Safety Equipment and Systems

Personal Flotation Devices, aka., life vests. In charter trim the Nehemiah has 40 life vests. 36 are U.S. Coast Guard Approved Type I Off Shore Life Jackets. Four are type __ for persons weighing less than 90 pounds (children). Their locations are; six in a locker behind the main mast, eleven under a seat behind the helm, and twenty stored in the overhead belowdecks. The four children's life vests are stored in a clearly marked duffel in the forward stateroom on top of the bunk.

RAFTS top

The Nehemiah has two emergency life rafts (Title 46 CFR 160.027). One is stored under a platform under the mainsail boom. The platform is made of wood and is used for seating . It is easily lifted or will float off the deck if such a condition were to arise.
The other raft is located at the stern of the boat mounted abaft of the transom railing. It is reefed to the railing and is easily let go. Both rafts are secured to the boat with nylon ropes attached to break-away fittings that are designed to keep the rafts near the boat but will let the raft free should the boat sink.
Both life rafts also have a set of paddles which can aid in moving the rafts short distances (toward each other for example). The rafts are designed to have passengers and crew attach themselves to their perimeter ropes to provide additional flotation and be a much easier target to spot from a distance than a singly floating person. Injured persons should be hoisted into the center portion of the raft, but there is not room for all passengers inside the raft.
The rafts are inspected by the U.S. Coast Guard during anual inspections.

BEACONS top

A floating Buoy Light is attached to the forward life raft (33CFR part 87 annex IV). It is stored on the outside cabin next to the life raft. The buoy is stored with the strobe light facing down. A gravity switch activates the strobe when the buoy is turned upright. The buoy is weighted so that it will float in the upright position.
It's correct operation can be checked at any time by detaching it from its holder and turning it so that the strobe is facing upwards. It is checked anually during U.S. Coast Guard inspections.

FLARES top

Flares are kept in a container located inside a locker in the main cabin stairwell. The Locker is placarded with a notice that says "Fire Extinguisher Inside."

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS top

FIRE ALARM top

GAS ALARM top

The Nehemiah is equipped with a propane gas alarm (AquaMeter Scentry^R Gas Vapor Dector). The alarm sensor is located in the bildge below the main galley. Propane gas is heavier than air and will drift to the lowest portions of the boat and accumulate there causing a potentially serious condition. The sensor is located below the most likely source of propane gas, the stove. The propane tank is stored on deck in a locker behind the helm and all tubing is located on the exterior of the cabin except for the last few feet attaching to the stove itself (see propane stove). The gas sensor is set to alarm when the concentration of flammable gasses reaches about 10% of the Lower Explosive Limit or L.E.L. It should therefore give considerable warning before there is a dangerous condition.
The gas sensor must be operational when the stove is in use. It is turned on by activating a switch next to the propane gas supply switch adjacent to the stove. It will go through a self-check for approximately 30 seconds as it comes on-line. The self-check includes a sounding of the alarm which will stop after the check is complete in 30 seconds. If the alarm does not stop then there is either a problem with the alarm mechanism or there is propane gas in the bildge.

There are three lights on the alarm. During the warm-up and self-test the 'warn' light will be lit. After the self-test the alarm sound will stop and the green 'safe' light will be on until the alarm is turned off or until there is gas detected in the bilge. When the alarm sounds the red 'alarm' light will be on. The unit can be tested at any time by pressing the black test button on the bottom of the unit. When the test button is pressed the alarm will sound and all three indicator lights will come on.
In the event that there is propane gas in the bildge the source must be located and stopped. Usually this might mean that a burner has gone out and is allowing unburned propane to spill into the galley or if the stove does not light right away it is possible for a small amount of gas to enter the bildge and trigger the alarm. In all cases when the alarm sounds the stove must be shut down (see propane stove), the portholes should be opened if possible (but not in a gale!), and the floorboards opened so that the gas can dissipate. All sources of ignition must be extinguished, such as, candles and flames of any sort until the problem is isolated and controlled. The cause of the alarm must be investigated and determined and an incident report must be filled out and given to the captain to insert into the ship's log.
The gas alarm can be tested periodically by turning it on, waiting for the self check to complete, then taking up the galley floorboards and with the sensor in plain view turn on a butane lighter next to it (gas only - not lighted). The sensor should signal an alarm within a few seconds. If it does not alarm, then it should be tagged for maintenance and the captain informed. This test is performed anually during U.S. Coast Guard inspections.

BILDGE ALARM top

FRESH WATER SYSTEM top

Fresh water is kept in a pair of 50-gallon holding tanks located under the galley floorboards on the port and starboard sides. Both the galley sink and the head sink have foot-operated pumps to deliver both fresh and salt water. The blue foot pump and blue spigot are for fresh water and are located on the right side of the sink and vanity.
The fresh water holding tanks are filled through a filling-port located on the deck port-side amidships. A spanner is used to unscrew the port cover then fresh water from a sanitary hose can be used to fill the tank. There are valves located below the galley floorboards that select which tank the filler port will fill. Clean the area around the filler port with fresh soap and water and rinse the area thoroughly before unscrewing the cover .

SALT WATER SYSTEM top

ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM top

BLACK WATER SYTEM (SHIP'S HEAD) top

In standard charter trim, the ship's toilet (called the head) uses sea water to flush body waste into a holding tank located under the galley floorboards on the starboard side. The holding tank must be emptied periodically.
The holding tank is emptied by the use of a shore-based vacuum pump located at one of two docks in Marina Bay. One is located by the bait shop, the other on D-dock. To empty the holding tank the Nehemiah is docked near the pump. A pump-out port is located on the deck starboard amidships (don't confuse it with the fueling port located on deck at the starboard quarter). A spanner is used to unscrew the port cover. Once the cover is removed the shore pump hose head is inserted. The shore pump is turned on by activating a switch on the pump housing. There is a valve on the hose head that connects vacuum to the hose head. Once the hose head is inserted firmly into the holding tank port the valve is turned to start drawing out the contents of the holding tank. There is a clear section of hose at the hose head to see that the pump is drawing. One person pumps flushing water into the head with the flush handle while another person mans the hose head and monitors the process while pumping out the holding tank to clear out all contents. When complete, turn the hose head valve so that vacuum is disconnected, wait for fluids to drain and pressure to equalize for about 30 seconds, then turn off the pump at the pump housing and roll the hose back onto its holder. Re-attach the holding tank port cover and stow the spanner.

GREY WATER SYSTEM top

Water that enters the galley sink or the head sink drains overboard via a through-hull fitting located on the lower port quarter just above the waterline.
The head sink drains to a small sump in the vanity below it. The sump has a water level sensor and pump that pumps drain water to a union joint in the galley where it then goes overboard. If the sump pump is not working water will fill the head sump and overflow into the head area and then into the main cabin and bildge. If water is noted on the floor of the head, the sump should be checked for an over-full condition. The sump pump may not be working due to interruption of power from the main battery, float arm switch failure, drain line stoppage, or pump failure. Listen to hear if the pump is operating and if so suspect a drain line stoppage. If the pump will not operate, suspect electrical trouble.
If failure of the sump pump occurs and no immediate solution can be found, a 5-gallon plastic bucket can be put in the vanity under the head sink to catch drain water and emptied periodically until repars can be made.

EXTERIOR LIGHTS top

CHARGING AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM top

HALON SYSTEM top

PROPANE STOVE top

ANCHOR AND WINDLASS top

ENGINE PROCEDURES top

FUEL SYSTEM top

BILDGE PUMP SYSTEM top

EMERGENCY FIRE/BILDGE PUMP top

RADIO top

SONAR top

RADAR top

COMPRESSED AIR AND HORN top

INCIDENT REPORT top