TDMMF3207C -Apply domestic regulations and industry practices when operating a small coastal vessel

• Apply Domestic Regulations
  • Overview of Unit
• Access and Interpret Relevant Legislation and Codes
  • International Standards
  • Australian Marine Legislative Framework
  • Regulator and Standards
  • Survey Requirements
  • Registering a Commercial Ship
  • Certificate Requirements
  • Vessel Documentation
  • Notices to Mariners
  • Marine Incidents
  • Marine Pollution
• Ensure Operations and Maintenance Comply with Legal Requirements
  • Ensure Operations and Maintenance Comply with Legal Requirements
  • Conduct Onboard Checks
  • Training Crew
• Monitor and Control Compliance with Applicable Maritime Legislation
• AUSREP System
• Collision Regulations
  • Navigation Rules
  • Restricted Visibility
  • Sound Signals
• IALA Buoyage System
• Rendering Assistance
• Stranding of Vessel
• Encountering a Cyclone

Monitor and Control Compliance with Applicable Maritime Legislation | Rendering Assistance

Duty to Render Assistance

All ships are bound to render assistance to persons in distress unless:

• they are unable
• assistance is unnecessary (others providing)
• in the conditions, it is unreasonable.

Distress Signals

The following signals, used or exhibited either together or separately, indicate distress and need of assistance:

If you are in distress use the following signals:

Marine radio/signalling Imediate life threatening danger: "mayday    mayday    mayday" A situation of urgency: "pan pan    pan pan    pan pan" A signal made by radio or by another signalling method consisting of the group SOS in the morse code.
If other boats or aircraft are in the area, let off an orange smoke flare (daylight) or a red parachute flare PLUS a hand-held orange smoke flare (night).
A V-sheet should be displayed to attract the attention of other boats or overpassing aircraft.
Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) should be used as a last resort. Keep it on until help arrives.
Slowly and repeatedly raise and lower arms outstretched to each side.
Continuous sounding of sound signalling equipment - SOS.
International Code Flags N over C.
International Code of Signals Alphabetical Flags	Single Letter Signals CLICK HERE

Responding to Distress Call

The master of a ship or aircraft in distress may, after consultation as far as practicable with the masters of ships that answer the call for help, requisition the ship(s) that are considered best able to help. The master of a requisitioned ship must go as quickly as possible to help the persons in distress.

The master of a ship that has not been requisitioned is informed of the requisition of another ship and that the other ship is complying with the requisition, the master is released from the obligation to assist.

If the master of a ship is informed by persons in distress, or by the master of another ship that has reached persons in distress, that help is no longer necessary, the master is released from any obligation in relation to the persons.

Responsibility to Record

The master of a ship must make a record:

• of any information received by the master that persons on or from a ship or aircraft are in distress at sea
• if the master did not go as quickly as possible to help the persons, the  reasons.

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