14.13.1 One abandon unit drill and one fire drill should be
conducted every week. A man overboard drill should be conducted at least quarterly.
Drills should be so arranged that all personnel participate in a drill at least once a
month. A drill should take place within 24 h after a personnel change if more than 25%
of the personnel have not participated in abandon unit and fire drills on board that
particular unit in the previous month. The Administration may accept other arrangements
that are at least equivalent for those units for which this is impracticable.
14.13.2 Drills and exercises should be conducted
in accordance with the recommendations of the Organization.footnote
14.13.3 Different lifeboats should, as far as
practicable, be lowered in compliance with the provisions of paragraph
14.13.2 at successive drills.
14.13.4 Drills should, as far as practicable,
be conducted as if there were an actual emergency and should include
at least the following:
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.1 the functions and use of the life-saving appliances;
and
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.2 except for free-fall lifeboats, starting of
engines and lowering of at least one lifeboat and, at least once every
three months when conditions permit, launching and manoeuvring with
the assigned operating crew on board.
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.3 alternatively, the provisions regarding launching
and manoeuvring may be considered as having been met for those units
that have, (a) implemented the Guidelines developed by the Organizationfootnote and they are included in the unit's operating
procedures or, (b) by other equivalent means acceptable to the Administration.
14.13.5 Davit-launched liferafts for MODUs
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.1 a liferaft should be lowered at least quarterly during abandon
unit drills. Whenever practicable this may include the inflation of a liferaft.
This liferaft may be a special liferaft intended for training purposes only and
should not be boarded;
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.2 the dedicated training liferaft should be identical in size, shape
and mass to the actual liferaft cases used on board the unit, but of a different
colour and prominently marked 'training aid – not for use in emergency'; and
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.3 during such drills, emphasis should be placed on ensuring the
crew's familiarity with handling all necessary lashings, painters, connecting the
training liferaft to the davit, swinging out the davit and lowering the
liferaft.
14.13.6 As far as is reasonably practicable, rescue boats
should be launched each month with the assigned crew aboard and manoeuvred in the water.
In all cases these provisions should be complied with at least once every three months
during a man overboard drill to simulate the recovery of a person from the water.
14.13.7 For lifeboats, the provisions of SOLAS regulation
III/19.3.4.3 should be applied.footnote
14.13.8 In the case of a lifeboat arranged for free-fall
launching, the provisions of SOLAS regulation III/19.3.4.4 should be applied.