Ship safety instructions

Safety instructions and behaviour

Safety onboard is ensured by adherence to the safety and work safety regulations. The extraordinary situation on sea requires regulation of emergency such as fire, grounding, sinking or water ingress.

There are 2 acoustic alarm signals:

GENERAL ALARM: • • • • • • • ———— (7 short and a long sound; repeated)

Interupt your activities and go to the assembly point on the helicopter deck wearing warm clothes, a life vest and the survival suit. You will be received by a crew member and given instructions you need to follow.

SIGNAL FOR LEAVING THE SHIP: • — • — • — • — • — • — (1 short and 1 long sound; repeated)

Interupt your activities and go to the resue boat assigned to you wearing warm clothes, a life vest and a survival suit. You will be received by a crew member and given instructions you need to follow.

Normally there will be a general alarm first. After assessment of completeness on the assembly place the alarm for leaving the ship will be issued eventually by the captain.

Clothing and behaviour in case of emergency

Personal equipment should comprise warm clothing, firm shoes, headgear, life vest and survival suite.

Life vests and survival suites are stored in the cabins below the couch and on the wardrobe. If you cannot reach your chamber in case of emergency sufficient life vests are stored on deck in white chests close to the rescue boats. You will find instructions for safety and information about putting on life vests in your chamber.

The number of the rescue boat assigned to every single participant is shown on the notice board and on the indoor side of the bathroom. If the chamber is shared with other people they are all assigned to the same rescue boat.

The assembly point is on the helicopter deck behind the rescue boats. Escape arrows and pictograms show the shortest way to the assembly point. Every expedition member should follow the escape route from the chamber to the assembly point under normal conditions in order to make sure that one can also find it under dark and smoky conditions.

If a expedition member is trapped in a chamber, the window can be broken with a hammer hanging close to it. There is a firm rope stored under the couch in all chambers which do not allow direct exit to the deck. The rope is fixed at the bottom of the couch chest. It can be lowered out of the window and one can use it for abseiling.

Even in case of emergency one should not depart from the ship without leaving of the ship leadership. All participants should avoid panicking. Dress warm and careful! Do not drink alcohol! Do not jump into the water but try to get in the rescue boat or life raft dryly! If there is sufficient time take additional drinking water with you!

Communications will be limited (telefon, Email, etc.) because all channels have to be kept free for emergency communication.

Distribution of messages or information about the emergency not agreed on by the captain or the cruise leader is prohibited.

Safety instructions for everday's life

Fire is one of the biggest dangers onboard. Open fire e.g. candles are prohibited.

Remains of cigarettes and tabacco have to be thrown in the assigned containers. You fill find containers labelled „Nur für Asche". Cigarette butts have to be extinguished and ash trays emptied before leaving the room. Because the ship strongly moves in waves or during ice breaking there is a danger of ash trays falling over and starting a fire. Adhere to the non-smoking areas!

After routing cables in or between laboratories you have to close the cable ducts with mineral fibre cushions available onboard to hinder air circulation in case of fire.

To remain afloat in case of leakage or fire the ship can be subdivided in several watertight sections by hydraulic watertight bulkheads. Do not pass through already closing bulkheads because of danger of life! Escaping from a closed compartment is possible via specially marked emergency exits.

You will find folders with information about the safety measures of RV Polarstern in the mess rooms. Safety plans and fire control plans are present on every deck.

You will find blue helmets and safety vests in the corridor before the working deck. Helmet and vest have to be put back after usage. You must not take them to your cabin or laboratory in order to always have enough helmets and vests for the persons on deck.

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