When you have to abandon ship? - Home Insurance, Health Insurance, Car Insurance

We must not leave the ship, except in extreme situations.

In most cases it is safer to stay on a boat semihundido in a liferaft. A ship in poor condition but afloat, will give us more confidence as we shall use all its equipment and supplies, even if they were in poor condition. We will have drinking water, food and can remain under cover, protected from the cold. If the accident was uncontrolled fire or explosion hazard is preferable to release a rope as long as possible and away on the raft to await developments. Thus it may be possible to return to an old burned but afloat. The boat should not be abandoned until he was sure sinking hopelessly.

When the situation becomes untenable when there is aboard to abandon ship, but before making this decision, which in any case corresponds to the pattern, we must consider as has been said if we are not safer staying on board where we will be more easily seen to be rescued. Abruptly abandoned ships, then were found in perfect condition, and a ship may be the best dunk liferaft remained subject to or above the hull awaiting rescue.

There are too many cases of people rescued from their life raft in which his boat was later found empty in perfect buoyancy. A boat will always be much more safe, comfortable and protected than a liferaft so should not be abandoned until there is no possibility of staying on board.

Recall that the manuals recommend only abandon ship when in the bath, the water we cover the knee permanently.

A famous abandonment took place in the Volvo Ocean Race 2006. Movistar with a professional crew on board, had suffered a fracture at the junction of the keel to the hull. The water flooded the ship and automatic pumps were activated for the drainage. So endured several hours, but a storm with winds of 50 knots (nearly 100 miles) and waves of 11 meters threatened to Movistar. The ship would not have supported the damaged keel. "The hardest decision I ever made has been ordered to abandon ship. Ten lives to save: right decision," said the skipper of Movistar.