The maritime industry operates in a challenging environment where safety is paramount. Every crew member must be prepared to respond effectively to emergencies, whether it’s a man overboard (MOB) incident, navigating confined spaces, or evacuating during a fire. Realistic and effective maritime safety training plays a pivotal role in minimizing risks, saving lives, and meeting safety targets. A key element in such training is the use of rescue manikins, which provide a safe yet realistic simulation of emergency scenarios.
The Role of the IMO STCW in Maritime Training
The International Maritime Organization’s Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) establishes the minimum requirements for seafarer safety and competency worldwide.
Adopted in 1978 and continually updated, the STCW ensures that all maritime professionals are trained in essential safety and rescue skills, including man overboard training, confined space entry, and fire evacuation procedures.
Training with advanced maritime training tools like manikins supports compliance with STCW requirements while enhancing crew readiness. These tools allow seafarers to practice life-saving techniques in a controlled, realistic environment, ensuring they are well-prepared for real emergencies.
Man Overboard Training: Precision and Practice
Responding to a man-overboard scenario is one of the most urgent challenges at sea. According to the STCW, all crew members must demonstrate proficiency in personal survival techniques, which include rapid and effective MOB response.
Manikins designed for ocean rescue training are invaluable in these drills. Ruth Lee’s Man Overboard manikins replicate the buoyancy, weight, and behaviour of a human body in water, providing a realistic training experience. They allow crew members to practice deploying rescue boats, using recovery equipment, and administering first aid post-rescue. Manikins such as the Advanced Water Rescue Manikin lets crew members experience a drowned casualty and learn effective rescue and resuscitation techniques to improve survival odds.
Confined Space Training: Navigating Hidden Dangers
Confined spaces aboard ships, such as ballast tanks or engine rooms, present unique challenges, including poor ventilation and limited mobility. The IMO STCW emphasizes the need for specialized confined space entry training to equip crews with the skills to handle these high-risk environments.
Manikins are essential for confined space drills, enabling teams to simulate rescues in challenging conditions. Weighted and anatomically realistic, they replicate unconscious casualties, forcing trainees to think critically about manoeuvring and extraction.
Rescue manikins are instrumental in confined space rescue drills, simulating unconscious casualties that need to be manoeuvred through tight, hazardous areas. Ruth Lee’s specially designed Confined Space manikin offers a flexible option for such training. It is manufactured in several parts, and can be carried and then built in very difficult access areas to give teams a true challenge and experience of what it is like to move a full weighted body in such hazardous environments.
Combined with training in the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and gas detection devices, these drills prepare crews to handle confined space emergencies effectively and in line with STCW standards.
Emergency Evacuation Due to Fires
Fires are among the most catastrophic emergencies a vessel can face. With limited escape routes and the rapid spread of smoke, fire safety drills are an essential part of maritime emergency preparedness. The STCW mandates that all seafarers undergo fire evacuation drills and firefighting training to minimize the risks posed by onboard fires.
Training with manikins enhances fire drills by simulating real-world conditions. Our Duty manikins replicate unconscious individuals who need to be carried or dragged to safety. If training in hot fire environments, our Fire House manikin is the ideal choice. By practising these drills, crews build confidence and efficiency, ensuring that they are fully prepared to meet the STCW’s stringent requirements for fire safety.
Why Training with Manikins is Transformative
Manikins provide several unique benefits that elevate the quality of maritime safety training:
- Realism Without Risk: Trainees can practice high-stakes scenarios without endangering human participants.
- Alignment with STCW Standards: Manikin-based training ensures compliance with the IMO’s rigorous safety benchmarks.
- Repetition Builds Mastery: Frequent and realistic training helps crews develop instinctual responses.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Durable and reusable, manikins offer a sustainable training solution.
Meeting Safety Targets Through Innovation
The IMO STCW framework underscores the importance of rigorous, practical training in achieving maritime safety. Incorporating rescue manikins and advanced simulation tools into training programs allows crews to develop essential skills for responding to emergencies, from man overboard response to fire evacuations and confined space rescues.
For organizations in the maritime sector, investing in realistic, hands-on training not only supports compliance with maritime safety regulations but also contributes to a culture of preparedness. Regular drills ensure that every crew member understands their role in an emergency, reducing errors and improving outcomes.
In a sector where safety is non-negotiable, innovative maritime safety training methods are indispensable. By simulating real-world conditions with precision, rescue manikins empower maritime professionals to act decisively when it matters most. The result is improved safety targets and the priceless assurance that lives can be saved.
Let us help you create effective maritime safety training drills
If you want more information about incorporating manikins into your rescue and safety training onboard, please get in touch. You can speak to our in-house team by calling 01490 413 282 or emailing sales@ruthlee.co.uk
Available worldwide through a network for stockists
Ruth Lee’s range of manikins are available worldwide through a network of stockists. To find your nearest supplier, visit our map or get in touch with us via the phone number or email above and we will help to connect you to the correct person.
