Abandon Ship Procedure

Introduction

When everything goes wrong at sea, there’s one command every mariner hopes they’ll never hear: “Abandon ship!”

But if the moment ever comes, knowing exactly what to do, and doing it fast, can be the difference between a controlled evacuation and a catastrophic loss of life.

This guide breaks down the official abandon ship procedure, the step-by-step actions every crew member must follow, and the emergency protocols that connect to it, from fires and flooding to full-scale ship evacuation procedures.

Abandon Ship Procedure: Step-by-Step Guide

When the Master gives the order to abandon ship, the goal is simple: evacuate everyone safely, quickly, and without confusion.

Below are the official steps of an abandoned ship procedure:

Step 1: The Master Issues the “Abandon Ship” Order

Only the Master can make this decision.

Once the command is given, it is announced through the PA system and recorded in the logbook. This marks the shift from trying to control the emergency to preparing for full evacuation.

Step 2: Send Distress Alerts and Activate Emergency Devices

Before leaving the vessel, the bridge team must ensure rescuers are notified. This typically includes:

• sending a MAYDAY call with the ship’s position
• transmitting a DSC distress alert
• activating the EPIRB
• deploying SART devices if needed

These steps help search-and-rescue teams locate the survivors even if the ship loses power.

Step 3: Report to Muster Stations

All crew and passengers proceed directly to their assigned muster station, following marked escape routes. Here, everyone must:

• put on their personal flotation device (lifejacket)
• don an immersion suit if required
• bring only essential personal emergency items

Clear communication from muster leaders is crucial to avoid crowding or panic.

Step 4: Conduct a Full Headcount and Verify Assignments

At each muster station, the officer in charge verifies who is present and who is missing. Names are checked against the muster list, and individuals are assigned to their designated lifeboat or liferaft.

If someone is unaccounted for, the information is immediately reported, so the Master can decide whether a safe search is possible.

Step 5: Prepare Lifeboats and Liferafts

Before launching, survival craft must be properly prepared.

This includes:

• Removing gripes and securing the painter line.
• Checking that equipment (water, rations, thermal protection aids, first-aid kits, pyrotechnics) is intact.
• Ensuring lifeboat engines are started and warming up.
• Lowering the craft to the embarkation deck if using davit-launched boats.

Every vessel type has specific procedures, but the goal is the same: ensure the craft is ready for safe boarding and launch.

Step 6: Board the Survival Craft in an Orderly Sequence

Embarkation should be calm and controlled. The typical boarding sequence is:

• injured or vulnerable persons
• passengers
• remaining crew, with boat commanders last

Crew should assist with seating, securing belts, and distributing thermal protection if required. Stability and proper loading are critical, rushing can endanger everyone.

Step 7: Launch the Lifeboat or Liferaft

Once fully boarded:

• Lifeboats are lowered using the release system when they reach water level.
• Liferafts are either davit-launched or released using the hydrostatic mechanism.
• Crew cuts or releases the painter at the appropriate moment.

After launching, all survival craft must move away from the vessel to avoid suction, fire, explosion, or debris hazards.

Step 8: After Evacuation

Once clear of danger, the priority shifts to survival:

• Craft should stay within visual or communication distance of each other.
• Maintain lookout for additional survivors.
• Use signaling equipment only when necessary.
• Manage rations and water carefully.
• Maintain morale and follow survival procedures until rescue arrives.

What Is the Abandon Ship Procedure (And When Is It Used?)

The abandon ship procedure is the last-resort evacuation process used when a vessel can no longer be kept safe.

It provides a structured, step-by-step framework that ensures the crew responds quickly, avoids confusion, and maximizes survival chances in life-threatening emergencies.

The Purpose of the Abandon Ship Procedure

At its core, the abandon ship procedure exists to protect life. It gives every crew member a predefined set of actions so that, even under extreme stress, people know where to go, who to report to, and how to leave the vessel safely.

Instead of improvisation, the procedure provides structure. It also helps the Master maintain full control of the evacuation, so the vessel can be cleared as efficiently as possible.

When the Procedure Is Triggered

Abandoning ship is never the first response. The order is only given when the vessel is no longer safe to remain on.

Common situations that may trigger the command include:

• an uncontrolled fire that cannot be contained
• severe flooding, overwhelming pumps or watertight boundaries
• a collision or grounding that compromises stability
• structural failure or capsizing risk
• serious damage after an explosion
• the vessel taking on water at a rate that ensures sinking

How It Connects to the Vessel’s SMS

The Safety Management System (SMS) is the backbone of shipboard emergency organization, and the abandon ship procedure is one of its most critical components.

Within the SMS, every detail is laid out: muster locations, escape routes, individual responsibilities, survival craft assignments, and communication protocols.

This ensures that the procedure is not just understood in theory, but practiced and standardized across the entire crew.

Emergency vs. Abandon Ship

Not all emergencies lead to abandoning ship. Understanding this difference prevents premature or unnecessary evacuations.

Emergency on board: The crew responds using fire procedures, flooding control, damage assessments, and onboard systems to stabilize the situation.

Abandon ship: The Master has determined the vessel cannot be saved, or remaining aboard is more dangerous than evacuating.

Or in short:

• Emergency = fight the situation.
• Abandon ship = leave the vessel immediately.

Crew Roles and Responsibilities During Abandon Ship

In a real evacuation, procedures matter, but people matter even more.

Every crew member has a defined role during an abandon ship situation, and when each person understands their responsibilities, the entire evacuation becomes faster, calmer, and far more controlled. This is usually where proper training pays off.

The Master

The Master is the captain of the vessel. They are the person with full legal and operational authority over the ship and everyone on board.

They are responsible for the safety of the crew, passengers, and the vessel itself, and their decisions carry the highest level of command at sea.

The Master is the one who makes the final call during any emergency. No one else can issue the abandon ship order. Once it’s given, the Master stays focused on the big picture: communicating with rescue authorities, monitoring the ship’s condition, and keeping the crew aligned until the very last moment.

They are one of the last people to leave the vessel, ensuring that every possible action has been taken to get others off safely.

The Chief Officer

The Chief Officer turns the Master’s decision into movement on deck. They direct the muster process, confirm who’s accounted for, and make sure lifeboats and liferafts are actually ready to launch, not just in theory.

A calm, organized Chief Officer can make the difference between an orderly evacuation and a chaotic one.

The Chief Engineer

Below deck, the Chief Engineer makes sure the ship’s systems are secured before the crew leaves. That means shutting down machinery, isolating fuel lines, and giving the Master a clear report on what’s happening in the engine room.

Their job reduces the risk of explosions, electrical hazards, and other dangers that can escalate during the final moments of an evacuation.

Deck Crew and Support Teams

This is the group that keeps everything moving. Deck crew prepare the survival craft, guide people to muster stations, assist with PFD, and help passengers board safely. Their familiarity with the equipment and evacuation routes makes them the backbone of the operation.

Support teams, like hotel staff on passenger ships, help maintain order, especially when dealing with large groups or passengers who may panic.

Passenger or Non-Essential Personnel Management

Passengers and non-essential personnel only have one responsibility: follow crew instructions. In an emergency, people naturally freeze or panic, so the crew must lead with clear, simple directions and steady communication.

On vessels carrying the public, designated crew members assist families, elderly guests, or anyone who needs extra help. Keeping this group calm and moving steadily is crucial for a safe evacuation.

Common Mistakes During an Abandon Ship Emergency (And How to Avoid Them)

Even with training, real emergencies feel very different from drills. Stress rises, visibility drops, alarms are loud, and conditions may be dangerous. These factors often lead to mistakes that can slow down the evacuation or put lives at risk.

Understanding the most common errors helps crew avoid them when it matters most.

Mistake 1: Hesitating After the Order Is Given

In many real emergencies, people freeze when the abandon ship order is issued. Some grab personal belongings; others wait for more information. Every second lost increases the danger.

⛵How to avoid it: Crew must move immediately when the command is given and trust that the Master has made the decision at the right moment.

Mistake 2: Using Unsafe or Familiar Routes Instead of Safe Ones

During fire, smoke, or flooding, the normal escape routes may no longer be safe. People tend to choose the paths they know best, even when they’re dangerous.

⛵How to avoid it: Always follow the directions of muster leaders. They receive real-time information from the bridge and will redirect crew if conditions change.

Mistake 3: Disorder at Muster Stations

Real emergencies often create fear or urgency, and this can turn muster areas into crowded, noisy spaces. When panic enters the mix, order breaks down quickly.

⛵How to avoid it: Crew must maintain strong crowd control, using calm and clear instructions to position people correctly and keep the muster station functional.

Mistake 4: Incorrect Boarding of Lifeboats or Liferafts

Under pressure, people sometimes rush to board the craft, overload one side, or attempt to enter before the crew is ready. This can cause stability issues or unsafe launches.

⛵How to avoid it: Follow crew instructions exactly. Load one section at a time, maintain balance, and allow assigned personnel to manage the sequence.

Mistake 5: Remaining Too Close to the Vessel After Launch

Once the lifeboat or liferaft is in the water, staying near the ship is extremely dangerous. Sinking vessels can pull survival craft down with them, and fires or explosions may spread outward.

⛵How to avoid it: Move away from the ship as soon as the craft is secured and ready. Maintaining distance protects everyone onboard.

Abandon Ship Drills: Why Training Is Essential

In a real emergency, people don’t rise to the occasion, they fall back on their training. 
That’s why abandon ship drills are one of the most important safety routines on any vessel. They turn complex procedures into muscle memory, reduce panic, and ensure every crew member knows exactly what to do when seconds matter.

IMO & SOLAS Drill Requirements

Abandon ship drills aren’t optional, they’re required by international maritime law.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is the United Nations agency responsible for global shipping safety standards. One of its most important conventions is SOLAS, short for the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea. It sets the minimum safety requirements for ships worldwide, including how often crew must practice abandon ship procedures.

Under SOLAS, ships must conduct abandon ship drills at least once a month. Additional drills are required when new crew members join or when a vessel has been out of service. The idea is simple: by practicing regularly, every person onboard knows their duties, their muster station, and the survival craft they’re assigned to – no hesitation, no confusion.

These drills are meant to feel realistic. The alarm is sounded, officers carry out headcounts, and the crew rehearse the key steps of preparing lifeboats and liferafts.

What an Abandon Ship Drill Should Include

An abandon ship drill is more than a quick walk-through. It’s a practical rehearsal of everything the crew would do if they had to leave the vessel for real.

While training teaches the theory and hands-on skills, the drill brings those skills together under time pressure, communication, and coordination.

A proper abandon ship drill normally includes:

• Sounding the general alarm, so the crew recognize the signal instantly
• Moving to muster stations using designated escape routes
• Headcounts and duty confirmation by officers in charge
• Donning lifejackets or immersion suits to check readiness and fit
• Preparing survival craft, including checking equipment and simulating release steps
• Communication checks between bridge, deck, and engine room
• Reviewing evacuation roles, especially for new or transferred crew

The goal isn’t speed alone, it’s building a steady, confident routine. A good drill helps the crew identify gaps, fix mistakes early, and work together without hesitation.

What Proper Abandon Ship Training Looks Like

But before any crew member steps into a drill, they need proper safety training.

Training is where the fundamentals are taught: how the alarms sound, where muster stations are located, how survival craft work, and what each person’s duty is during an evacuation.

It combines classroom instruction with hands-on practice so that the first time a crew member touches lifesaving equipment isn’t during an emergency.

Good abandon ship training includes:

• Familiarization with alarms, signals, and emergency routes
• Lifejacket and immersion suit practice, including correct donning
• Lifeboat and liferaft equipment training, so crew know what’s onboard and how to use it
• Launching procedures, practiced in controlled conditions
• Role-specific duties, especially for muster leaders and survival craft operators
• Scenario-based walk-throughs, connecting theory to real-world decision-making

The best training doesn’t just teach procedures, it builds confidence. When crew understand the “why” behind every step, they react faster, communicate better, and make safer decisions when the pressure is real.

Stay Prepared: Your Safety Depends on Training

Abandon ship situations are rare, but that’s exactly why preparation matters. When you’ve practiced the basics and understand how an evacuation works, everything feels a little less overwhelming.

You know where to go, what to expect, and how to support the people around you.

That’s the real value of training – not memorizing steps, but feeling comfortable with them. And whether you're working offshore or spending time on the water recreationally, the skills you build now stay with you when it counts.

If you want to strengthen those skills and get hands-on practice with real equipment, our STCW safety courses are a great place to begin. They’re designed to make you feel capable, steady, and ready for situations most people hope they’ll never face.