ABSTRACT
Offshore Installations (Management and Administration) Regulations 1995 require the duty holder to put in place a system that enables installation to monitor POB (persons on-board) so that an appropriate head count can be taken in the event of an emergency. Preparation to Abandon Platform drill consists of a muster of the workers (and of visitors/contractors, if appropriate) at the stations referred to in the muster list, and a muster and drill at survival craft stations. When abandoning from an offshore installation, the survivors are advised to board the survival craft dry. These were first introduced into the North Sea in the 1980s. It is of utmost importance that the person in charge of the survival craft takes control of the situation even during the rescue operation. The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) has been in use since 1992 but was fully implemented on 1 February 1999.
