The Safety Discussion: A Pre-Departure Marine Safety Brief for Your Boat intended for all Skippers

BEFORE your family and friends show up, file a float plan, then:

First, show your guests how to board your vessel as well as what they can and cannot hold onto while boarding. Second, tell them where they should proceed once boarded. Third, guests may have personal belongings, show them how to open whichever hatches or staterooms you wish them to place their luggage. Forth, a bullet point approximate timing and destination(s) of your trip, at least for your first day.

Hope for the best, plan for the worst.  Whether you wish to see the wild horses or discover great shelling on Shackleford Banks, or just go out for a short cruise on your waterways, if you are the skipper of your boat and you are having guests aboard, whether for a sunny afternoon, overnight, or a long trip away from port, you must familiarize those guests with your boat, its features, location of safety devices, how to use the marine toilet (if applicable), how to use your VHF radio, basic boat operation, man overboard challenges and what to do including “spotters,” how to engage your life raft, again if applicable, etc.

Safety hazard: slip and trip. Water and feet oftentimes do not play well together as any deck, even with ribbed fiberglass and the best boat shoes, can be slippery. Even in an emergency, don’t run, otherwise, you may be creating another emergency.

A clean boat is a happy boat! It’s always trash pickup day on a boat. Let your guests know where to place their trash, whether plastic, metal, or paper.

As the suggestions above, as well as the below H2O Captain Safety Instruction and Orientation, are already overwhelming, especially to first-time boat guests, when it comes to docking and/or anchoring, the skipper should give instructions just prior to those maneuvers so retention will be high while also assigning tasks to some guests. Even a rookie on the water will most likely be able to put out a fender or two to assist you in docking!

Furthermore, as there is a lot to take in and not everyone may understand, please encourage your guests to ask questions as there are no foolish questions! Upon your return to the dock that afternoon or after a few weeks/months away, it is always a good idea to have a group debrief on what went right, and what will go right the next time!

In the interim, enjoy Mother Nature at her best…on the water!

The H2O Captain SAFETY INSTRUCTION and ORIENTATION
Safety Orientation
Prior to getting underway, Captain Mark will ensure public announcements are provided to passengers that address the following topics:
♦ Stowage location of the vessel’s PFDs/life preservers;
♦ Proper method of donning and adjusting life preservers carried aboard the vessel;
♦ The type and location of the various lifesaving devices carried on the vessel;
♦ Location and how to use the VHF radio.

Passenger Counts
Captain Mark will keep a count of all passengers received & delivered from day to day.

Emergency Instructions
Captain Mark will ensure that passengers will be told where the personal flotation devices/life preservers, throw rope, Type IV throwable, fire extinguishers, bailing bucket, 1st Aid Kit, floating locator electronic SOS beacon, navigation aid, and handheld VHF radio with its build-in GPS giving the vessel’s latitude and longitude as well as DSC button, and “blue card” with additional emergency procedures are located. PLUS:
♦ All storage area/hatches, and doors to be closed to prevent taking water aboard;
♦ Bilges kept dry to prevent loss of stability
♦ Passengers seated and evenly distributed;
♦ All passengers encouraged to wear PFDs during rough seas or inlet crossings;
♦ International distress call and call to the Coast Guard over the H2O Captain hand-held VHF (channel 16) radio made if assistance is needed and is constantly monitored.

Measures to be considered in the event of a man overboard
♦ Type IV PFD (behind helm) and/or kayak throw rope (mounted on the port side of the console) thrown as close to person-in-the-water (PIW) as possible;
♦ Lookout posted to keep PIW in sight.
♦ Strong swimmer or Captain Mark, wearing a life preserver and tending line standing by to enter the water to assist in recovery, if necessary;
♦ Coast Guard and all nearby vessels notified by VHF (channel 16) or DSC button;
♦ Search continued until after VHF (channel 16) consultation with the Coast Guard (if possible).

Measures to be considered in the event of a fire at sea
♦ Cut off the air supply to the fire by closing hatches, door, etc.
♦ Portable fire extinguishers (the H2O Boat carries two B-1’s located inside console door just left of center on the bottom) discharged at the base of the flames of flammable liquid or grease fires, or water applied to fires of combustible solids.
♦ If fire is in machinery spaces, shut off fuel supply by turning off ignition key.
♦ Vessel maneuvered to minimize the effect of wind on the fire.
♦ Coast Guard and all vessels in the vicinity notified by VHF (channel 16) of the fire, and location of the vessel.
♦ Passengers moved away from the fire, with all hopefully wearing life preservers.