Crew Protection
1. Several layers of clothing (instead of one heavy suit) is preferable as air trapped between the layers of the clothing provides greater insulation and consequently less loss of body heat.
2. Use of clothing with some ventilation decreases perspiration which can freeze. Wet flesh freezes faster than dry flesh.
3. Whilst working it is natural to perspire, but do not remove clothing whilst in an exposed environment, come into the accommodation to dry off.
4. As far as possible work with back towards the wind.
5. Gloves to be sufficiently loose for circulation to be maintained.
6. Hoods/caps to be worn with ears covered. Much body heat is lost through unprotected head and neck.
7. Never rub a numb area as this could damage the frozen flesh.
8. In extreme temperatures, feel your cheeks and nose with your fingers. No sensation means the likelihood of frostbite is present, so enter a warm area as soon as possible.
9. Frost-bite and hypothermia are very real dangers associated with cold weather. Guard yourself carefully against them.
Vessel Precautions
- Fire Lines: Drain the fire-main lines and leave the drains open. Leave a hydrant on the lowermost exposed deck open. Drain the straight-drops of the fire-line around the Accommodation. Drain the anchor-wash lines.Tag the fire pumps starting panel so that deck-water is not started inadvertently.
- Shut the fresh water line to the main deck and drain the line. Shut the external fresh water lines to all individual accommodation external decks and drain the lines.
- Drain the bridge window wash water line and leave the drain open, never attempt to start the system in sub-freezing temperatures.
- Ensure only seawater ballast is retained onboard – exchange ballast if necessary
- Continuously circulate the ballast.
- Start motors/pumps of gangways/hoists/ provision cranes/hatch covers / cargo-handling gear well in advance of their use.
- All exposed movable parts (butterfly nuts-bolts, flap hinges, vents, valve spindles, sounding pipe/temperature pipe caps, hydrant wheel spindles, steel door dogs, etc.,) to be kept liberally covered with grease. A little anti-freeze mixed into the grease is very effective.
- Ensure space-heaters where fitted to be kept ON. (forward stores / under-deck spaces / Emergency Fire pump room / steering flat / Emergency Gen room / all hydraulic pump rooms).
- All exposed electric/air motors (gangways, lifeboats, crane, davits etc.,) to be securely covered. Drain the air pipeline filters of water.
- Slacked down fuel tanks / FW tanks / Jerry cans in the lifeboats. Ensure lifeboats are fully covered and secured properly. Lifelines, if not fully covered, to be coiled inside the boats with the standing parts lead through the forward / aft openings in the covers.
- Lifeboat: Ensure that lifeboat engine heaters are ON and keep pilot-start cans in boats ready for use.
- Use only 100% glycol / antifreeze for engine coolant. Do not add water, as it will freeze around -20 deg C. Take a sample of coolant from the Emergency generator & lifeboats and keep in Meat room, to check the effectiveness in sub-zero temperatures.
- Incinerator: To run ½ hour on DO before stopping. Keep Waste Oil tank temperatures around 100 deg C all times. Never shut steam fully.
- Diesel Generator: Run ½ hour on DO before stopping. After stop, free-up fuel racks with Kerosene + LO. Check racks are free before starting the DG each time. Shut Sea water valves for the stopped DG. Run the stopped DG at least ½ hour each day. Turbocharger washing for each DG should be carried out before entering the cold / sub-zero area.
- Seawater temperature control valve be set at 30 0C for recirculation (though it will not help much when ME is stopped).
- Engine room ventilation blowers: Keep only one blower ON (Above FD fan). Keep flaps shut above DG and purifier room, to avoid cooling due to ambient air. ER funnel flaps SHUT. Door between ER and Steering flat to be kept OPEN (close this if PSC inspection). Steering exhaust fan to be stopped, vent shut. Natural air inlet be shut to avoid cooling by ambient air.
- FO transfer pump: Keep steam tracing ON. Suction filter does not have the steam tracing line, so keep the steam hose ready in case to use it. FO transfer to be done manually (do not put on Auto) under supervision. Check pump amps while transfer. Steam heating to ALL bunker tanks to be ON always. Clean transfer pump filter before entering the cold / sub-zero area.
- FO overflow tank: Keep the steam heating ON. Bring levels low, by transferring to Waste oil tanks before entering cold/sub-zero areas
- BSOT tank: Keep the steam heating ON. Bring levels low, by transferring to Waste oil tanks before entering cold/sub-zero areas. If thick cold sludge is transferred by sludge pump, it may choke and damage the pump. So better avoid it.
- Bunker System: Blow through the FO & LSMGO lines on deck from a manifold to each individual tanks. Ensure the pipeline is clear before entering the cold/sub-zero areas. Line up the tanks which have to bunker and keep the valves in OPEN condition (depending on your judgment). Clean the air vent mesh. Apply grease + glycol on the sounding pipes of FO tanks on deck. Before bunkering ensures the air vents for each tank is clear.
- Hot Well: Boiler cascade tank temperatures to be around 80 0C. Bypass the atmospheric cooler if required.
- At least one portable steam hose to be kept ready of sufficient length (approx. 5 m) for use in an emergency.
- ME under-piston drain line: After ME stop, blow the line with Steam till scavenge drain tank. Also, blow steam and clear passage from the line to each unit.