NOAA Corps officers and professional mariners must maintain high levels of readiness when operating NOAA vessels at sea. Their preparation for underway missions is met through Operational Readiness Training where they gain familiarity with general ship operations and emergency response procedures. The training ensures all crewmembers on board are prepared to respond to emergency situations with efficiency and professionalism, safeguarding both the vessel, crew and scientists conducting research at sea.
Each ship spends five days doing shipboard training before the field season — two days while in port and three days while underway. During this time, they conduct emergency drills, refresh on operational procedures, and review required safety and environmental compliance training. An additional three days is also required mid-season to allow crew members to recap on shipboard operations.
Safety first
Onboard simulated training involves replicating real-life scenarios — such as flooding, onboard fire and medical emergencies — in a controlled environment. Safety drills allow crew members to receive hands-on training and develop their communication strategies to tackle the problem at hand. The training also exposes them to workforce collaboration and emergency equipment operation.
Normally, crew members are assigned specific roles and stations for a shipboard crisis, which allows them to respond quickly. During safety drills, crew members learn to navigate their roles through various types of emergency response scenarios and develop skills outside of their normal, specific roles.
Damage control drills prepare the crew for shipboard emergencies such as major flooding, stopping leaks and preventing collapse of the ship’s structure through shoring methods. Crew members review existing shoring materials and checklists and practice various techniques to create strong temporary supports for the compromised space.
Fire drills are the most common scenario and involve all members of the crew. Investigation team members identify where the fire is located, what type of fire they need to fight, and what fighting equipment is best suited for the type of fire. Damage control locker personnel locate and deliver that equipment to the fire teams. Then the fire teams put that equipment to use in fighting the fire. It is truly a ship-wide effort.
Operational readiness
Before conducting scientific missions at sea, crew members refresh on shipboard operations, run and test equipment, and review underway safety protocols.
During fast cruise — a simulated underway training that takes place while remaining pier-side — extensive pre-underway checklists are reviewed and completed by all departments on the ship to practice readying the ship for departure and ensure equipment is running properly. For officers working on the bridge, a fast cruise involves a review of all bridge equipment, safety and navigation system checks and a testing of the ship’s propulsion systems.
Personnel also review and test over-the-side equipment — such as trawls, winches, anchors and scientific instruments— and small boats to ensure they are fully prepared for underway missions.
Environmental compliance
NOAA personnel are trained to follow environmental compliance standards for operating the ship. The training is coordinated by the shipboard Environmental Compliance Officer who is responsible for ensuring that regulations are followed.
In this training, ship crew are presented with scenarios involving fuel or chemical spills. They practice stopping the source and providing solutions to mitigate further contamination. The training also teaches them on how to conserve resources and maintain energy efficiency throughout the ship.
Practice makes progress
Prioritizing these trainings, and doing them more than once, helps to make the officers and mariners aboard NOAA ships more ready to react safely to an emergency. By making these activities and procedures second nature, there is less of a learning curve or risk of confusion when time is of the essence.