Lifejackets during mustering

[GabrielTurner]

If the ship's passengers and crew need to muster, but the only route that passengers can use to reach the muster station is obstructed by smoke, what should they do with the lifejackets? Should they ditch them or should they take the lifejackets with them? If so, then how? I saw on one safety video that you should put the lifejacket through your wrist which would avoid wasting valuable time putting it on in a smoke filled area. Thank you.

 

[Alex_Blackwood]

If the ship's passengers and crew need to muster, but the only route that passengers can use to reach the muster station is obstructed by smoke, what should they do with the lifejackets? Should they ditch them or should they take the lifejackets with them? If so, then how? I saw on one safety video that you should put the lifejacket through your wrist which would avoid wasting valuable time putting it on in a smoke filled area. Thank you.

In any ship I ever served, You always carry your LJ with you until on the open deck. Stops snagging on interior fittings.

 

[GabrielTurner]

In any ship I ever served, You always carry your LJ with you until on the open deck. Stops snagging on interior fittings.

What if you can't carry it because you need to get down on all fours to evade smoke and there isn't an alternative route?

 

[Alex_Blackwood]

What if you can't carry it because you need to get down on all fours to evade smoke and there isn't an alternative route?

Do you seriously require an answer to that?

 

[Jmacd]

Hmm Reason for asking? Going on a Cruise or Ferry as Passenger? Answer may vary.
Truth real incidents are extremely rare.
Some generalities. I can't give a specific answers' for a specific company's or ship's
Passenger Ships are required to have a "Boat" muster or abandon ship drill within 24 hrs. Pay attention. Make note of where your muster station is.
Don't over think it. Follow the crews advice on board. Ask questions if you are concerned. Advice may vary from one company to other. Depending on how their individual ships have set up their particular evacuation plan. Particularly regarding passenger control.
Basic requirement. All ships must have additional life jackets at muster stations. (amount may vary. I'd be surprised if less than %25 persons on board must be at least %10 often will exceed this).
Many of the newer more modern ships. stow all life jackets at muster stations. none in passenger cabins.
Ship design. All Passenger Area's must have two exits. to outer decks, clearly sign posted with arrows. Even if there is smoke. Bottom of bulkhead (walls) have flourescent or illuminated direction to follow.
Emergency lighting must remain on.
Do not go through smoke if you can avoid it. Go the other way, The alternate exit will be at other end of alleyway or corridor.
By the most, fires on passenger ships are minor incidents quickly dealt with by well trained crews.
Fortunately serious incidents are extremely rare

General example of fire response plans. Specifics may vary.
Most Pax ship fire alarms are false alarms. Or more accurately smoke, heat or detectors even break glass alarms pulls. Usually do not set of a general alarm right away.
They set of an alarm on bridge and in engine room, with a time delay. Followed by a crew area only alarm after time delay. (Hot showers or illicit smoking are a frequent cause's)
The Bridge gets alarm. Acknowledges the alarm and calls. Often by radio for an initial response party. to respond and check the alarm.
There should be a "fire" patrol at all times. and probably some off duty officers and engineers. who will respond. %99 are false alarms. Most of the rest minor events. Dealt with by initial response team.
Rare occasions it might be more serious.
Real Cabin fire, bad. For the Cabin. Most will be contained to cabin. Most will set of fixed fire fighting equipment. IE sprinkler system or Hi fog.
The bridge and engine room will get indicator of which fir zone, which sprinkler zone, which individual smoke or heat detector, And Fire Alarm pull or break glass. If initial response party suspects. A real fire they will advise the bridge and general alarm may be sounded.
The initial response party will start to evacuate area. Direct passengers to safe area ie muster station. until relieved by passenger control teams assigned to area. If there are any smoke filled areas they will be evacuated and cleared by a fire response team in full turn out gear.
When the Fire response team show up. they will take over from initial response and deal with fire. They will be in full turn out gear.
All large passenger ships, have have multiple fire zones with A 60 divisions. (takes a minimum of 60 minute for heat to be conducted through, Individual cabin requirements are I believe A30. So A fire will be contained to a cabin. for 30 minutes and a fire zone for 60 minutes.
The fire zone divisions, are where the fire doors are. All Decks are A60. So will not spread up for 60 minutes.
It would be common for the fire doors to remain open while passengers and crew are still in the area. Sometimes a break glass alarm or a galley fire system shut down will auto close all fire doors and ventilation in fire zone where it was activated.
Otherwise fire door and ventilation shut down are from Bridge and Engine Room.
Power Isolation would be by direct request to engine room by fire response team.
Emergency lighting will stay on.
Elevators will shut down. Most will automatically default to boat deck. Unless boat deck is where fire is.
Crew will be clearing the area and will direct you out. Crew will open doors if required. They will check all cabins are cleared. Crew will have pass keys.
All cabins and passenger areas have Sprinkler's systems (Charged and pressurized) heat activated. with remote shut off,
If a fire were to spread beyond a cabin. ect. it would still be contained to the zone. And to deck. for 60 minutes.
On extremely rare occasions something worse may happen. Which may threaten the integrity and safety of the ship. The vast majority of these occurrences take time to develop and go through several stages before. Evacuation is considered. It's better to have people mustered and stand down after a while rather than have to do everything in a hurry.

A recent netflix show. "Poop Cruise" Started with an engine room fire. A possible worst case scenario.
No passenger spaces were affected by the fire. It was contained to the Engine room and extinguished by ships systems.The problem loss of main power system. Emergency power only covers emergency equipment. Not the poo system. Result quite unpleasant.
Truth the ship itself and all passengers and crew were "safe" other than a few diseases etc.
Abandoning ship still pretty much last resort. And very very rare.
Enjoy your trip. perhaps you will get better answer on a cruise ship forum.
My personal advice, If there is real smoke, don't worry about the life jacket. Just head out the nearest exist. Do not go through the smoke, turn and go the other way. follow crews direction.
They will have extras lifejackets at the muster station.