Once a cruise we pretend that something really bad has happened. No, not a crisis like running out of coffee to keep us awake or only nine flavors of gelato in the gelataria. No, we practice for something really major like happened to the Titanic 100 years ago. Every twelve days, always on a port day when a majority of the guests are ashore, we practice a pre-determined emergency response scenario leading to an Abandon Ship exercise. No more than ten percent of the crew may be excused from this drill as it is critical that we all know what we need to do in the unlikely event of a real emergency.
These drills are entirely predictable, so much so that I schedule my classes around them, conveniently scheduling my shortest course for just before the Boat Drill. These drills are so predictable that they are on the training schedule. Although the time indicated is ‘sometime in the morning,’ the reality is that it generally starts around 10:15am. It begins with the Cruise Director getting on the ship’s PA and stating that the following announcement is for the crew and the crew only. When we hear this preparatory remark we begin to set our work aside and move into emergency response mode. We then hear an emergency code proclaimed and based on that instruction we leap into action. However, knowing it is a drill we generally pre-position ourselves near where we need to be to ensure we are properly equipped for the scenario. I’ve often wondered how much of a valid drill this really is as real emergencies would generally not be so courteous with their scheduling. However, it does allow us time to practice our response creating muscle memory for the moment when a real emergency occurs.
We never have a second drill during a cruise. There is so much to accomplish in a given cruise cycle that there simply isn’t time for it. Also, since it poses an inconvenience for our guests onboard we try to minimize the impact. This cruise we had completed our drill, and given the excellent safety record of cruise lines, had our minds back on raising the level of service for guests and crew. During this voyage’s drill I continued to be impressed with all the steps taken to respond to a fire, especially regarding how boundary control is established to ensure that the fire does not spread. The following day I resumed a full load of crew training glad we had that practice but also glad that we didn’t have to endure that hour long interruption to our schedule for twelve more days. I was just completing a class in my training room when without any prologue the emergency code was given over the PA.
I was so caught by surprise that I’m sure I exhibited the classic deer in the headlights look. I slapped my laptop closed, looked at the students and said, “class dismissed,” and headed past them out the door and up the stairs at a brisk pace. As I passed other crew members in the corridor there was a confused look on several of them while the others just looked clueless. Within two minutes I was in my office, grabbed my radio, and reported readiness to the Bridge. Seconds later the instruction came back telling me where the forward incident team was staging, which is my first stop in any emergency. I strode rapidly up three decks and all the way forward to where the staging area was located. The Safety Officer caught me as soon as I arrived and pointing to a ship’s blueprint hastily attached to the bulkhead simply said that the fire was in the crew mess galley and I was to head up two more decks to position myself halfway between the incident and the bridge. With only a brief acknowledgement I went up to my intermediate station to monitor all communications. Up to this point I was still not sure if this was a real emergency or another drill. As I listened to the reports coming in over the next five minutes I was assured to realize that it was ‘just a drill.’ But for those first ten minutes the heightened adrenaline made this response very real.
Why the second drill? Once a year we have a flag review where the US Coast Guard comes onboard to ensure all of our procedures and practices are in order. They had come onboard that morning and insisted on witnessing a drill. I’m pleased to say we passed with flying colors. The only thing I know is that our ‘muscle memory’ is clearly in place. With focus, professionalism, and expediency the crew of Silhouette had responded quickly and effectively to this emergency. It was easily our best drill, yet.
And the adventure continues . . .
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