Operational Guide · Registers & Logbooks

# Musters and Abandon Ship Drill

The muster list, new crew familiarisation and the frequency of abandon ship drills: the first thing a PSC inspector checks on boarding.

SOLAS Chapter III muster list abandon ship familiarisation

## Operational Explanation

The muster list assigns every crew member specific duties in the event of an emergency (muster station, role in the firefighting or abandon ship team, responsibilities towards passengers if present). Abandon ship drills and periodic musters verify that this organisation actually works, not just on paper.

Familiarising new crew members with the safety equipment and emergency procedures, to be completed within a short period of joining, is often the most critical point: a new crew member not yet familiarised reduces the collective effectiveness of the emergency response.

## Regulatory Reference

SOLAS Chapter III, Regulation 19 (Emergency training and drills): abandon ship drill and fire drill at least every month; a drill within 24 hours of departure if more than 25% of the crew has not taken part in a drill on the same ship in the previous month; every crew member must receive familiarisation with the safety equipment and emergency procedures as soon as possible and in any case not later than 2 weeks after joining.

## Scope of Application

Every ship subject to SOLAS Chapter III, for the entire crew and, on passenger ships, with additional information and drill requirements also for the passengers themselves.

## Procedure / How to Complete It

1. Ensure the muster list is posted in visible locations and assigns a clear task to every crew member.
2. Conduct the abandon ship drill at least once a month, including donning the immersion suit/lifejacket and simulating reaching the embarkation station.
3. Familiarise every new crew member with the safety equipment within 2 weeks of joining, as soon as possible.
4. Conduct a drill within 24 hours of departure if more than 25% of the crew has not taken part in a drill on the ship in the previous month.
5. Record every drill and familiarisation session, with date, scenario and participants, in the log book/SMS register.

## Practical Example

Example entry: "Abandon ship drill 01.07.2026: entire crew reaches the lifeboat no.1 embarkation station in 6 minutes, immersion suit donning verified for a sample of 3 crew members. Familiarisation completed for 2 new crew members (joined 25.06.2026)."

## Real Cases

In PSC interviews, the question "show me your emergency station and your role" put to a recently joined crew member is among the most frequent checks: uncertain or absent answers are an immediate indicator of familiarisation shortcomings, often linked to high turnover not accompanied by rigorous induction procedures.

## Common Mistakes Mistake Library

Mistake | Consequence | How to avoid it
--- | --- | ---
New crew member not familiarised within the required 2 weeks | PSC deficiency, real risk in the event of an emergency before familiarisation is completed | Schedule familiarisation as soon as possible after joining, don't postpone it
Muster list not updated after a crew change | Emergency duties not correctly assigned to the crew members actually on board | Update the muster list immediately at every crew change
Abandon ship drill without practical donning of the equipment (immersion suit, lifejacket) | The crew does not gain real familiarity with timing and practical difficulties | Periodically include practical donning of the equipment, not just simulation of the route to the station

## PSC Observations

Checking the muster list, interviewing recently joined crew members about their emergency role, and requesting documentation of monthly drills are among the most common and immediate PSC checks on boarding.

## Operational Tips

- Never postpone the familiarisation of new crew members: schedule it in the first days after joining.
- Update the muster list on the same day as every crew change, not retrospectively.
- Periodically include practical donning of the equipment in drills, not just simulation of the route.

## Checklist

- Muster list posted, updated and consistent with the crew actually on board
- Monthly abandon ship drill conducted and recorded
- New crew familiarisation completed within 2 weeks of joining
- Drill within 24h of departure if >25% of the crew has not taken part in the previous month
- Practical donning of equipment periodically included in drills

## FAQ

Within what time must a new crew member be familiarised?
As soon as possible after joining, and in any case not later than 2 weeks, per SOLAS Chapter III Regulation 19.
What does a PSC inspector typically check regarding musters?
They often ask a crew member, especially if recently joined, to indicate their emergency station and role per the muster list, in addition to checking the records of monthly drills.
Does the abandon ship drill always require an actual lowering of the boat?
No: an actual lowering is not required at every monthly drill, but is required periodically (typically every 3 months) per the provisions on lowering drills; the monthly drill may be limited to reaching the station, donning equipment and verifying assigned duties.
🎬 Additional photos, videos and interactive diagrams for this topic will be available in a future version of the platform.

## Related Topics

Lifeboat Inspection Fire Drill and Fire Safety

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