Enclosed Space Entry and Rescue Drills
SOLAS III/19.3.3 and III/19.3.6: the two-monthly drill, its five mandatory elements, log book recording and the MSC.350(92) amendment chain.
SOLAS regulation III/19.3.3 requires crew members with enclosed space entry or rescue responsibilities to participate in an enclosed space entry and rescue drill held on board at least once every two months. The requirement was introduced by resolution MSC.350(92), adopted 21 June 2013 and in force from 1 January 2015.
The full article will separate the two regulations that are commonly conflated. III/19.3.3 sets the interval; III/19.3.6 governs how the drill is planned and states the five elements each drill shall include, being personal protective equipment, communication equipment and procedures, instruments for measuring the atmosphere, rescue equipment and procedures, and instruction in first aid and resuscitation.
It will also cover the on-board training requirement added at III/19.4.2.5, the log book entry required by III/19.5, the parallel resolutions extending the drill to high speed craft and mobile offshore drilling units, and how a port state control officer verifies the record.