1987

ILO 147: Merchant Shipping (Minimum Standards)

Convention

cy of navigation, and to enhance measures for environmental

protection. Convention 147 requires nations to investigate any
serious marine casualty involving ships under their flags.
Convention 147 requires nations to put in place minimum
acceptable standards for all ships registered under their flag and
calling at their ports.

232

233

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ACCIDENT PREVENTION

Gangway should be in good condition.

Decks and holds should be well lit and free
of slipping and tripping hazards.
Electrical equipment should be maintained
and properly enclosed.
All spaces where people work or pass
should be properly lit and ventilated.
Any hold deeper than 1.5 m (~6 ft.) should
be equipped with a fixed access ladder.
Fire-prevention and firefighting equipment
must be present and in working order.
Survival and rescue craft should conform to
SOLAS regulations.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) should
be on board, adequate in number, and
stored properly in specially marked,
accessible lockers (unless each crew
member is issued his or her own
equipment).

SICKNESS AND INJURY

BENEFITS

Shipowner is required to provide medical care

and lodging until recovery or until repatriation.

REPATRIATION RIGHTS

Shipowner will pay repatriation costs if you are

terminated for reasons beyond your control,
such as injury or shipwreck.The shipowner will
also pay repatriation costs when you finish the
full term of your employment as stated in your
contract.

TRADE-UNION RIGHTS

Seafarers have a right to join trade unions.

There should be in place a grievance procedure
acceptable to both shipowner and union for
handling seafarers complaints.

Over view of International Regulations

The minimum acceptable standards that nations must

implement cover the following areas:
Safety and health
Social Security
Hours of work
Manning
Living and working conditions
Compliance with SOLAS
Compliance with MARPOL

Convention 147 allows member states to ensure that all foreign ships entering their ports comply with the minimum
acceptable standards developed according to convention
requirements. The port states ensure compliance with their
minimum standards by carrying out inspections called Port
State Control inspections. The convention subjects that can
be enforced are shown below:

PORT STATE CONTROL INSPECTIONS

The Port State Control inspections are made by inspectors
working for the port nations government. Phone numbers
for some of the government agencies responsible for Port
State Control are included in Part II of this book.

234

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Not every ship is inspected. The port state develops criteria

Over view of International Regulations

Inoperable toilet facilities

for deciding which ships to inspect. If a ship is inspected, that

alone is not a suggestion that something is wrong. Port states

Infestation of food supply by

routinely conduct random inspections of foreign ships in

rodents

their ports.
Contamination of drinking-water
A Port State Control agency can receive a complaint concern-

supply

ing ship conditions from a crew member, a professional body,

an association, a trade union, or any person with an interest
in the safety of the ship. Port chaplains will make a complaint
to the Port State Control agency if they hear of hazardous
conditions on any ship. Upon receiving a complaint, the Port
State Control agency will conduct an inspection.
When a condition is found that is clearly hazardous to safety and health, the inspector can detain the ship in port until
repairs are made. The inspector also makes a report of his
findings and sends the report to the ships flag state and to
the Director-General of the ILO. When a condition is found
that is not a threat to safety or health, yet is a violation of the
ILO 147 convention, it is reported to the ship master.
Here are some examples of ship conditions that might cause
a Port State Control inspector to detain a ship:
Dangerous lack of protective
guards on machinery
Severely deteriorated ladders,
stairs, or railings

ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF
INFORMATION
United Nations links to environmental treaties.
Web site: http://www.unep.ch/
International Maritime Organization (IMO), 4 Albert
Embankment, London SE1 7SR, United Kingdom. Tel.: (44)
(171) 587-3210; Web site: http://www.imo.org/
IMO Maritime Safety Circulars (MSC): MSC.47 (66) SOLAS
ILO Publications, International Labour Organization (ILO),
CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland. Free catalog of publications
available. Tel.: +41.22.799.7301; e-mail: [email protected]
United States Coast Guard. Web site:
http://www.uscg.mil/dotinfo/uscg/welcome.html
United States Coast Guard, Marine Safety and Environmental
Protection. Web site:
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/gmhome.htm

Insufficient first-aid equipment

236

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International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).

Over view of International Regulations

This page left blank

U.S. Dept. of Transportation, Coast Guard, COMDTINST

M16210.2, 1974. Available from U.S. Government Printing
Office (see below).
Managing Oily Waste and Garbage from Ships. U.S. Coast
Guard, Marine Safety and Environmental Protection Division,
1994. Available from U.S. Government Printing Office (see
below).
U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402.
Tel.: (1) (202) 512-1800. Fax Watch Document Request
System: (1) (202) 512-1716. Web site:
http://www.access.gpo.gov/
HELMEPA, 5, Pergamou Street, Nea Smirni 171 21, Athens,
Greece. Tel.: (30) (1) 9343088, 9341233, or 9326277. Fax:
(30) (1) 9353847. E-mail: [email protected]
or access Web site: http://www.helmepa.gr/
United States Coast Guards Port State Control Examinations,
HELMEPA, 1997. Information available at Web site:
http://www.helmepa.gr/en/helmepa.html or
http://www.helmepa.gr/en/training/training.html

238

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Chapter

Part 4

12

The

Ship

Ship Talk
A merchant ship is usually officially identified and
described by some or all of the following characteristics:
Name
Nationality or port of registry
Official number
Call sign
Type
Principal dimensions
Ship tonnage
Draft

240

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Propulsion

S h i p Ta l k

PRINCIPAL VESSEL TYPES

Cargo shipBreak bulk cargoFreighter. A ship that carries

Cruising speed

packaged goods (general cargo) in its cargo holds. Most

cargo ships have at least two decks. The cargo is loaded and

Classification society

unloaded using shipboard derricks (booms) or cranes and

cargo nets, pallets, and barrel slings.
Chemical tanker. A ship with a single-deck hull that is

NAME
A ship is identified by the name given by its owners. When a
ship is sold, the new owners may rename it. To avoid fraud
and misidentification, there are strict laws regarding ship
names and name changes. The name is registered and is displayed on the ships bows and at the stern.

designed to carry liquid chemicals in bulk.

Combination carrier. A tanker designed to carry oil and solid
cargoes in bulk. An ore/bulk cargo/oil combination carrier is
called an OBO.
Container ship. A ship with a single-deck hull and specially constructed holds for stacking containers. Special shore-side lifting

NATIONALITY
Ships are registered in ports of registry, and their national-

gear is required to load, stow, and discharge the containers.

ity is the nationality of that port. For example, if a ship is registered in London its nationality of a ship is British.

Dry bulk carrier. A ship with a single-deck hull, topside ballast tanks, and holds specifically designed for loose dry cargo,
such as grains.

OFFICIAL NUMBER
When a ship is first registered, it is given an official number,
such as 203451.

Cargo Ship

SIGNAL LETTERS OR CALL SIGN

Two or more ships can have the same name, but no two ships
can have the same signal letters. These signal letters are usually a block of four letters and figuresfor example,
MQKMassigned when the ship is registered. The letters
identify the ship for all radio communications.

242

Engine room

CONTAINER SHIP

243

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S h i p Ta l k

Fishing. A ship designed for catching fish. There are many

types, including seiner, tuna clipper, drifter, troller, and
trawler. Care must be exercised when passing a fishing vessel,
which is difficult to maneuver. When these vessels are
engaged in fishing, they use long lines or nets that may
extend as much as several miles.

PASSENGER SHIP

Shi

LASH (Lighter Aboard Ship) A ship that carries cargo

loaded in barges or lighters.

REFRIGERATED CARGO SHIP

Refrigerated cargo (reefer). A ship with a multideck hull and

FISHING VESSEL

insulated refrigerated holds for perishable cargoes such as

fruit, meat, and fish. Most reefers are also equipped to carry
reefer containers.

LNG tanker. A ship with a single-deck hull that is designed

to carry liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Roll-on/roll-off (ro/ro). A multideck ship carrying vehicles

that can be driven on and off using movable ramps. The vehicles are driven to the desired deck through a series of internal
ramps. Many ro/ros are used as passenger ferries, transporting
people and their cars.

LNG TANKER

Passenger. A ship designed with multideck hull and super-

ROLL-ON/ROLL OFF SHIP

structure appropriate for carrying passengers.

244

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S h i p Ta l k

PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS
The principal dimensions of a ship are:
TANKER SHIP

Length overall

Tanker. A ship with a single-deck hull that is designed to

Length between perpendiculars

carry oil or other liquid products in bulk. The hull is divided

into tanks by longitudinal and transverse bulkheads. The

Moulded breadth

product is loaded and discharged through a system of

pipelines running through the bottom of the tanks. Products

Moulded depth

are transferred from ship to shore piping using flexible hoses

and steel loading arms called chicksans. Tankers come in
many sizes and designs. Some common tanker types are:
Handy or small-size tankers have
deadweights from 6,000 to 37,000
tons.They carry refined oil products such as fuel oils or lubricants.

SHIP TONNAGE
Ton is a unit of mass when used to describe cargo, but when
it is used to describe the size of a ship, it is a unit of volume.
The ton used to describe a ships size is also called a register ton. This ton is equal to 100 cubic feet (or 2.83 cubic
meters) of cargo capacity.

Medium-size tankers have deadweights

between 37,000 and 160,000 tons.
They usually carry crude oil.

Register tonnage is the entire capacity of a ship, including

cargo space and other spaces such as crew accommodations,
ships stores, and machinery spaces.
Deadweight tonnage is the number of tons (of cargo water

VERY LARGE CRUDE OIL CARRIER

and fuel) needed to bring the ship to its Plimsoll line.

Very large crude-oil carrier (VLCC)

have deadweights of 250,000 to
270,000 tons.

DRAFT
The vertical distance from the bottom of the keel to the

Ultra-large crude carriers (ULCC)

waterline.

have deadweights of approximately

400,000 tons.

246

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S h i p Ta l k

IMO pamphlet 985 85.20.E: Standard Marine Navigational

PROPULSION
The type of engine used for propelling the ship is its propulsion.

Vocabulary.
Standard Wheel/Helm Orders

CRUISING SPEED

Ease to five

The cruising speed is the top speed at which a ship is

Reduce amount of rudder to 5

and hold.

designed to be operated on a sustained and continuous basis.

Hard aport

port.

CLASSIFICATION SOCIETY
Many of the regular required ship inspections are performed

Rudder to be held fully over to

Hard astarboard

by classification societies, which are companies with experi-

Rudder to be held fully over to

starboard.

enced staffs of surveyors and engineers. The reputable classification societies have excellent worldwide reputations. A

Midships

shipowner hires a classification society to arrange and super-

Rudder to be held in fore-and-aft

position.

vise ship inspections as well as to make recommendations for

repair. The classification societies ensure that the ship com-

Port five

5 of port rudder to be held.

Port twenty

20 of port rudder to be held.

Starboard five

5 of starboard rudder to be held.

Starboard twenty

20 of starboard rudder to be held.

Steady

Stop swing as rapidly as possible.

Steady as she goes

Steer a steady course on the compass

plies with safety standards and requirements.

NAVIGATIONAL VOCABULARY
The language spoken on board a ship is usually the national
language of the crew. When crew members are of several
nationalities, a common language is used for navigation purposes, and that common language is English.
Here are some maritime terms that all seafarers need to
know in English. This is not the complete navigational
vocabulary. Onboard terms are included here; words and
phrases used in external communications (radio communi-

heading indicated at the time of the

order.

cations) are not included here. Seafarers with radio responsibilities should have the full vocabulary, which is available in

248

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S h i p Ta l k

Standard Engine Orders

Dead slow astern

Engine should be run at RPM set

in ships orders.
head line

Emergency full ahead

Engine should be run at RPM set

forward
breast
line

Movement of engines is no longer

i
tow

required.
Full ahead

forward
spring

Engine should be run at maximum

tug
ng

e
lin

forecastle

starboard bow

Finished with engines

port bow

in ships orders.

bow/stem
ahead

RPM for ahead propulsion.

Engine should be run at RPM set

PORT

in ships orders.
Half ahead

midships

Engine should be run at RPM set

breadth

in ships orders.
Half astern

STARBOARD

Engine should be run at RPM set

abeam

abeam
90

90

in ships orders.

in ships orders.
Slow astern

Engine should be run at RPM set

in ships orders.

Stand by engine

Engine-room personnel fully ready

to maneuver.

Stop engines

aft
spring

starboard quarter

Engine should be run at RPM set

port quarter

Slow ahead

bridge

aft
breast
line
stern
line

astren

stern
SKETCH

breadth

No engine RPM.

250

251

length overall (LOA)

center line

Full astern

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S h i p Ta l k

Directions
Abaft

Toward the stern of the ship

Abeam

At right angles to the ships foreand-aft line

air draft

Aft

Near or toward the stern of the ship

Ahead

Forward

Astern

Backward

Athwartship

Crossing the ship from port to

freeboard

draft
under-keel clearance
PIER, DOCK, OR QUAY
head
line

bollard

center lead
panama lead

mooring
bouy

Fore-and-aft

buoy
line

breast
line

starboard

length of the ship from bow to

roller
fairlead

bollard

bitts/bollards

Imaginary line running the full

windlass

stern
Forward

Near or toward the bow of the ship

Go below

under the main deck

Go topside

on or above the main deck

Inboard

Toward the ship centerline

Leeward

Away from the wind; the sheltered

for
wa
rd

sp
rin

capstan

fairlead
break of
forecastle

side

bollard

Midship

252

Middle of the ship

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Outboard

Away from the ship centerline

S h i p Ta l k

Bulkheads

Walls that provide reinforcement,

strength, or safety

Port

To your left, when you are facing

the bow of the ship

Cargo spaces

All spaces used for cargo, including

tanks, and the trunks leading to

Starboard

To your right, when you are facing

those spaces

the bow of the ship

Collision bulkhead
Windward

Anything in the same direction as

Strong bulkhead on the after side

of the forpeak tank

the wind
Compartment

heads and doors

Parts of the Ship

Afterpeak tank

Room formed by watertight bulk

Tank at the stern. It is usually used

for carrying fresh water or ballast.

Crows nest

A lookout station located on a mast

Decks

Floors

Double bottom

The space between the hull and the

It is also used to trim the ship.

Ballast

Weight added to a ship to balance

her topside weight or to keep her
lower in the water when carrying

watertight floor. Double bottoms

light loads

help prevent cargo-hold leaks

when a vessel hull is damaged.

Bilge keels

Long narrow fins attached to the

outside of the hull on both sides of

Forecastle deck

Partial deck located above the

main deck and at the bow of the

the ship to stabilize her

ship
Bridge

Room from which the ship is

navigated

Forepeak tank

Tank at the bow. It is usually used

for carrying fresh water or ballast.

Bulkhead deck

It is also used to trim the ship.

The uppermost deck to which the

watertight bulkheads are carried
Frames

Major crossbeams running perpendicular to the keel

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Half deck

Partial deck located between two

S h i p Ta l k

Platform deck

full decks
Holds

Watertight compartment formed

deck
Poop deck

by watertight bulkheads
Hull

Shell or body of a ship

Partial deck below the lowest full

Partial deck located at the stern of

the ship

Propeller guards

Steel braces above the propellers

that prevent the propellers from

Keel

The backbone of the ship; the

striking a dock, pier, or other ship

lowest structural timber/beam of a

ship. All of the ships framework is

Ro/ro cargo spaces

Spaces that are not subdivided in

any way. Vehicles can be driven

built up from the keel.

into these spaces.

Lifelines

Light wire ropes located on weather

decks that can be grabbed for sup-

Stem

Bow or foremost part of the ship

Sternpost

Major vertical stud/column attached

port
Machinery spaces

to the keel in the aft of the ship

Spaces that contain propulsion

machinery
Watertight doors

Mack

Doors that, when closed, prevent

water from entering a compartment

A tower that encloses the ship

stack and mast on some modern
ships

Watertight hatches

Hatches that, when closed, prevent

water from entering a hold

Overheads/Deckheads

Ceilings; undersides of the decks

above you

Weather deck

A deck exposed to the weather

from above and from at least

Partitions

Walls that form compartments but

two sides

do not provide structural support

Passageways

Corridors

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Ship Reference Terms

Draft

A vertical measurement from the

waterline to the keel bottom

S h i p Ta l k

ADDITIONAL SOURCE OF
INFORMATION
Standard Marine Navigational Vocabulary, IMO publication

Freeboard

A vertical measurement from the

985 85.20.E, International Maritime Organization, 1985.

waterline to the weather deck

In trim

The ship is level, with no difference

between forward and aft draft
measurements.

Plimsoll line

Internationally agreed-upon reference

line marking the loading limit for
cargo ships (also known as
International Load Line)

Trim

Difference between the forward

draft measurement and the aft
draft measurement

Waterline

The line where the hull meets the

surface of the water

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Chapter

13

General
Ship Safety
Any work around machinery can be dangerous. So can any
work on deck. You can make your job safer by thinking about
safety as you work. Here are some safety reminders:

GENERAL REMINDERS
Wear your hard hat, safety
glasses, and safety shoes.
Do not wear loose clothing
or jewelry.
Keep your work area well lit.
Follow ship procedures for
cleaning up spills.
Use correct tools.

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Know ship procedure for holding

General Ship Safety

PREVENTING BURNS

off or tagging out equipment.

Be careful with batteries.The acid
Do not perform maintenance

electrolyte causes serious burns.

work unless equipment is properly

held off.

CHECK DIESEL-ENGINE COOLANT LEVELS ONLY WHEN

ENGINE IS OFF AND COOLANT HAS COOLED.

PREVENTING INJURIES
Stay away from rotating machin-

Wear appropriate engine-room

clothing.Your shirt or coveralls
should have long sleeves.

ery parts. Close all machinery

covers and guards.

Remember that high-pressure

steam is invisible. (Only low-pres-

Prevent hand injuries by wearing

gloves and watching for places
where fingers can become

sure steam that contains water

droplets is white.) Protect yourself
from invisible steam leaks by
wearing long sleeves and canvas

pinched.

gloves. Repack steam-valve packing regularly.

PREVENTING FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS

Always have a fire extinguisher
available, and know how to use it.
Keep all fuels and lubricants
stored properly.
Return unused lubricants and solvents to secure storage area.

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Chapter

14

Ship Systems
Do not allow oil to drip or spill
onto hot machinery.

Your ship is your workplace and your home. You are dependent on it, and it is dependent on you. Here is an introduc-

Do not let oil and grease build up

tory overview of some major ship systems. When you receive

on machinery.

your familiarization training, you should receive a similar

introduction specific to your vessel. The major systems

Store oily rags and other com-

described here are the propulsion, power, heating, steering,

bustible materials in proper

and electrical systems. You should also receive an introduc-

containers.

tion to the ground-tackle, pollution-prevention, hull-piping,

cargo-handling, and navigation systems.

Do not smoke in no-smoking areas.

ADDITIONAL SOURCE OF
INFORMATION:
Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seamen, UK
Department of Transport and HMSO. Available from
HMSO Publication Centre: P.O. Box 276, London SW8 5DT,
United Kingdom. Tel.: (44) (171) 873-9090; Fax: (44) (171)
873-8200.

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PROPULSION, POWER,AND HEATING

SYSTEMS

Ship Systems

On all vessels, the propulsion, power, and heating systems are

intertwined, but the way they are interlinked will vary from

Most vessels use diesel engines for propulsion. Diesel-pro-

ship to ship. On some ships, boilers, gas turbines, and diesels

pelled vessels have a large diesel engine joined with a trans-

will share the same fuel. On other ships, they will have sepa-

mission to the propeller shaft. A different diesel, usually

rate fuels. On most ships having both gas turbines and boil-

called the auxiliary diesel, is coupled to an electric generator.

ers, the combustion air and the flue gas systems will be com-

The exhaust gases from either diesel may be piped to a waste-

bined. It is important to know how the systems are interre-

heat boiler. The waste-heat boiler takes advantage of the heat

lated and this should be covered in your familiarization

left over in the diesel exhaust and uses it to heat water. The

training.

boiler also has a burner that supplies additional heat. The

boiler produces steam for driving pumps, for heating the fuel
oil, and for heating accommodations.

STEERING SYSTEMS
A vessel is steered using the steering wheel on the bridge, the

Some vessels are diesel-electric. These vessels use a large diesel

engine to drive an electric generator. An electric motor is
then used to drive the propeller shaft.
Some vessels are powered by gas turbines. The gas-turbine

rudder in the ships stern, and the ships propellers. The

wheel is part of the controlling mechanism for the steering
system. The steering system also includes:
Skegs

design is fuel-efficient. The gas turbine drives an electric generator and supplies heat to a waste-heat boiler.
Some vessels are steam powered. On these vessels, large boil-

Rudder
Steering engine

ers produce high-pressure steam that is piped to steam turbines. One steam turbine is coupled to the propeller shaft.

Propeller and its driver

Another steam turbine is coupled to an electric generator. As

steam passes through each row of blades on a steam turbine,
heat energy in the steam is transformed into mechanical
energy, and the steam pressure decreases. There are several
extraction points on the turbine where steam is taken to
drive pumps and to supply steam for heating.

A skeg is a fixed, nonmoving stern attachment. A rudder is a

movable stern attachment. Both skegs and rudders are surfaces against which water can push. The force beating against
the ship is proportional to water pressure and surface area. A
larger force exists when a larger rudder is used. A ship with a
large rudder can make a tighter turn.

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Ship Systems

The ship is also steered with its propeller. The rudder action

operation on or near this bus bar when it is energized. You

controls movement to the left or right. Propeller action con-

do not have to touch the bus bar, or any other piece of high-

trols fore-and-aft movement.

voltage equipment, to receive a harmful electrical shock.

Electricity can jump from a high-voltage source. You just
have to be too close to it. The accompanying chart shows dis-

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

tances that one U.S. power company recommends for safety

Every ship has a primary electrical system and a backup sys-

around high-voltage equipment.

tem. The primary system usually includes:

Generator or alternator

AC Voltage in Kilovolts
(KV)

Amount of Space Needed

Between You and Energized
Equipment

2 to 15

2 ft.

61 cm

15.1 to 35

2 ft. 4 in.

71 cm

35.1 to 46

2 ft. 6 in.

76 cm

46.1 to 72.5

3 ft.

91 cm

72.6 to 121

3 ft. 4 in.

102 cm

138 to 145

3 ft. 6 in.

107 cm

161 to 169

3 ft. 8 in.

112 cm

230 to 242

65 ft.

152 cm

Buses and circuits

Transformers
Breakers, disconnects, links, and
fuses
Relays

Electrical power is generated in the generator or alternator. It

travels from the generator leads through the main generator
breaker to the generator transformer. The transformer
ensures that the output voltage is that specified for the main
bus or bus bar. A bus or bus bar is a large copper, copper-nickel,
or aluminum bar. This bar can carry very large electrical currentslarger currents than can be carried by cables. In most
ships, this bus will be located behind other electrical equipment so that it cannot be touched accidentally.
You should know the location of the main bus bar as well as
other electrical hazards. Never perform any maintenance
268

You have the right to be shown proof that any piece of electrical equipment is de-energized before you are directed to
work on it. You should assume that all cables, wires, and
equipment are energized unless they are proved to be dead.
Numerous disconnect switches connect feeders with the
main bus bar. These disconnect switches are used to energize
or isolate a feeder circuit. In the closed position, the circuit is
energized, or alive. In the open position, the circuit is iso-

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Ship Systems

The windlass is a machine used to hoist the anchor. It can be

driven by an electric, hydraulic, or steam motor. It has a
wheel with sprockets, and the anchor chain passes over it
much like a bicycle chain passes over a bicycle gear. The
wheel with sprockets is called a gipsy. The gipsy can be disengaged from the windlass, allowing the windlass to be used
for heaving in mooring lines.
On the same windlass shaft as the gipsyhead is the drum end
or capstan. Drum end and capstan are both terms for the drum
around which the mooring lines are wound. A drum end has
lated, or dead. Each circuit also has a circuit breaker, which

a horizontal shaft, while a capstan is on a vertical shaft.

performs the same function as a fuse. It opens the circuit if the

current flow exceeds the rating for the circuit. Circuit-breaker
operation is automatic. A circuit breaker receives a signal to
open when a protection relay senses an overcurrent condition.

POLLUTION PREVENTION SYSTEMS

Most oceangoing vessels are required to be equipped with
pollution-prevention equipment. This equipment includes:

Relays are equipment protection devices and can be dangerous.

Relays come in four types: overcurrent, undercurrent, overvoltage, and undervoltage. They sense the current or voltage in a

Separators for separating oil from

waste waters

circuit using the same technology employed in transformers.

They have electrical coils where electricity is induced. The volt-

Bilge alarms

ages induced in relay coils can be very high.

Slop tanks and sludge tanks

GROUND TACKLE
All of the equipment used for anchoring a vessel is collectively called ground tackle. This includes the anchors, anchor
cables and chains, connecting fittings, and anchor windlasses. Anchors are stored in the hawsepipes when not in use.
The anchor chain runs from the anchor through the
hawsepipe, around riding chocks, over the windlass gipsy,

Save-alls, moats, and oil pans

around oil equipment
Oil/water interface detectors
Cargo monitors

and down into the chain locker, where it is stored.

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Shore-connection piping

Ship Systems

depth. A signal is generated in a probe when the probe tip is

submerged in water, because water is conductive. The detec-

Trash-handling systems

tor receives the signal from the probe(s) and sends a signal to
an alarm. When the detector is on an oily-water separator, it

Sewage treatment plant and hold-

sends signals to relays that shut down the water-discharge

ing tanks

pump before the oil drain cycle begins.

Shore-connection piping exists on ships to transfer oily-

Oily-water separators are used to separate oil from both bilge-

water wastes, cargo-tank cleaning wastes, and sewage wastes

water and ballast water. The separators are usually dedicated

to shore reception facilities.

either to the bilgewater or to the ballast water. Separators are

part of a system that also includes suction and discharge piping, recirculation piping, oil (OCD) sensors and alarms,

POLLUTION TERMS

freshwater supply, and a slop tank. On ships built before 6

Accidental Pollution. Pollution that results from ship colli-

July 1993, 100 ppm separators may be used until 8 July 1998.

sions or groundings.

On most ships, 15 ppm separators are required. An oil concentration of 15 ppm is the lowest amount of oil that most

APHIS. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. This is

people can see. If you can see an oil sheen on a sample of

a special waste category defined by the U.S. Department of

water, you know that it contains at least 15 ppm of oil.

Agriculture. It includes all waste derived from fruit, vegetables, meat or anything that has come in contact with these

Slop tanks and sludge tanks are important pieces of equip-

products. In the United States, this garbage needs to be off-

ment. They use time and gravity to remove water from oil

loaded under the supervision of an APHIS inspector, and

mixtures. They also hold oily wastes until they are discharged

given to an approved waste-management company.

to shore reception facilities or incinerated. For ships smaller

than 400 gross tons, these tanks can be the only equipment

Bilge alarm. An instrument that measures the oil content of

for handling oily waste.

oily mixtures from the machinery-space bilges and from fuel

tanks that carry ballast. This instrument sounds an alarm at

Oil/water interface detectors establish where the water layer

the permissible-discharge upper limit (usually 15 ppm).

ends and the oil layer begins inside separators and inside
tanks. The detectors usually use several probes inserted

Bilge monitor. An instrument that measures and records the

through a tank cover that has had holes drilled and threaded

oil content of oily mixtures from the machinery-space bilges

in it to accept the probes. Each probe extends to a different

and from fuel tanks that carry ballast.

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Cargo monitor. An instrument that both measures and

flag state after completion of a comprehensive survey of the

records the oil content of cargo residues from cargo tanks.

ship and its pollution-control equipment.

COA. Certificate of Adequacy. This is a certificate issued to a

ISPP. International Sewage Pollution Prevention Certificate.

port when the port demonstrates that it has adequate recep-

This certificate is issued by the marine administration of the

tion facilities for waste.

flag state after completion of a comprehensive survey of the

ship and its sewage-control equipment.

Coalescer. A piece of equipment that contains a bed of inert

material with lots of surface area. Small oil drops are attract-

Marine pollutant. Any substance that has a harmful effect on

ed to the surface, and many small drops combine there to

the marine environment. All substances that are hazardous

form larger drops.

to humans are marine pollutants. Some other substances

that are marine pollutants are plastic, detergents, and oils.

Comminuter. Grinding or pulverizing machinery used for

garbage.

MARPOL. An IMO convention addressing ship-generated

pollution.

COW. Crude oil washing. This procedure eliminates the formation of oily-water mixtures during cleaning of cargo

OCD. Oil content detection and alarming instrument. It is

tanks.

usually mounted on the oily-water separator. It measures oil

concentration by measuring the degree of scattering in an

Discharge. Any liquid leaving the ship, either on purpose or

infrared light beam when the light beam passes through a

inadvertently.

water sample. This term is used by equipment manufacturers.

Effluent. Any liquid being pumped off the ship.

ODM. Oil discharge and monitoring equipment This term

is used by the IMO.

INLS. International Pollution Prevention Certificate for

Carriage of Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk. This certifi-

Oil. In the context of pollution, an oil is a petroleum prod-

cate is issued by the marine administration of the flag state

uct in any form, or a liquid chemical similar to an oil.

after completion of a comprehensive survey of the ship and

Vegetable oils and animal oils are not polluting oils.

its tanks, instrumentation, and safety equipment.

Oily mixture. A mixture with any oil content, including bilge
IOPP.

International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate.

This certificate is issued by the marine administration of the

274

slops, oily wastes, oil residues, oily ballast water, and washings from cargo oil tanks.

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OPRC. Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response, and Cooperation.

The IMO requires ports to have an OPRC plan for responding

Ship Systems

HULL PIPING SYSTEMS

The major piping systems found in ships are:

to oil spills.
Ballasting
SPAR. The Convention on the Protection of the Marine
Environment of the North East Atlantic, 1992. This conven-

Compressed air

tion replaced the 1972 Oslo Convention.

Drainage
PPM. Parts per million concentration unit. It is equal to 1
milligram per kilogram (mg/kg).

Fire main

Refuse. Garbage.

Flushing

SBT. Segregated ballast tanks.

Fresh water

Sheen. The shiny, glistening appearance that oil has when it

Fuel oil

is spread in a thin layer.

Sprinkling
Slop tank. A tank that receives the oily discharge of an oilywater separator.
Ideally, the piping for each of these systems is painted a difSludge tank. A tank that receives the watery sludge from a

ferent color to make it easily identifiable.

fuel-oil centrifuge.
When piping is not painted an easily identifiable color, take
Ullage. Measured from the surface of a liquid in a tank to a

time to learn how to recognize piping belonging to each sys-

fixed reference point, ullage is the depth of the unused space

tem. Piping throughout a particular system should have the

left in the tank.

same type of joints and use similar valves. Where piping for
two different systems looks similar, the systems must be
properly labeled.

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CARGO-HANDLING EQUIPMENT
There are many kinds of specialized equipment used to lift

Ship Systems

Sheave. The turning wheel inside a block or pulley that

holds the rope.

and maneuver containerized cargo. Specialized training is

required to learn the equipment operation and the signals

Tackle. This term can refer to the ropes between two pulleys

used by crane operators. If you are not involved with cargo

of a purchase or it can describe the whole purchase (rope and

operations, stay clear of the area while items are being hoisted.

pulleys).
Winch. A mechanical device driven by steam or electricity

SOME CARGO-HANDLING TERMS

with a drum that is used to heave in rope.

Block. Pulley.
Derrick. Large spar fixed on board ship with a pivot at its
lower end and a topping lift, guy pendants and whip at its
upper end. It is used like a crane to hoist objects. On some
ships, the derricks are called booms.
Drum. The portion of a winch around which rope is wound.
Guy pendant. The rope or tackle used to control the side-toside movement of a derrick. Each derrick has two guy pendants.
Line. Natural or synthetic rope.
Marline. Natural rope made from tarred hemp.
Purchase. A mechanical system that uses pulleys to increase
pull.
Rope. Wire rope is usually called rope; natural rope is called
line.

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DOS AND DONTS FOR USING NATURAL ROPE

Ship Systems

DOS AND DONTS FOR USING WIRE ROPE AND WIRE

SLINGS

If line becomes chafed or damaged, cut and splice it. A good splice is safer
than a damaged section.

Dont use a kinked sling for lifting.

Dont lubricate natural lines.

Never pull the kink out of wire rope by pulling on both ends of the rope.

Apply loads slowly and carefully.

Do remove kinks by untwisting the kink and pounding the kink flat with a

Keep bitts, chocks, and cleats in smooth condition to minimize abrasion.

wooden mallet.
Place pads over sharp edges of items being hoisted so that slings are not

DOS AND DONTS FOR USING SYNTHETIC ROPE

Dont use square knots when bending together or securing synthetic
ropes. Synthetic rope is more slippery than natural rope, and a square

cut.
Dont let the eyes of slings overlap on the whip or crane hook. Shackle
the two eyes together.

knot will not hold.

Lubricate wire rope and slings before placing them in storage.

Do use natural-rope tattle tails when using synthetic lines so that you can

Discard wire rope that is rusty.

see when the synthetic lines are stretched to near their safe working load
(SWL) limit.
Causes of Wire Rope Failure
Using wrong size or type

Rope Fiber Type

Rule for Estimating Breaking

Strength (BS) in Tons.
Circumference (C) is in Inches.
(For synthetic rope, the SWL is
from 1/15 to 1/5 of the breaking
strength, or BS.)

Natural

BS = C/3

Nylon (Nomex)

BS = C2

Polyester (Terylene, Dacron)

BS = 0.9 C2

Acetate (Courlene, Fiber C)

BS = 0.7 C2

Dragging rope over obstacles

Lubricating improperly
Overriding or cross winding on
drums
Improperly attaching fittings
Exposure of wire to excessive
heat

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Permitting wire to untwist

Ship Systems

Electronic navigation equipment senses the vessels position

by communication with a land-based station or a satellite

Allowing grit to penetrate the

station. There are several land-based systems around the

strands

world, including Loran-C, Omega, and Decca. There are also

several satellite systems, including INMARSAT and GPS.

Subjecting the wire to continuing

GPS is an American system that replaces NAVSAT.

overloads
Communication Systems
Kinking

The Global Marine Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) is

now required on most vessels. You have probably seen alarm

NAVIGATION AND COMMUNICATION

SYSTEMS
Navigation Systems
Among the navigational equipment found on vessels are:

clocks that are also radios, or tape players that are also CD
players and radios. It is now common practice to enclose
many electronic devices within a single housing. That is what
has been done with the GMDSS. The GMDSS enclosure contains electronic navigation equipment, several kinds of

Gyrocompasses

radios, and a special telephone called a DSC (Digital

Selective Calling). The components found inside the
GMDSS on your ship depend on what region of the world

Radar

your ship usually operates in. The components are chosen so

Electronic navigational equipment

that there will be two ways to send emergency distress messages. The GMDSS and satellite links make worldwide com-

The gyrocompass is a compass that always points to true

munication possible, and the ship communication range is

north. It is easier to use than a magnetic compass. A mag-

no longer restricted to the former radio range of approxi-

netic compass points to the magnetic north pole, which is

mately 200 miles.

different from true north.

GMDSS distress messages are received by Rescue
Radar systems are used to detect collision hazards and to

Coordination Centers on shore. These centers are part of the

obtain position information in dense fog. The radar trans-

GMDSS system. Two satellite systems are also a critical part

mitter/receiver sends out and detects radio waves. It mea-

of the GMDSS system. They are INMARSAT and COPAS-

sures the time it takes for the radio waves to bounce off an

SARSAT. INMARSAT is a multi-application satellite system

object and come back to it. The radar unit calculates dis-

used for telecommunications, navigational purposes, and

tances from these time measurements.

relay of distress messages. COPAS-SARSAT is a single-appli-

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Chapter

cation satellite system. It receives distress messages from

emergency position-indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs).

15

Both INMARSAT and COPAS-SARSAT relay the distress

messages to the Rescue Coordination Centers.

Fire Safety

ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF
INFORMATION
Noel, John V., Knights Modern Seamanship, 18th ed., John
Wiley & Sons, New York, 1997.
Training Ship Patriot State Engineering Manual, Massachusetts
Maritime Academy. Manual available at Web site:

Many of your ships rules have been instituted to prevent

http://www.mma.mass.edu/campus/tsps/manual/

fires. Fire prevention should be part of almost every ship

operation. The information provided here is an overview of
fire prevention and firefighting topics. If you understand
how fires start and spread, you will know how to prevent
them. Every seafarer is encouraged to learn as much as possible about fire prevention.

STCW 95 (see chapter 11) requires that officers in charge of

the engine room have formal training in fire safety every five
years at a shore-based firefighting school. Fire-prevention
training is also required for all officers and all ratings
employed on tankers. This training is usually part of the
tanker familiarization course.

FIRE TRIANGLE
To burn, a fire needs three elements: fuel, heat, and oxygen.
You can extinguish a fire, or prevent a fire, by removing one of
the three things that form the sides of the fire triangle.

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Fire Safety

Remove the Fuel

You can prevent fires by maintaining equipment so there are no
oil leaks, and by storing flammable liquids and gases correctly.
If the fire is consuming leaking fuel, you can extinguish the
fire by valving out a section of piping so as to remove the fuel
source.
Remove the Heat
Most combustible materials can burn only when they are
warm enough to give off flammable vapors. Cool these materials and the fire will die. Removing heat is the way we most
often extinguish fires; this usually involves cooling the fire
with a fire hose using a fog spray.
You can prevent fires by knowing and maintaining appropriate equipment temperatures and by storing combustible
materials away from surfaces that get hot.
Remove the Oxygen
A fire needs oxygen. If a small fire occurs in the galley, cover
the fire with a pot lid. Or use a CO2 (carbon dioxide) or drypowder fire extinguisher to smother the fire. Larger fires can
be smothered with foam or sand.
A fixed CO2 system is used to remove the oxygen and suffocate
a fire in a closed hold or compartment. Inert gases are used in
cargo holds carrying flammable or explosive materials.

GOOD HOUSEKEEPING
You can prevent fires by keeping the ship and all its equipment well maintained and clean. When you store combustible materials properly, you are preventing fires by
removing the fuel side of the fire triangle. When you maintain and clean electrical equipment, you prevent equipment
malfunctions that generate intense heat, so you are removing
the heat side of the fire triangle.
Smoking and Cooking
Careless use of smoking materials leads to fires, so do not smoke:
Where a No Smoking sign is
displayed
When flammable cargo is being
transferred
Within 50 feet of a portable tank
In the engine room

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Fire Safety

Poorly maintained galley equipment can lead to cooking

Paints, coatings, and rubber linings

fires. To prevent fires:

can emit toxic fumes. Metal surfaces that have coatings or linings

Maintain the exhaust blower above

should never be welded or cut

the cooking range. It prevents fires

with a torch.

by cooling the gases flowing

Welding and flame-cutting opera-

through the exhaust plenum.

tions should not be performed on

Clean the exhaust filters often.

or near tanks used to store flam-

Filters trap grease and oil that will

mable or explosive liquids until

catch fire if the flue temperature

the tanks are drained, purged with

climbs too high.

live steam or inert gas, and monitored for combustible gases.

Welding and Flame Cutting

Careless use of welding equipment and acetylene torches is

No one should perform any hot work (welding or flame cut-

extremely dangerous. Follow all safety procedures when per-

ting) without permission from the commanding officer.

forming these tasks. Be aware that:

The intense heat generated can

CLASSES OF COMBUSTIBLES

sometimes cause a fire in a nearby

There are four types of flammable materials. Different fire-

compartment. Remove combustible

fighting equipment is used for each type.

materials and maintain a fire watch

in all affected compartments.

Class A
Class A materials are materials made from wood, natural

Sparks generated during burning

fabrics, or paper. Class A fires are fought with water. A Class

operations can land many meters

A fire extinguisher is filled with water under pressure. It works

away. Do not perform burning

well on small Class A fires, but it is useless on other fire types.

operations on deck on windy

The Class A pressurized-water fire extinguisher has only a Class

days. Use fire blankets to protect

A symbol on it. This fire extinguisher is often silver-colored. For

gratings, so sparks do not fall on

a large Class A fire, use a fire hose.

crew and equipment beneath you.

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Fire Safety

Warning: Never use a

Electric radiators and electric hot

Class A fire extinguisher

plates are used improperly.

on an electrical fire. You

could receive an electri-

Oil is allowed to drip on wiring in

cal shock.

a plastic conduit.

Class B

Electrical panel boards, switches,

Class B fires involve

or breakers are not well main-

such materials as oils,

tained.

greases, paints, alcohol,

flammable gases, and

Electric transformers are over-

plastics. A Class B fire

loaded.

may begin in the engine

room, where spilled oil

Electric generator or motor bear-

contacts hot surfaces. It may occur when equipment bearings

ings catch fire.

overheat and ignite the lubricant. Class B fires also can occur
in the galley and in the cargo hold.
For electrical fires, you must only use an extinguisher with a
There are three kinds of Class B fire extinguishers: foam, dry

nonconducting agent. It must have the Class C symbol. There

chemical (sometimes called PKP), and carbon dioxide. These

are three kinds of Class C fire extinguishers: dry chemical

fire extinguishers are marked with the Class B symbols.

(PKP), carbon dioxide (CO2), and halon. These fire extinguishers

(Some of them are also marked with the Class C symbols.)

are all marked with the Class C symbol. (Some are also marked
with the Class B symbol.) The CO2 fire extinguisher is the first

Class C

choice for extinguishing fires inside electric panel boards and

Class C fires occur on or near live, energized electrical equip-

breaker compartments. It does not leave any residue.

ment. These fires may occur when:

When possible, turn off the electric power.
Combustible materials are located
close to electrical wiring with
damaged insulation.

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Fire Safety

Class D

In personal cooking gadgets con-

Class D fires involve metals that can burn. These metals

taining metal-coated electrical coils

include magnesium, sodium, potassium, titanium, and aluminum. When they burn, they produce extremely danger-

In cargo holds containing powdered

ous, high-temperature fires that must be suffocated. Only

aluminum, titanium, or magnesium

one type of fire extinguisher can be used on a Class D fire

a dry-powder type. Dry powder is different from dry chemical. The dry-powder extinguisher has a gas cartridge
attached to its side. The cartridge contains either nitrogen or
carbon dioxide gasa propellant. To operate the extinguisher, hold the discharge nozzle securely with one hand. Open
the gas cylinder by pressing down firmly on the puncture
lever with your other hand. Spray the burning surface with
the dry powder, covering it with a thick layer of the powder.

Typical Combustible Materials and Appropriate

Extinguishing Agents
Fire-extinguisher choices are listed in order of preference.The best choice is given first.
Material

Class

Extinguishing Agents

WOODWORK, BEDDING,
AND CLOTHES

Fixed water-sprinkling system

Fire hose with any nozzle
positionFoam
Dry chemical
CO2

PAINTS, SOLVENTS, AND

OTHER FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS

CO2 (fixed system)

Foam
Dry chemical
Halon (fixed system)

GASOLINE

Foam
CO2
Dry chemical

FUEL OIL, JP-5, DIESEL OIL,

KEROSENE

Foam (AFFF)
Dry chemical
High-velocity fog
CO2

ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT

CO2
Halon
High- or low-velocity fog
Dry chemical

MAGNESIUM ALLOYS

Dry powder
Sand
Low-velocity fog

The objective is to suffocate the fire. Class D dry powder also

comes in drums and can be applied with a shovel. Sand can
also be used to suffocate a Class D fire. Or a water hose with
a fog nozzle can be used to cool the air and surfaces near the
fire and to produce a cloud of steam that suffocates the fire.
Do not spray water directly on the metal because many combustible metals react with water. Burning magnesium reacts
with water to form explosive hydrogen gas. This metal also
generates a flame so bright that it can cause permanent damage to your eyes. Do not look directly at a Class D fire. If possible, wear welders goggles or a face shield.
Class D fires can occur:
On a steamship, in the air-heater
baskets if an air-heater overheats

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FIXED FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT

Fire Safety

D (metal) fires. Do not use it unless you have been trained

Water Sprinkler Systems

for it. Never use a regular water stream or a high-velocity fog

Sprinkler systems are usually found in crew accommoda-

on an electrical or metal fire. The wrong water stream could

tions, passageways, public spaces, and vehicular decks on

cause you to be electrocuted if you are fighting an electrical

ro/ro vessels and ferries. Sprinklers can only extinguish Class

fire. The wrong water stream could cause hydrogen gas to be

A fires. They help limit the spread of all fires by cooling the

generated if you are fighting a metal fire.

fire, and they protect people who are using passageways as

escape routes. Sprinkler systems are automatic. Each sprin-

Foam Systems

kler head has a fusible link made of solder. It is designed to

Foam systems are usually found in boiler rooms, machinery

melt at a prescribed temperature and activate the sprinkler

spaces, and pump rooms. Foam is excellent for fighting Class

head. Note: Sprinkler heads should never be painted, as the

B fires. Foam is a conductor, however, and should not be used

paint can insulate the fusible links and interfere with their

on Class C (electrical) fires. The foam floats on the surface of

operation.

flammable liquids. It fights the fire four ways:

Fire-Main System: Hoses and Nozzles

It smothers the fire, preventing air

Every vessel has a fire-main system. It supplies salt water for

from mixing with fuel vapors.

fire protection to every part of the ship. The fire-main system

has pumps, piping, control valves, hoses, and nozzles. It also

It suppresses flammable vapors.

has a shore connection on each side of the ship.

It separates existing flames from
The fire-main system delivers water to fire stations through-

the fuel surface.

out the ship. The fire stations each have a control valve, a
hose connection and a hose rack with a fire hose and nozzle.

Because it is mostly water, the

The preferred nozzle is a combination nozzle. It is opened by

foam cools the fuel.

pulling a lever toward your body after you are properly holding the hose. Never use the lever to pick up the hose. When
you pull the lever halfway back, the nozzle delivers the water
in a high-velocity fog. When you pull the nozzle all the way
back, the water is delivered in a steady, continuous stream.

There are several types of foam and there are several ways to
mix each foam type. You need to receive special training for
the foam systems found on your ship.

A fire station may also contain a low-velocity fog applicator.

This applicator is used for Class C (electrical) fires and Class

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Fire Safety

The common foam types are:

Halon systems have audible alarms that warn crew members

when the system is about to be discharged. When you hear a
halon alarm, leave the compartment immediately. Halon is very

Aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF)

effective for extinguishing fires. It extinguishes fires quicker than

any other agent. There is no reason for you to try to fight a fire

Chemical foam

on equipment protected by a halon system. Most important is

to evacuate immediately when you hear the alarm.

Mechanical foam

Each of these foams is made from a foam concentrate. Never

combine different types of foam concentrate.

SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING
APPARATUS (SCBA)
Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) should be stored

Carbon Dioxide (CO ) Systems

in a specially marked cabinet or locker. SCBA equipment is

Carbon-dioxide systems are found in cargo spaces, pump rooms,

also stored near cargo holds containing toxic materials.

generator rooms, storage spaces for paints and solvents, and galley
ranges. CO2 extinguishes a Class B or C fire quickly and leaves no

You must have training in the proper use of this equipment.

residue. CO is stored in cylinders as a liquid. It is discharged

This training should include actual use of the SCBA equipment.

through very wide nozzles,where it expands into a gas.The CO gas

You must know which respirator size correctly fits your clean-

is heavier than air. It covers the fire and suffocates it. The CO gas in

shaven face. To wear the SCBA equipment, you must be healthy.

the quantity delivered by a fixed system is dangerous to crew mem-

You cannot have any respiratory disease or heart ailment.

bers. It displaces oxygen that you need to breathe and temporarily

interferes with the way oxygen is normally absorbed in your lungs.

SCBA equipment is used in places where there is not enough

oxygen to support life or where there is a toxic material in the

A fixed CO system has to be manually activated from a con-

air. When worn correctly, the SCBA delivers clean air to your

trol station outside the compartment where the CO will be

face mask so you can breathe. Improper use of SCBA equip-

released. The Carbon Dioxide Warning Alarm must be

ment can cause serious injury or death.

sounded first. If you hear this alarm, evacuate immediately.

A SCBA air cylinder contains a 15- to 45-minute supply of
Halon Systems

air. Some models supply more than others. If you are work-

Halon systems can be found in many of the same shipboard

ing and breathing hard, you will use up the air faster than

locations as CO systems. This includes machinery spaces, tur-

when you are breathing normally. The regulator, mounted

bine enclosures, and pump rooms. Halon is a colorless, odorless

on your belt, controls the airflow rate. An alarm sounds

gas. When the halon reacts with the flames, it can turn toxic.
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when about a seven-minute supply remains. When you hear

that alarm, you must leave the dangerous environment and
find fresh air immediately.

Fire Safety

ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF
INFORMATION
Marine Fire Prevention, Firefighting and Fire Safety, U.S.

After using a SCBA, follow your ships procedures for replac-

Department of Commerce, Maritime Administration (avail-

ing used air bottles and cleaning the respirator. The SCBA

able from U.S. Government Printing Office).

equipment is always stored ready for use, with full air bottles.
Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seamen, UK
An air-line breathing apparatus (ABA) is similar to a SCBA.

Department of Transport and HMSO (available from

It also supplies clean air to your respirator. The air line is a

HMSO Publication Centre).

long hose connected to a bank of air cylinders and to a regulator on your belt. The ABA allows you to work in a dangerous environment for a longer period of time than the single
-cylinder SCBA. Some SCBA systems are dual-purpose,
meaning that they work with either an air line or a portable
air cylinder.
Make sure you fully understand how your SCBA or ABA
equipment operates before you use it. Be certain that you
recognize the low-pressure alarm. Make sure you also know
the procedure for bypassing the regulator in case it fails.

SAFETY NOTE
If your clothes catch on fire, do not run, which fans the
flames. Lie down and roll up in a blanket, coat, or any object
that will smother the flames. If nothing is available to smother the flames, roll over slowly and use your hands to beat out
the flames.

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Chapter

16

Hazardous
Cargo
Hazards are of three general types: physical, health, and environmental. Physical hazards include fire, explosion, and
chemical-reaction hazards. These hazards threaten both the
ship and the crew.
Health hazards include toxic, carcinogenic, biohazard,
asphyxiant, and skin-irritant hazards. You should know how
to protect yourself from these hazards.
Environmental hazards include materials hazardous to the
atmosphere and to marine life.
Many dangerous materials present more than one hazard.
Most materials that present health hazards also present environmental hazards. And most solvents present both health
and fire hazards.

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Some cargoes are hazardous only under certain conditions.

Hazardous Cargoes

Petroleum coke

If those conditions can be avoided by refrigerating the cargo,

or by placing the cargo in an inert atmosphere, the cargo

Pitch prill, prilled coal tar, pencil

becomes relatively safe.

pitch

Some materials that we usually think of as harmless can

Sawdust

become dangerous when they are transported in bulk. Some

Silicomanganese

of these items are:

Calcined pyrites

Tankage

Charcoal

Vanadium ore

Coal

Wood chips

Direct reduced iron (Dri)

Wood-pulp pellets

Direct reduced iron briquettes

The materials listed are hazardous only when carried in bulk.
Ferrophosphorous

They might, for example, reduce the oxygen content of a

cargo space or they could be prone to self-heating, as occurs

Ferrosilicon

with wood chips.

Fluorspar (calcium fluoride)

All hazardous cargoes can be transported safely. To transport

hazardous cargoes safely:

Lime (unslaked) (calcium oxide,

quicklime, Dolomitic quicklime)

Store hazardous cargo in appropriate containers

Magnesia (unslaked)
Maintain proper temperature,
Metal sulfide concentrates

humidity, and inert atmosphere

conditions

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Hazardous Cargoes

Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (IBC Code).

Know cargo properties

Before loading any bulk cargo, the ship master will obtain
usually from the shipperthe physical and chemical properties

Use personal protective equip-

of the cargo. If you work on a tanker, you should be given famil-

ment (PPE)

iarization training covering the properties of the cargo as well as

the ship systems for monitoring and protecting the cargo.

Have procedures for responding

to cargo releases

CARGO PROPERTIES
Containerized cargo is marked with the IMDG label or plac-

HAZARDOUS CARGO STORAGE

ard. It is also marked with its proper technical name and the

Cargo shipped in packages or containers must be in contain-

United Nations identification number (UN number), when

ers that do not split open during routine handling. These

there is one.

containers:
The container is also marked with IMDG labels for secondary
are constructed of material com-

hazards. The labels should provide enough information for

patible with the cargo

you to know how to handle the cargo safely. If inadequate

information is provided on the labels, ask your supervisor

are large enough to accommo-

for a cargo information sheet. (On U.S. ships, the informa-

date liquid expansion from tem-

tion sheets are called Material Safety Data Sheets, or MSDS.)

perature increases
The IMDG label indicates the class in which the cargo
are marked with the technical

belongs and it gives a picture symbol to indicate the prima-

name for the cargo and appropri-

ry hazard (explosive, flammable, toxic, etc.). If the cargo pre-

ate IMDG labels

sents a secondary hazard, then a second label with the second

picture symbol is also on the container.

have a container packing certificate

Cargo shipped in bulk will be shipped in tankers designed to

carry that cargo. The tankers should comply with the
International Code for the Construction and Equipment of

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Hazardous Cargoes

IMDG Class, Hazards, Safety Information, and Symbols

IMDG Class, Hazards, Safety Information, and Symbols

CLASS 1 EXPLOSIVES
Hazards: Explosion, Fire
Safety Information: Explosives are divided into five subclasses and 13 compatibility
groups. Do not store explosives from two different compatibility groups together.

CLASS 4 FLAMMABLE SOLIDS OR SUBSTANCES

CLASS 4.1 FLAMMABLE SOLIDS
CLASS 4.2 SUBSTANCES LIABLE TO SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION
CLASS 4.3 SUBSTANCES WHICH, IN CONTACT WITH WATER, EMIT FLAMMABLE
GASES.
Hazards: Fire hazard. Easily ignited by sparks, flames, and friction.This class also covers substances that are self-reactive and that may explode if not diluted sufficiently.
Class 4.2 substances can undergo spontaneous combustion. Some are more likely to
do so when wetted with water or in contact with moist air. Some also give off toxic
gases if involved in a fire. Class 4.3 substances emit flammable gases when in contact
with water.
Safety Information: Consult Cargo Information Sheet for respirator and firefighting information.
Symbols:

CLASS 2 GASES
CLASS 2.1 FLAMMABLE GASES
CLASS 2.2 NONFLAMMABLE GASES
CLASS 2.3 POISONOUS GASES
Hazards: All untied gas cylinders present a rocket hazard. All gases except oxygen
can displace the air that you need to breathe. Fire and explosion hazards for Class 2.1.
Toxic, carcinogenic, and asphyxiation hazards for Class 2.3. Many gases are harmful to
the environment.
Safety Information: Secure cylinders in storage racks. Keep valve covers on cylinder valves. Keep cylinders away from heat. Read Cargo Information Sheet for safety
information specific to the gas in the cylinder.
Symbols:
NON-FLAMMABLE
GAS

CLASS 3 FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS

CLASS 3.1 LOW-FLASH-POINT GROUP (FLASH POINT < -18C cc)
CLASS 3.2 INTERMEDIATE FLASH-POINT GROUP (FLASH-POINT > -18%C cc
AND < 23C cc)
CLASS 3.3 HIGH-FLASH-POINT GROUP (FLASH POINT > 23C cc)
Hazards: Fire and explosion hazards. Class 3.1 is the most flammable.These liquids
may also present inhalation, asphyxiation, and carcinogenic hazards. All Class 3 liquids
are marine pollutants.
Safety Information: Do not use low-flash-point solvents in a confined or unventilated space. Protect skin with gloves and eyes with goggles. Consult Cargo Information
Sheet for respirator and SCBA information.
Symbol:

DANGEROUS WASTE

CLASS 5 OXIDIZING SUBSTANCES (AGENTS) AND ORGANIC PEROXIDES

CLASS 5.1 OXIDIZING SUBSTANCES (AGENTS)
CLASS 5.2 ORGANIC PEROXIDES
Hazards: Fire and explosion hazard. Decomposition may produce toxic or flammable gases. Some organic peroxides can be particularly dangerous to the eyes.
Safety Information: Wear goggles or face shield to protect eyes. Wear gloves and
sleeve protectors to protect skin. Consult Cargo Information Sheet for respirator and
SCBA information.The fire hazard can be reduced by storing many of these materials
under water.
Symbols:

IMDG Class, Hazards, Safety Information, and Symbols

CLASS 6 TOXIC AND INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES
CLASS 6.1 TOXIC SUBSTANCES
CLASS 6.2 INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES
Hazards: Poison hazard. Class 6.1 substances: pesticides and insecticides, chloroform,
cyanides, strychnine, tear gas, and other toxic materials. Class 6.2 includes substances

FLAMMABLE LIQUID

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containing living microorganisms. Most Class 6 materials are marine pollutants.

Safety Information: Consult Cargo Information Sheet for respirator and SCBA
information. Also protect skin with gloves, sleeve protectors, coveralls. For biohazards,
follow the advice of local public-health authority.
Symbol:

CLASS 7 RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS

Hazards: Radioactive materials are divided into three categories, depending upon
radiation levels, category I (white) being the least dangerous.The labels for categories
II and III are printed in yellow. All Class 7 materials are marine pollutants.
Safety Information: Protect yourself from radioactive rays with shielding and
distance. Put partitions of steel (shielding) between you and the radioactive cargo.
Symbol:

Hazardous Cargoes

CLASS 9 MISCELLANEOUS DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES AND ARTICLES

Hazards: Products of this class include aerosols, some ammonium-nitrate fertilizers,
asbestos, and substances like plastics that are marine pollutants.
Safety Information: Consult Cargo Information Sheet for safety information.
Symbol:

PROTECTING YOURSELF WITH PPE

IF A DANGEROUS CARGO PRESENTS A HEALTH HAZARD,YOU CAN KEEP IT
FROM HARMING YOU BY REMEMBERING, IF THE CHEMICAL CANT GET INSIDE
OF YOU, IT CANT HARM YOU. THERE ARE ONLY FOUR WAYS FOR HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES TO INVADE THE HUMAN BODY.

Absorption through the skin

CLASS 8 CORROSIVES
Hazards: These materials can cause serious injury from chemical burns.They can
cause serious damage if they get in your eyes. Some give off irritating, poisonous, or
harmful vapors. Some are flammable or give off flammable gases under certain conditions. Many class 8 materials are marine pollutants.

IMDG Class, Hazards, Safety Information and Symbols

Safety Information: Wear thick rubber gloves, coveralls, sleeve protectors, goggles/face shield. Wear thin gloves inside the rubber gloves so that your hands remain
protected while you are taking off the other PPE. Consult Cargo Information Sheet
for respirator and SCBA information.

Entering through the eyes

Inhalation through the nose and
mouth
Ingestion

IMDG Class, Hazards, Safety Information, and Symbols

There is personal protective equipment (PPE) for the first

Symbol:

three routes of entry. To avoid the fourth routeingestion of

harmful substancesdo not eat or smoke while you are
working with or near hazardous materials. Wash your hands
and face thoroughly when you finish working with hazardous materials.
Never smoke within 50 feet of a tank containing any of these
hazardous materials.

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PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO

CARGO RELEASES
A release is a spill, leak, or venting of a dangerous material.

Hazardous Cargoes

HAZARDOUS-CARGO TERMINOLOGY
It is important to know the terms used to describe hazardous
cargoes and their properties.

Normally, the cargo is stored properly and releases do not

occur. When releases do occur, respond using emergency

Terms and Abbreviations Used by the International

procedures (EmS). If you are the one to discover a release,

Maritime Organization (IMO)

retreat first and report your discovery. Then follow ship pro-

BC Code. Code of Safe Practice for Solid Bulk Cargoes.

cedures. Never assume a release of a hazardous substance is

small enough to clean up by yourself. You will not be helping

BCH Code. Code for the Construction and Equipment of

anyone if you become injured.

Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk.

Here are some points to remember:

CDG. Carriage of dangerous goods.

Be prepared by having PPE con-

DG. Dangerous goods.

veniently located and in good

condition.

DL. Dangerous liquids.

Know how to wear and use all PPE.

EmS. Emergency Procedures for Ships Carrying Dangerous

Goods.

Only perform tasks you have

been trained to perform.

HNS. Hazardous and noxious substances.

Do not perform dangerous tasks

IBC. Intermediate bulk container.

alone.
IBC Code. International Code for the Construction and
Most dangerous cargoes present

Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk.

more than one hazard. Accidents

often occur when secondary haz-

ICS. International Chamber of Shipping.

ards are forgotten or overlooked.

IGC Code. International Code for the Construction and
Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk.

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IMDG Code. International Maritime Dangerous Goods

Hazardous Cargoes

Combustible. Material that can burn.

Code. IMO system of dividing dangerous cargoes into nine

classes according to the type of hazard and labeling the con-

Concentration. Amount of one substance within another

tainers with hazard labels.

substance.

MFAG. Medical First Aid Guide for Use in Accidents

Decomposition. The materials to which a substance is con-

Involving Dangerous Goods. This book is published by the

verted by sunlight, heat, time, or digestion.

IMO and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Density. Mass of substance per unit volume.
MHBs. Materials hazardous in bulk. These materials are
hazardous only when they are carried in bulk, because they

Dermal. Route through the skin.

might, for example, reduce the oxygen content of a cargo space

or be prone to self-heating, as is the case with wood chips.

Evaporation rate. Time required for a mass of liquid to

vaporize.

MSC. IMOs Maritime Safety Committee.

Flammable. A material that catches fire easily.
NOS. Some dangerous goods are not listed by name in the
IMDG Code and therefore will have to be shipped under a

Flammable or Explosive limits. There are two explosive lim-

generic name/entry, or Not Otherwise Specified.

its for every flammable vapor. The lower explosive limit is the
minimum concentration of fuel vapor in air that will explode

OOW. Officers of the watch.

if heat is added. The upper explosive limit is the concentration of flammable gas above which the gas is not explosive. In

UN number. United Nations identification number.

general, nearly pure gas mixtures are not explosive.

Terms Used On Cargo Information Sheets and

Flammable limits. See Explosive limits.

Material Safety Data Sheets

Carcinogenic. Capable of causing cancer.

Flash point. This term applies to flammable liquids or fuels.

It is the temperature at which, when enough fuel vapor is

Ceiling limit. The maximum amount of a toxic substance

present, it will catch on fire. The temperature is given as a

that is allowed in the air you breathe. If the concentration of

value C cc. The cc means closed cup and refers to the test

a toxic substance is higher, you must wear a respirator.

method used for determining the flash point.

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Hazardous Cargoes

Ignition temperature. The lowest temperature at which a

OSHA.

Abbreviation for the Occupational Safety and

substance will catch on fire and continue to burn.

Health Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor.

OSHA establishes and enforces safety and health standards

Inflammable. This term means the same as Flammable.

for U.S. workplaces.

LC50. Lethal concentration: the amount of a toxic vapor

Oxidizer. A material that will cause combustible material to

that causes death to 50 percent of the rats, or similar test ani-

burn even when no oxygen is present.

mals, exposed to it.

pH. A measure of how acidic or caustic a material is, on a
LD50. Lethal dose: the amount of a toxic material that must

scale of 1 to 14.

be eaten by a rat, or similar test animal, to cause death 50

percent of the time.

ppm. A unit of concentration: parts per million.

mg/kg. A way of expressing a dose of toxic material ingested

Reactivity. A measure of a substances ability to change

by a person or animal. The dose is expressed as milligrams

either by breaking down or by reacting with another sub-

(mg) of toxic substance per kilogram (kg) of animal mass.

stance, such as oxygen or water.

mg/m3. A way of expressing a concentration of a substance

Routes of entry. Ways that a toxic material can enter the

in air. The concentration is expressed as milligrams (mg) of

body. The ways include absorption through the skin, absorp-

substance per cubic meter (m ) of air.

tion through the eyes, ingestion through the mouth, and

inhalation through the nose and mouth.

Mutagenic. A substance that is capable of affecting the way
cells grow. All mutagenic substances are considered suspect

Solubility. The maximum amount of a substance that can be

carcinogens.

dissolved in a solvent such as water. This amount changes

with temperature.

NIOSH.

Abbreviation for the National Institute for

Occupational Safety and Health, a health and safety research

Solvent. The material in which substances dissolve. The

organization belonging to the U.S. Department of Labor.

most common solvent is water. Other solvents are alcohol,

NIOSH develops standards for respirators and establishes

acetone, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), etc.

ceiling limits and TLVs.

STEL. Abbreviation for short-term exposure limit. This is a
Odor threshold. The lowest concentration of a substance

maximum concentration of a toxic substance allowed in a

vapor that can be smelled.

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work place during an excursion or spike. Any temporary

spike should be less than 15 minutes.

Hazardous Cargoes

ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF
INFORMATION
IMO Maritime Safety Committee Circulars:

Suspect carcinogen. A substance that could cause cancer,

but has not been proven to do so.

MSC/CIRC 487 Confined Space Hazards

Teratogenic. A substance that can cause birth defects.

MSC/CIRC 663 Form for Cargo Information Sheet

TLV. Abbreviation for Threshold Limit Value, the concen-

MSC/CIRC 665 Duties of Chief Mates and Officers of

tration of a hazardous substance in workplace air that is con-

the Watch (OOW) at loading and discharging ports

sidered safe. If the measured concentration of a substance is

higher than this amount, you need to wear an appropriate

MSC/CIRC 666 Cargo Operations Form

respirator.
MSC/CIRC 667 Safe Practices on Board Bulk Carriers
Toxic. Can cause either acute or chronic injury. Toxic means
poisonous.

Medical First Aid Guide for Use in Accidents Involving

Dangerous Goods (MFAG). This book, published by the IMO

Vapor. Gas given off by a solid or liquid.

and the WHO, is required on board all ships carrying a

SOLAS certificate.

Vapor density. A description of a vapors weight compared

to air. A vapor with a density greater than 1 is heavier than
air. This vapor is hard to disperse and will accumulate in low
areas. A vapor with a density of less than 1 is lighter than air
and will disperse rapidly.
Volatility. A description of how quickly a substance vaporizes.

316

317

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A p p e n d i x 1 - M e a s u re m e n t C o nve r s i o n s

Appendix 1:
Measurement Conversions

Part 5

Appendices

318

LENGTH
1 kilometer (km) =

1,000 meters (m) = 0.6213 statute

mile (mi) = 0.540 nautical mile
(nm)

1 meter (m) =

100 centimeters (cm) = 39.37

inches (in) = 3.28 feet (ft) = 1.09
yards (yd) = 0.547 fathom

1 millimeter (mm) =

1000 microns () = 0.3937

inch (in)

1 micron () =

0.001 millimeter (mm) =

0.00003937 inch (in) = 0.03937
mil

1 mil =

0.001 inch (in) = 25.4 micron ()

1 statute mile (mi) =

1609 meters (m) = 1.609 kilometers (km) = 5,280 feet (ft)

1 nautical mile (nm) =

1.151 statute miles (mi) = 6,076

feet (ft) = 1,852 meters (m)

1 fathom =

1.8288 meters (m) = 6 feet (ft)

319

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A p p e n d i x 1 - M e a s u re m e n t C o nve r s i o n s

AREA

SPEED

1 square kilometer (km2) =

1,000,000 m2 = 247 acres =

0.3861 sq mi (statute) = 0.292 sq
mi (nautical)

1 knot

= 0.51 meter
per second
(m/s)

= 1.151 statute
miles per hour
(mph)

= 1 nautical
mile per hour
(nm/hr)

1 square meter (m2) =

10,000 cm2 = 10.76 ft2 = 1.196 yd2

1 kilometer
per hour
(kph or
km/hr)

= 0.277 (m/s)

= 0.909 ft/s

= 0.55 knot

1 meter per
second (m/s)

= 3.281 (ft/s)

= 1.944 knots

1 square centimeter (cm ) =

100 mm = 0.155 in

1 square yard = 0.8362 m =

9 ft2

1 square foot = 0.0929 m22 =

144 in2

1 acre = 160 square rods =

4,047 m2 = 0.4047 hectare =

43,560 ft2

1 statute mile = 1.609 (km/hr)

per hour (mph)
1 nautical
= 1.853 (km/hr) = 1 knot
mile per
hour (nm/hr)

VOLUME
1 cubic meter (m3)

= 1000 liters (l)

= 35.3 ft3

1 cubic centimeter
(cm3 or cc)

= 1 milliliter (ml)

= 0.061 in3

1 barrel of oil

= 42 US gallons

= 0.159 m3

1 typical chemical
drum

= 55 US gallons

=0.2082 m3

1 US gallon

= 0.8327 UK
gallon

=0.003785 m

1 US quart

= 0.25 US gallon

=0.9463 liter (l)

1 US pint

= 0.5 US quart

=0.4732 liter

1 US fluid
ounce (fl oz)

= 0.03125 quart

=29.57
milliliters
(ml)

1 ton of vessel
volume

1 revolution
per minute
(RPM)

= 0.1047 radian/second

ENERGY AND POWER

= 100 cubic feet

1 kilowatt
hour (kwh)

= 3.6 Mega
Joule (MJ)

= 0.0341 Therm

= 2647 ft-lb

1 British
thermal
unit (BTU)

= 252 calories
(cal)

= 778.2 ft-lb

= 1055.1 J

1 BTU/lb-F

= 1 cal/g-C

= 4186.8 J/kg-K

1 BTU/hr

= 0.293 watt (W)

1 horsepower = 746 W
(hp)

320

= 2544.1 BTU/hr

321

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Appendix 2 - Sea Distances

Ark
Aba
Bue
Pun
Cap
Rot
Gib
Sin
Hon
Sue

Appendix 2: Sea Distances

DISTANCES BETWEEN PORTS IN
NAUTICAL MILES

Arkhangelsk, Russia
Abadan, Iran
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Punta Arenas, Chile
Cape Town, South Africa
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Gibraltar, UK
Singapore
Hong Kong
Suez Canal

Los
Syd
Mon
Van
New
Vla
Nor
Wel
Pan
Yok

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Sydney, Australia
Montreal, PQ, Canada
Vancouver, BC, Canada
New Orleans, LA, USA
Vladivostok, Russia
Norfolk, VA, USA
Wellington, New Zealand
Panama Canal
Yokohama, Japan

Ark
Bue

8115

Bue

Cap

8050

3779

Cap

Gib

3225

5298

5174

Gib

Hon

6961

10677

6961

8384

Hon

Los

8770

7265

6385

7288

6380

Los

Mon

4270

6441

7149

3177

11564

6117

Mon

New

5730

6237

7290

4572

10628

4346

3055

New

Nor

4400

5824

6790

3305

11017

4735

1697

1504

Nor

Pan

5820

5390

6465

4340

9238

2912

3117

1403

1823

Pan

Aba

8502

8786

5189

8452

5321

10574

8620

9814

8524

9573

Aba

Pun

9243

1434

4346

6352

9708

5865

3763

5362

5755

3937

9386

Pun

Rot

1950

6366

6242

1371

8758

7755

3289

4848

3430

4790

6620

7391

Rot

Sin

10195

7322

5704

6994

1460

7867

10171

11627

10317

10548

3865

9482

8338

Sin

Sue

5255

9376

5275

2007

6395

9287

5276

6571

5379

6340

3305

8373

3287

4941

Sue

Syd

13485

7248

6503

10228

4312

6511

10864

9107

9496

7717

7422

5150

11586

4306

8233

Syd

Van

9900

8341

10843

8418

5800

1146

7260

5465

5861

4021

10943

7004

8847

7018

8418

6844

Van

Vla

13195

11385

8513

10018

1639

4991

11036

9175

9564

7785

6878

9861

11362

3053

9287

5104

4378

Vla

Wel

12370

6067

6781

10684

5153

5859

9708

7938

8327

6550

8344

4350

11685

5216

9124

1203

6500

5800

Wel

Yok

13085

10903

8429

9921

1564

4839

11463

9114

9504

7725

6839

9259

11261

2832

7835

4330

4280

937

5034

322

323

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Appendix 2 - Sea Distances

Ark
Aba
Bue
Pun
Cap
Rot
Gib
Sin
Hon
Sue

DISTANCES BETWEEN PORTS IN DAYS

IF STEAMING RATE = 15 KNOTS

Arkhangelsk, Russia
Abadan, Iran
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Punta Arenas, Chile
Cape Town, South Africa
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Gibraltar, UK
Singapore
Hong Kong
Suez Canal

Los
Syd
Mon
Van
New
Vla
Nor
Wel
Pan
Yok

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Sydney, Australia
Montreal, PQ, Canada
Vancouver, BC, Canada
New Orleans, LA, USA
Vladivostok, Russia
Norfolk, VA, USA
Wellington, New Zealand
Panama Canal
Yokohama, Japan

Ark
Bue

23

Bue

Cap

23

11

Cap

Gib

15

15

Gib

Hon

20

31

20

24

Hon

Los

25

21

18

21

18

Los

Mon

12

18

20

33

17

Mon

New

16

18

21

13

30

12

New

Nor

13

17

19

31

14

Nor

Pan

17

15

18

12

26

Pan

Aba

24

25

15

24

15

30

25

28

24

27

Aba

Pun

26

12

18

28

17

11

15

16

11

27

Pun

Rot

18

18

25

22

14

10

14

19

21

Rot

Sin

29

21

16

20

22

29

33

29

30

11

27

24

Sin

Sue

15

27

15

18

27

15

19

15

18

24

14

Sue

Syd

39

21

19

29

12

19

31

26

27

22

21

15

33

12

24

Syd

Van

28

24

31

24

17

21

16

17

11

31

20

25

20

24

20

Van

Vla

38

33

24

29

14

32

26

27

22

20

28

32

27

15

13

Vla

Wel

35

17

19

31

15

17

28

23

24

19

24

12

33

15

26

19

17

Wel

Yok

37

31

24

28

14

33

26

27

22

20

26

32

22

12

12

14

324

325

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Appendix 3 - Clothing - Size Equivalents

Appendix 3:
Clothing-Size Equivalents
MENS SHIRT SIZES

MENS SHOES

LADIES SHOES

US

UK

Europe

US

UK

4-1
2

39

21/2

34

52

40

31/2

35

62

41

41/2

351/2-36

7-1
2

42

51/2

37

10

8-

43

61/2

38

44

71/2

39

46

10

81/2

40

1
1

US and UK
Neck

Europe

Letter

US
Chest

36-38

14-142

36-37

11

9-1

39-41

15-152

38-39

12

10--11

42-44

16-162

41-42

XL

45-47

17-17-1

43-44

XXL

48-52

18-18-

1
1
1

LADIES BLOUSES, DRESSES,

AND COATS
US

MENS SUIT SIZES

US and UK

Europe

Chest

UK

Europe

Letter Misses

Womens

4-6

32-34

34-36

38-42

8-10

34-36

36-38

40-44

34

44

12-14

36-38

38-40

42-46

36

46

XL

16-18

38-42

42-44

46-50

38

48

XXL

20

42-44

44-46

48-52

40

50

42

52

44

54

46

56

326

327

Europe

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Appendix 4 - Languages

Appendix 4: Languages

French:

On ne ma pas donn le bon poste.

Spanish:

Me di un nmero equivocado.

USEFUL PHRASES

English:

I want to make an international call.

French:

Je voudrais tlphoner ltranger.

Spanish:

Quiero hacer una llamada internacional.

English:

Could you give me directory assistance, please?

French:

Pourriez-vous me passer les renseignements, sil vous

Here are some phrases in English, French, and Spanish that will be useful when you are in port, on the telephone, traveling, and ordering food.
Telephone Phrases
English:

May I use the telephone, please?

French:

Est-ce que je peux tlphoner, sil vous plat?

Spanish:

Puedo usar el telfono, por favor?

plat?
Spanish:

Conecteme con informaciones, por favor?

English:

What number are you calling?

English:

It is a local call.

French:

Quel numro demandez-vous?

French:

Cest une communication locale.

Spanish:

Qu nmero est llamando?

Spanish:

Es una llamada local.

English:

Please replace the handset and try again.

English:

This is a long-distance call.

French:

Raccrochez et recomposez le numro.

French:

Cest une communication de longue distance.

Spanish:

Por favor cuelgue el telefono e intente de nuevo.

Spanish:

Es una llamada de larga distancia.

English:

The number you are calling is busy. Please try again

English:

later.

Could you get me 018 43 46 09 37 12 (zero eighteen

forty-three forty-six zero nine thirty-seven twelve),

French:

Veuillez rappeler ultrieurement.

please?
French:

Toutes les lignes de votre correspondant sont occupes.

Je voudrais le 018 43 46 09 37 12 (zro dix-huit quar-

Spanish:

El numero que esta llamando est ocupado. Por favor

intente de nuevo ms tarde.

ante-trois quarente-six zro neuf trente-sept douze), sil

vous plat?
Spanish:

English:

Por favor, me podra conectar al nmero zero diez y

Travel Phrases

ocho cuarentaitres cuarentaiseis zero nueve treintaisiete

English:

I would like to to know the schedule of trains to Lille.

doce?

French:

Je voudrais connatre lhoraire de trains vers Lille.

Spanish:

A qu hora sale el tren para Lille?

You gave me the wrong number.

328

329

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Appendix 4 - Languages

English:

Where can I get a bus to the city?

English:

Where can I change my money?

French:

O peux-je prendre un bus pour aller en ville?

French:

O peut-on changer de largent?

Spanish:

1. A dnde puedo tomar un bus para el centro?

Spanish:

A dnde puedo cambiar dinero?

English:

What is the exchange rate?

2. A dnde puedo tomar un bus para el centro de la ciudad?

English:

How far is it to the city?

French:

Quel est le cours du change?

French:

A quelle distance sommes-nous du centre ville?

Spanish:

Cul es la tasa de cambio?

Spanish:

Est lejos de aqu el centro de la ciudad?

English:

You have given me the wrong change.

English:

Is it far from here?

French:

Vous mavez donn un change erron.

French:

Est-ce loin dici?

Spanish:

Me ha dado un cambio incorrecto.

Spanish:

Est lejos de aqu?

English:

Where is the restroom?

English:

Yes, it is about four kilometers.

French:

O sout la toilette, sil vous plat?

French:

Oui, peu prs quatre kilomtres.

Spanish:

A dnde est el servicio sanitario?

Spanish:

S, son como cuatro kilometros.

Miscellaneous Phrases

English:

Is this the way to the port?

English:

Do you mind if I smoke?

French:

Est-ce la direction du port?

French:

a vous drange si je fume?

Spanish:

Es ste el camino para el puerto?

Spanish:

1. Puedo fumar?
2. Le molesta si fumo?

English:

Is there a good hotel here?

French:

Ya-t-il un bon htel ici?

English:

Thanks.

Spanish:

Hay un buen hotel aqu?

French:

Merci.

Spanish:

Gracias.

English:

What is the charge for my room?

French:

Quel est le prix de ma chambre?

English

I am sorry.

Spanish:

Cunto cobran por mi cuarto?

French:

Excusez-moi.

Spanish:

1. Lo siento.

English:

How much does it cost? Or, What is the price?

French:

Quel est le prix?

Spanish:

Cunto cuesta?

330

2. Disclpeme.

331

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Appendix 4 - Languages

English:

I am very angry.

French:

Je suis trs fach.

Spanish:

1. Estoy muy enfadado.

beefsteak

bifteck

biftec

2. Estoy muy enojado.

ham

jambon

jamn

chicken

coq, poulet

pollo

Meat

English

French

Spanish

turkey

dinde

pavo

Food Terms

Termes de cuisine

Trminos de

liver

foie

higado

cocina

veal

veau

ternera

broiled

rti, grill

a la parrilla

mutton

mouton

carnero

steamed

cuit la vapeur

al vapor

pork

porc

cerdo puerco

without salt

sans sel

sin sal

bacon

lard

tocino

sauce on the side

la sauce part

la salsa aparte

lamb

agneau

cordero

rare

saignant

poco cocinado

medium

point

medio

Vegetables and Fruit

cocinado/media
cocinada*

vegetable

lgume

verdura

breakfast

petit djeuner

desayuno

fruit

fruit

fruto

lunch

djeuner

almuerzo

tomato

tomate

tomate

dinner, supper

diner, souper

comida, cena

apple

pomme

manzanna

orange

orange

naranja

potato

pomme de terre

papas

potato chips

pommes de terre frites

papas fritas

Fish
fish

poisson

pescado

mashed potatoes

pommes de terre pures pur de papas

shrimp

crevette

1. camarnes

beans

flagols

frijoles, porstos

2. langostinos

salad

salade

ensalada

peas

petits poids

arvejas

bread

pain

pan

toast

toast, pain grill

pan tostado

sandwich

sandwich

sandwich

shellfish

coquillages

mariscos

herring

hareng

arenque

lobster

homard

langosta

oyster

hutre

ostra

cod

morue

bacalao

*Use masculine (-o) or feminine (-a), depending on gender form of

Bread

food.
332

333

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Appendix 4 - Languages

pastry dessert

patisserie

postre, masas

cake

gteau

bollo, torta

Drinks

Numbers
English

French

Spanish

one

un

uno

two

deux

dos

three

trois

trs

tea

th

four

quatre

quatro

coffee

caf

caf

five

cinq

cinco

water

eau

agua

six

six

sis

skim milk

lait crm

leche descremada

seven

sept

siete

milk

lait

leche

eight

huit

ocho

dry white wine

vin blanc sec

vino blanco seco

nine

neuf

nueve

beer

bire

cerveza

10

ten

dix

dies

juice

jus

jugo

11

eleven

onze

once

12

twelve

douze

doce

13

thirteen

treize

trece

14

fourteen

quatorze

catorce

Other
ice

glace

hielo

15

fifteen

quinze

quince

salt

sel

sal

16

sixteen

seize

diecisis

pepper

poivre

pimienta

17

seventeen

dix-sept

diecisiete

jam

confiture

mermelada,

18

eighteen

dix-huit

dieciocho

dulce de ...

19

nineteen

dix-neuf

diecinueve

mantequilla,

20

twenty

vingt

veinte

manteca

30

thirty

trente

treinta

butter

beurre

cheese

fromage

queso

40

forty

quarante

cuarenta

custard

flan

flan

50

fifty

cinquante

cincuenta

egg

oeuf

huevo

60

sixty

soixante

sesenta

soup

potage

sopa

70

seventy

soixante-dix

setenta

the check

laddition

la cuenta

80

eighty

quatre-vingts

ochenta

90

ninety

quatre-vingt-dix noventa

100

one hundred

cent

cien

1000

one thousand

mille

mil

334

335

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Appendix 5:
World Time Zones
The local time at any location depends on its position on the globe.
The world is divided into 24 time zones. The width of each time zone
is about 15 degrees of longitude. By international agreement, the line
of longitude running through Greenwich, England, was adopted as
the prime meridian. The time in this zone is called Greenwich Mean
Time (GMT).
An adjustment to standard time, called daylight saving time, is used
by some countries to conserve fuel by reducing the need for artificial
light in the evening hours. During daylight saving time, clocks are set
to one hour later than the standard time.
To find the standard time in any of the countries and regions below,
add the number shown to the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Add
an additional hour if the country uses daylight saving time.

336

A p p e n d i x 5 - Wo r l d T i m e Z o n e s

Country + GMT
Argentina
-3
Australia
East coast
10
West coast
7
Bahrain
3
Belgium
1
Belize
-6
Bolivia
-4
Brazil
3
Burma. See
Myanmar
Canada
East coast
-4
West coast
-8
Chile
-4
Colombia
-4
Costa Rica
-6
Cyprus
2
Denmark
1
Ecuador
-5
Egypt
2
El Salvador
-6
Fiji
12
Finland
2
France
1
French
Antilles
-4
French
Polynesia
-10
Germany
1
Ghana
0
Greece
2
Guam
10
Guatemala
-6
Guyana
-3

Country + GMT
Haiti
-5
Honduras
-6
Hong Kong
8
Iceland
0
India
5.5
Indonesia
7
Ireland
0
Israel
2
Italy
1
Ivory Coast
0
Japan
9
Kenya
3
Liberia
0
Luxembourg
1
Malaysia
8
Malta
1
Mexico
-6
Morocco
0
Myanmar
7
Netherlands
1
Netherlands
Antilles
-4
New Zealand
12
Nicaragua
-6
Nigeria
1
Norway
1
Oman
4
Panama
-5
Papua New
Guinea
10
Paraguay
-3
Peru
-5
Philippines
8
Portugal
0
Romania
2

337

Country + GMT
Russia
St. Petersburg,
Murmansk 2
Nordvik
7
Khabarovsk,
Pugachev,
Vladivostok
9
Uelen
12
Saudi Arabia
3
Singapore
8
South Africa
2
South Korea
+9
Spain
1
Sri Lanka
5.5
Suriname
10
Sweden
1
Switzerland
1
Taiwan
8
Tanzania
3
Thailand
7
Tunisia
1
Turkey
2
United Arab
Emirates
4
United
Kingdom
0
United States
Alaska
-10
East coast
-5
West coast
-8
Uruguay
-3
Venezuela
-4
Vietnam
8
Yemen
3
Yugoslavia
1

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Appendix 6 - Flags and Ensigns

Germany, Bundesrepublik
Deutschland

Appendix 6:
Flags and Ensigns
Algeria

Great Britain, England,

United Kingdom

Antigua and Barbuda

Great Britain, United Kingdom:
Red Ensign

Argentina

Greece

Australia

Bahamas

Hong Kong

India

Italy

Japan

Bahamas: Merchant Ensign

Brazil

Canada

Liberia

China

Malaysia

Cyprus

Malaysia: Civil Ensign

Denmark (DIS)

Malta

Egypt

338

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Malta: Civil Ensign

Appendix 6 - Flags and Ensigns

Marshall Islands

Nigeria

Norway (DIS), Norge

Panama

Philippines

Portugal

Russian Federation

Saint Vincent and the

Grenadines

Turkey

United States of America

Vanuatu

Singapore

Singapore: Civil Flag

Singapore: Merchant Flag

South Korea, Republic of Korea

Taiwan

340

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Seafarers Handbook

Sources

Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships, Special Report, ICC

Sources

International Maritime Bureau. Web site:

We used many sources to compile this handbook. The written ones, including Internet sources, are listed below.
Seafarers Rights
Workbook for Port Chaplains and Ship Visitors on Seafarers
Rights, Seamens Church Institute of New York and New
Jersey, 1996.

http://www.iccwbo.org/pub/
Piracy and Other Crimes, IMO News, March 1993.
Stevenson, Douglas, Dont Get Caught Smuggling Drugs,
1997. Available from Seamens Church Institute of New York
and New Jersey, 241 Water St., New York, New York 10038.
First Aid

World Religions
Comptons Encyclopedia, Comptons New Media, 1995.

Hill, Patricia, Emergency Medical Procedures for the Home,

Auto and Workplace, 2nd ed., Prentice-Hall Press, New York,
1990.

Prayers and Hymns

Occasional Ministries, Chaplain Corps., U.S. Navy, 1985.
Prayers for the Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard.
Todays Missal, Vol. 64, No. 9, Oregon Catholic Press,
Portland, Oregon, 1997.
Smuggling, Piracy, and Stowaways
Guidelines on the Allocation of Responsibilities to Seek the
Successful Resolution of Stowaway Cases, IMO Circular 43,
IMO London, Jan. 1996.
Piracy and Armed Robbery, Merchant Shipping Notice
M.1517, United Kingdom Department of Transport.

Student Workbook for Multimedia Standard First Aid, American

Red Cross, 1981.
Disease Prevention
Bearden, Bill, The Bluejackets Manual, 21st ed., Naval Institute
Press, Annapolis, Maryland, 1990.
The Family Doctor, 4th ed., Creative Multimedia Corp., 1996.
Health Information for International Travel, U.S. Dept. of
Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control, -CDC
-ATSDR Science Corner. Web site:
http://atsdr1.atsdr.cdc.gov:8080/cx.html

Available from Room G3 Spring Place, 105 Commercial

Road, Southampton S01 0Z0, United Kingdom.

342

343

Seamens.Final.new

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Page 344

Seafarers Handbook

Sources

Health Tips (Malaria), TravelInfo Southern Africa, Travel &

Veracruz. Web site:

Trade Publishing. Document available at Web site:

http://www.umich.edu/~proflame/texts/mirror/veracr.html

http://rapidttp.com/travel/healthm.html
World Atlas, The Software Toolworks, Inc., Novato, California,
Statement on Travellers and Sexually Transmitted Diseases,

1990.

Canadian Medical Association Journal, 1995; 152:18261828.

Statement available at Web site:
http://www.cma.ca/cmaj/vol-152/1826e.htm

The Sea Environment

The Black Sea Environmental Programme (BSEP). Statement
available at Web site:

Taubes, Gary, A Mosquito Bites Back, The New York Times

http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg1a/tacis/contract_info/

Magazine, August 24, 1997.

interstate/env2.htm

Travel Health Information and Referral Service. Web site:

Encyclopedia of Environmental Science, 2nd ed., McGraw-

http://www.travelhealth.com/genguide.htm

Hill, New York, 1980.

The Environmental State of the Baltic Sea, October 1996, The

Ports
A Safe Trip Abroad, pamphlet, U.S. Department of State.

Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO). Web

site: http://www.helcom.fi/

Bellwood, Peter, Ancient Seafarers, Archaeology 50, no. 2

(MarchApril 1997). Available at Web site:

The Great Book of the Sea: A Complete Guide to Marine Life,

http://www.he.net/~archaeol/9703/etc/specialreport.html

Courage Books, Philadelphia, 1993.

Guide to Port Entry, Shipping Guides Limited, Surrey,

Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia, CD-ROM, Grolier Electronic

England, 1996.

Publishing, Danbury, Connecticut, 1998.

International Christian Maritime Association, 2/3 Orchard

Parker, Henry S., Exploring the Oceans, Prentice-Hall, Inc.,

Place, Southampton SO14 3BR, United Kingdom. Tel.: [+44

Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1985.

(0) 1703] 336111. Member directory available at Web site:

http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/drive/xzy86/page6m.htm

The Random House Atlas of the Oceans, Random House, New

York, 1991.

Travel Warnings & Consular Information Sheets, U.S.

Department of State. Available at Web site:

United Nations Environment Programme (Web links to

http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html

environmental treaties): http://www.unep.ch/

344

345

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Seafarers Handbook

Pollution in the Ocean Environment

Managing Oily Waste and Garbage from Ships, U.S. Coast Guard,

Sources

International Laws
Annual Review 1996/1997, International Chamber of Shipping.

Marine Safety and Environmental Protection Division, 1994.

Basic Facts About IMO, Focus on IMO, IMO, London,
Prevention of Marine Pollution: Guidelines for Tank Vessel

January 1996.

Personnel, Mobil Shipping and Transportation Company,

Fairfax, Virginia.

Center Update, Center for Seafarers Rights, New York,

September 1989.

Safer Ships, Cleaner Seas, HMSO, London, 1994.

Currents, Center for Seafarers Rights, New York, Spring
United States Coast Guard, Marine Safety and Environmental

1994.

Protection. Web site:

http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/gmhome.htm

IMO: The International Maritime Organization, Focus on

IMO, IMO, London, February 1992.

Weather
Hardy, Ralph, Teach Yourself Weather, NTC Publishing Group,

IMO: What It Is; What It Does; How It Works, pamphlet,

Lincolnwood, Illinois, 1996.

IMO, London.

Stevens, William K., Storm Warning: Bigger Hurricanes and

International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, U.S.

More of Them, The New York Times, June 3, 1997.

Dept. of Transportation, Coast Guard, COMDTINST

M16210.2, 1974.

Tobin, Wallace E., Mariners Pocket Companion, Naval Institute

Press, Annapolis, Maryland, July 1996.

International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, IMO,

London, 1986.

Navigation
Maloney, Elbert S., and Chapman, Charles F., Chapman

Maritime Labour Conventions and Recommendations, ILO,

Piloting: Seamanship & Small Boat Handling, 62nd ed., Hearst

Geneva, Switzerland, 1988.

Books, New York, 1996.

MARPOL: How To Do It, IMO, London, 1993.
MARPOL 73/78, Focus on IMO, IMO, London, October
1995.

346

347

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Page 348

Seafarers Handbook

Sources

MARPOL 73/78: The International Convention for the

Turbulo Separator Operating Instructions, Blohm and Voss

Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the

AG, Hamburg, Germany.

Protocol of 1978, October 1995. Available from Web site:

http://www.imo.org/imo/focus/intro.htm

Signage
IMDG Code, Pub. 306/95, IMO, London.

The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea, Peter Kemp, ed.,
Oxford Paperbacks, Oxford, UK, 1988.

Seton Identification Products. Web site:

http://www.seton.com

STCW 95, IMO, London, 1996.

U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, Title 46 (46 C.F.R.).
Summary of IMO Conventions, Focus on IMO, IMO,
London, May 1996.

Fire Safety
Bearden, Bill, The Bluejackets Manual, 21st rev. ed., Naval
Institute Press, Annapolis, Maryland, 1990.

Ship Talk
Standard Marine Navigational Vocabulary, IMO, London,
1985.

Marine Fire Prevention, Firefighting and Fire Safety, U.S.

Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration.

Ship Systems
Bearden, Bill, The Bluejackets Manual, 21st ed., Naval

Hazardous Cargoes

Institute Press, Annapolis, Maryland, 1990.

IMO and Dangerous Goods at Sea, , IMO, London,

May 1996.

General Instructions Governing Work on System Electrical

Equipment, Consolidated Edison Company of NY, 1982.

NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, U.S. Dept. of

Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control,

Heli-Sep Oily Water Separator, World Wide Systems, Inc.,

1985.

Irvine, California.
Flags
Noel, John V., Knights Modern Seamanship, 18th ed., John

Flags of the world can be found at the following Web site:

Wiley & Sons, New York, 1997.

http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/

The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea, Peter Kemp, ed.,
Oxford Paperbacks, Oxford, 1988.

348

349

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Seafarers Handbook

Charlie Hubert, Mobil Shipping and Transportation

Acknowledgments

Company

The Seamens Church Institute received assistance for this

project from many individuals at institutions throughout the
international maritime community.

A c k n ow l e d ge m e n t s

We are pleased to

acknowledge these important contributors.

Celina Johnson, Consolidated Edison of NY

Andrew E.V. Krey, Maritime Ministry of Southern England
Gerhard E. Kurz, Mobil Shipping and Transportation
Company
Timo Lappalainen, International Transport Workers
Federation
Allen Manuel, Ocean Power and Equipment Co., Inc.
Capt. Jim McNamara, National Cargo Bureau
Julian Parker, The Nautical Institute
David Patraiko, The Nautical Institute
Rabbi A. Resnicoff, U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps
Dick Russel, Ocean Power and Equipment Co., Inc.
Ralph K. Smith, Snow Becker Krauss PC

Ioanna N. Vardinoyannis - Fournier

Manuella N. Vardinoyannis
Pyrros N. Vardinoyannis
Don Becker, The Journal of Commerce
Donald Birney, American Bureau of Shipping
Capt. E. F. Skip Blancett, U.S. Coast Guard
John Bowers, International Longshoremens Association
Paul Chapman, North American Maritime Ministry
Association
Tony DiBenedetto, Simplex-Turmar, Inc.
O.H.J. Dijxhoorn, International Maritime Organization
Richard T. du Moulin, Marine Transport Lines, Inc.
Capt. Keith Gill, Mobil Shipping and Transportation
Company
Michael Grey, Lloyds List
Tom Harnish, Naval Institute Press

350

Herbert Swain, Young and Rubicam

Thomas Tucker, American Bureau of Shipping
VADM Paul Welling, Schnader Harrison Segal and Lewis
A. Winbow, International Maritime Organization
Frank Zabrocky, National Cargo Bureau
At The Seamens Church Institute of New York and
New Jersey
Capt. Richard Beadon
Capt. William R. Douglas
Henry Enright
Bev Jafek
Lawrence Kahn, Esq.
Andrea Laine
The Rev. Peter Larom
Capt. Eric K. Larsson
The Rev. Jean R. Smith
Douglas B. Stevenson, Esq.
351

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Seafarers Handbook

Seafarers Rights

The Environmental State Of The Baltic Sea, (October. 1996).

Bibliography

The Baltic and International Maritime Council, BIMCO,

Basic Facts About IMO. (1996, January). Focus on IMO,

London: International Maritime Organization.
The Black Sea, The Black Sea Environmental Programme,
(1997). [Website].
http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg1a/tacis/contract_info/interstate/ev2.htm.

[Website]. http://www.helcom.fi/.
Flags of the World, [Website].
http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/.
General Instructions Governing Work on System Electrical
Equipment, (1982). New York: Consolidated Edison
Company of NY, Inc.

Bearden, B. (1990). The Bluejackets Manual, (21st. Edition),

Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute.
Bellwood, P. (1997). Ancient Seafarers. Archaeological
Institute of America, [Website].
http://www.he.net/~archael/9703/etc/specialreport.html
Bruckheim, A. (1991). The Family Doctor, [CD-ROM]. Creative
Multimedia Corp.
Comptons Encyclopedia (1995). [CD-ROM] Cupertino, CA:
Comptons New Media and KidSoft, L.L.C.
DOS/CA: Travel Warnings & Consular Info Sheets, (1998). US
State Dept. [Website].
http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html
Encyclopedia of Environmental Science, second edition (1980).
McGraw Hill.

Guerrini, F. (1993). The Great Book of the Sea, A complete

Guide to Marine Life, Philadelphia, PA: Courage Books.
Guide to Port Entry,1995/96 edition (1995). Surrey England:
Shipping Guides Limited.
Hardy, Ralph, (1996). Lincolnwood, IL: Teach Yourself
Weather, NTC Publishing Group.
Health Information for International Travel, (1998). US Dept.
Of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control,
-CDC-ATSDR Science Corner,
http://atsdr1.atsdr.cdc.gov:8080/cx.html.
Heli-Sep Oily Water Separator, (1997). [Brochure]. Irvine,
California: World Wide Systems, Inc.
Hill, P. (1990). Emergency Medical Procedures for the Home, Auto
and Workplace, (2nd Edition). New York: Prentice Hall Press.

352

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Seafarers Rights

ICMA Directory, (1998). Southampton, UK: International

Marine Fire Prevention, Firefighting and Fire Safety, US

Christian Maritime Association.

Department of Commerce Maritime Administration.

IMDG Code, Publication: 306/95, London: International

Maritime Guide 1998, (1998). London: Lloyds Register of

Maritime Organization

Shipping.

IMO And Dangerous Goods At Sea. (1996, May). Focus on

Maritime Labour Conventions and Recommendations, (1988).

IMO, London: International Maritime Organization.

Geneva, Switzerland: ILO.

IMO:

MARPOL - How to do it, (1993). London: International

The International Maritime Organization. (1992,

February). Focus on IMO, London: International Maritime

Maritime Organization.

Organization.
MARPOL 73/78, (1995, October). Focus on IMO, London:
IMO, What it Is; What it Does; How it Works, [pamphlet].

International Maritime Organization, London: International

London: International Maritime Organization.

Maritime Organization

International Convention for The Safety of Life at Sea, (1974).

MARPOL 73/78: The International Convention for the

[US Regulation]. US Coast Guard COMDTINST M16210.2.

Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the

Protocol of 1978, (1995, October). [International Treaty].

International Convention for The Safety of Life at Sea, (1986).

[Website]. http://www.unep.ch/.

[International Treaty]. London: International Maritime

Organization.

Multimedia Encyclopedia, (1992). [CD-ROM]. Novato, CA:

Grolier Electronic Publishing and Software Toolworks, Inc.

Kemp, P. (1988). The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea,

Oxford University Press.

NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, (1985). US Dept.

Of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control.

Maloney, E. S. (1985). Chapman Piloting: Seamanship and

Small Boat Handling, Hearst Marine Books.

Noel, J. V. (Ed.) (1997) Knights Modern Seamanship, seventeenth edition, New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.

Managing Oily Waste and Garbage from Ships, (1994). US

Coast Guard, Marine Environmental Protection Division.

354

Occasional Ministries, (1985). Chaplain Corp., US Navy.

355

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Seafarers Rights

Parker, H. S. Exploring the Oceans, (1985). Englewood Cliffs,

Stevens, W. (1997, June 3). Storm Warning: Bigger

NJ: Prentice-Hill, Inc.

Hurricanes and More of Them. The New York Times.

Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships, (1997 July). Special

Stevenson, D. (Ed.) (1996). Workbook for Port Chaplains and

Report, International Chamber of Commerce, IMB.

Ship Visitors on Seafarers Rights, Seamens Church Institute

of NY and NJ Institute of New York and New Jersey.

Piracy and Other Crimes. (1993 March). IMO News.

Stevenson, D. (1997). Dont Get Caught Smuggling Drugs,
Prayers for the Coast Guard, (undated). US Coast Guard.

Stevenson.

Prevention of Marine Pollution, Guidelines for Tank Vessel

Student Workbook for Multimedia Standard First Aid, (1981).

Personnel, (undated). Fairfax, VA: Mobil Shipping and

American Red Cross.

Transportation Company,
Summary of IMO Conventions. (1996, May). Focus on IMO,
Safer Ships, Cleaner Seas, Report of Lord Donaldsons

London: International Maritime Organization.

Inquiry into the prevention of pollution from Merchant

Shipping, (1994). London: HMSO.

Taubes, G. (1997). A Mosquito Bites Back. The New York

Times Magazine. August 24, 1997.

Seton Identification Products, (1998).[Website].

http://www.seton.com/catalogue/Outdoor_OSHA_Signs.html.

The Random House Atlas of the Oceans, (1991). New York:

Random House.

Standard Marine Navigational Vocabulary, (1985). London:

International Maritime Organization.

A Safe Trip Abroad, (Revised: 1996, August). [Pamphlet]

Washington, DC: US Department of State.

Statement on Travelers and Sexually Transmitted Disease,

(1998). Canadian Medical Association Journal 1995;

T.S. Patriot State Engineering Manual, (1995). Massachusetts,

152:1826-1828, Health Canada - Public Health Information,

MA: Massachusetts Maritime Academy. [Website].

[Website]. http://hwcweb.hwc.ca/hpb/lcdc/.

http://www.mma.mass.edu/campus/tsps/manual/.

STCW-95, (1996). London: International Maritime

Tobin, W. Mariners Pocket Companion, (1998). Annapolis,

Organization.

MD: Naval Institute Press.

356

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Todays Missal, (1997). Portland OR: Oregon Catholic Press,

Seafarers Rights

This page left blank intentionally

Travel Health Information and Referral Service, (1998).

[Website]. http://www.travelhealth.com/genguide.htm
Travel Information - Southern Africa - Health Tips - Malaria,
(1998). [Website]. http://rapidttp.com/travel/healthm.html
Turbulo Separator Operating Instructions, (1997). Hamburg,
Germany: Blohm and Voss AG.
US Code of Federal Regulations, 46 CFR Shipping, (1985).
Washington DC: Federal Register National Archives and
Records Administration.
USCG Marine Safety Environmental Protection, (1998).
[Website].
http://www.dot.gov/dotinfo/uscg/hq/g-m/gmhome.htm.
Veracruz, (1995). Monterrey Mexico: Mexico Online.
[Website].
http://www.umich.edu/~proflame/texts/mirror/veracr.html.
World Atlas, (1990). [CD-ROM]. Novato, California: The
Software Toolworks, Inc.

358

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Back cover is blank leather.

360

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