In today’s article, I will write about the way announcements are made onboard passenger vessels.
Announcements made on Public Address system (PA):
In order to communicate with several crew members at the same time in an effective way, passenger ships are obligated to have a Public Address system (PA) to produce announcements.
According to SOLAS, the PA system must be audible above any background songs, on cabins, corridors, restaurants, social areas…
It must have an override system from the bridge so it is possible to communicate an emergency above any other announcement that is being transmitted at the time.
The PA system must be connected to the emergency energy sources.
Emergency alarms:
Before we hear any announcements from the crew it is probable that we hear a signal of emergency that corresponds to the specific emergency that it’s happening onboard the ship.
The way that each emergency is transmitted on board depends on the company the ship belongs to, except the general alarm, which is equal in all the ships and is transmitted with seven (7) short blasts and one (1) long one.
Regarding other alarms, there are companies that use code messages to transmit the type of emergency, while others think that it is unnecessary to codify the messages since in a few seconds any passenger can check the meaning of the codes used on the internet.
But remember, as I said before, even if the company decides to use codes they don’t have to mean the same in every ship and the same codeword can have multiple meanings depending on the company.
Examples of codes:
ALFA – security breach
BRAVO – fire!
MOB – man overboard
Example of a message transmitted on the PA System, in a case of fire spreading:
This is an IMPORTANT announcement from the bridge.
There has been a fire in the engine room. The ship’s fire team is fighting the fire as we speak.
THE SITUATION IS UNDER CONTROL!
For safety reasons, we require our passengers to proceed IMMEDIATELY to your MUSTER STATION.
Do not forget to bring your LIFE JACKET, WARM CLOTHES and ESSENTIAL MEDICATION!
I REPEAT, please proceed IMMEDIATELY to your MUSTER STATION. Do not forget to bring your LIFE JACKET, WARM CLOTHES and ESSENTIAL MEDICATION!
If you cannot go into your cabin right now, a life jacket will be given to you on your MUSTER STATION!
Please leave all your personal belongings in your cabin.
I ask you kindly to remain calm and follow the crew instructions.
There is NO DANGER at this time!
I hope you enjoyed this post about announcements!
Be sure to comment any doubts and things you would like to add!
To see my post about distress messages click here!