Muster Drill Question

[johnrich]

I know for a while NCL was doing muster drill videos and then you just had to checkin to your muster station during a certain time period on embarkation day and were then free to go about your first day. I thought I read that they were going to go back to doing it the previous way with everyone crammed into small spaces and standing there while crew tried to explain things while half the people were talking over them. I haven’t seen or heard anything lately. Any recent (last month or so) cruisers who can tell me which way it’s done currently?

[BirdTravels]

20 minutes ago, johnrich said:

I know for a while NCL was doing muster drill videos and then you just had to checkin to your muster station during a certain time period on embarkation day and were then free to go about your first day. I thought I read that they were going to go back to doing it the previous way with everyone crammed into small spaces and standing there while crew tried to explain things while half the people were talking over them. I haven’t seen or heard anything lately. Any recent (last month or so) cruisers who can tell me which way it’s done currently?

Both have been reported. We did a virtual muster on our cruise in December on the Prima. 

[ellewoods]

We did the virtual drill in December on the Gem. We watched the video at check in and then when we were escorted on the ship we were brought directly to our muster station to check in before being taken to lunch. It is much better as you’re right and never heard anything in the regular ones. 

[www3traveler]

From what I have read and pictures posted in the last few days, some ships have gone back to the old way of the Muster Drill.  I think the change was made beginning with the cruises within this past week.

[RocketMan275]

See post #26

[fenny7cats]

Just got off the Pearl (jan2nd-13th Panama Canal)  We had the video to watch when when we did the onlince checkin, then on boarding day we had to go to our muster stations at a set time (I think it was 3pm) where everyone was accounted for.  Took about half an hour.  No lifejackets needed.

[wolft927]

I believe they are going back to the traditional way of completing muster drill...Coast Guard probably said it is time to go back to normal.  

[BirdTravels]

15 minutes ago, wolft927 said:

I believe they are going back to the traditional way of completing muster drill...Coast Guard probably said it is time to go back to normal.  

Do you have objective evidence to substantiate this assertion? Or is it just a guess?

[wolft927]

Well considering I worked on board ships for over 5 years, very very familiar with SOLAS ( Safety of life at Sea) and US maritime law, also have friends in the United states Coast guard, the change in Muster Drills was always meant to be temporary due to Covid. But have I personally been on a ship that has changed to the old way...no... but others on this thread have. 

[ontheweb]

2 hours ago, wolft927 said:

Well considering I worked on board ships for over 5 years, very very familiar with SOLAS ( Safety of life at Sea) and US maritime law, also have friends in the United states Coast guard, the change in Muster Drills was always meant to be temporary due to Covid. But have I personally been on a ship that has changed to the old way...no... but others on this thread have. 

We shall see. I think the key word in there is that it was always meant to be TEMPORARY due to Covid. If it does change back, it will be interesting to see what the reaction of the majority of passengers will be. My guess is that a majority will not like it, while a minority will realize it is for their safety.

[wolft927]

4 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

We shall see. I think the key word in there is that it was always meant to be TEMPORARY due to Covid. If it does change back, it will be interesting to see what the reaction of the majority of passengers will be. My guess is that a majority will not like it, while a minority will realize it is for their safety.

Exactly, goes back to the normal again...does it stink? Sure it does, but honestly kind of suprised it lasted this long lol. 

[AK Dreaming]

Started last week on the Escape.

[RocketMan275]

24 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

We shall see. I think the key word in there is that it was always meant to be TEMPORARY due to Covid. If it does change back, it will be interesting to see what the reaction of the majority of passengers will be. My guess is that a majority will not like it, while a minority will realize it is for their safety.

Standing under a lifeboat, listenting to someone say words I cannot hear, giving a demonstration on how to don a life jacket that I cannot see ?  How does that contribute to safety?  Having to go to the muster point and have my card scanned is useful.  The rest is a waste of time.  Standing in a packed crowd does not contribute to safety.

[phillygwm]

44 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

Standing under a lifeboat, listenting to someone say words I cannot hear, giving a demonstration on how to don a life jacket that I cannot see ?  How does that contribute to safety?  

On every NCL cruise I've been on, the instructions came over the PA system which I could hear clearly (the accents, not always so much.)  There have been other threads and some said the "real" musters were better to keep the crew's skills sharp.  I don't love it but I'll be thankful if that minute probability of 7 short and one long signals ever comes to pass.

 

Ultimately, if the muster drill is the worst thing that happens on my cruise, I'll be beyond delighted.

Edited January 20, 2023 by phillygwm

[chengkp75]

41 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

Standing under a lifeboat, listenting to someone say words I cannot hear, giving a demonstration on how to don a life jacket that I cannot see ?  How does that contribute to safety?  Having to go to the muster point and have my card scanned is useful.  The rest is a waste of time.  Standing in a packed crowd does not contribute to safety.

As noted in many threads about this, first off, the drill where everyone is transiting to the muster station is designed to be as close as possible to a real emergency as possible.  Or, should everyone just decide when they want to saunter to the muster be the case for a real emergency?  Second of all, everyone standing around is what you would be doing in a real emergency.  And, finally, there is a whole lot to the muster drill that is going on while you are standing around at the muster station, that you have no idea is happening, and can only be trained for when all crew is available and the ship is "empty" since all passengers are at their muster stations.

[sailorusvi]

I use to work on boats in the islands, mostly as crew, but also had a captain's license.  I use to have give out these instructions all the time. Sadly have witnessed accidents, those who don't pay attention are the ones who often panic.   They might be annoying to others, but it can save people.

 

Once I was involved in a rafting accident. We had a safety instruction before we got into the rafts.  Some people flat out ignored the instructions, didn't pay attention, etc. Others, like myself, did pay attention.    2 people were ejected from the raft at the same time.  One guy died, one guy lived.  The guy who died was part of the group that didn't pay attention.   His wife also ignored the instructions and she was completely useless during the rescue effort. (note: the guy who lived was my husband and we left him on a rock while we worked tirelessly trying to save the other guy as he was in panic mode and needed more assistant than my husband)

 

If you can't hear, say something. If you do not understand, ask a question, but even if half the people understand it's worth the exercise.

[JGmf]

Not loving that we're going back to the standard muster station drill, but if that means we're "back to normal", then I'll take it.

 

It's a even trade, in my opinion, for all the hoops we jumped through during Covid sailing...let's see, PCR test, antigen test, don't forget your vax card, pay for your Bermuda authorization, wait for your Bermuda authorization, etc....

 

If it's an in-person muster, than so be it.

[wolft927]

So no use in debating this, this is a maritime law that a lifeboat muster drill must be completed prior to a ship leaving port. Regulations were only changed because of Covid. 

[sailorusvi]

Just now, wolft927 said:

So no use in debating this, this is a maritime law that a lifeboat muster drill must be completed prior to a ship leaving port. Regulations were only changed because of Covid. 

yup.  Even the 53 foot catamaran I work on his a safety instruction.  Even when I took people on a 26' boat for hire I had to do one.

[wolft927]

Just now, RocketMan275 said:

Fine, but there are better ways to do it than standing under a lifeboat.  

Well, Tell us then!

[RocketMan275]

Just now, wolft927 said:

Well, Tell us then!

Standing under a lifeboat is a waste of time.

One cannot hear the information.

One cannot see the demonstration.

Having to report to the muster station where the card is scanned is useful since then you know where to go.

On Oasis of the sea, our muster station was the aqua theater.  During the drill, we reported there, our cards were scannned.  We could hear the information.  We could see the demonstration.

[luv2kroooz]

5 hours ago, wolft927 said:

I believe they are going back to the traditional way of completing muster drill...Coast Guard probably said it is time to go back to normal.  

I think the e-muster took up too much of the crew's time. Some had to camp out at muster stations for hours.

 

**Disclaimer - This is my opinion. I don't have any objective evidence. Heck, I don't have any evidence at all....just a hunch....lol!

[chengkp75]

3 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

Standing under a lifeboat is a waste of time.

Where would you be standing in a real emergency?

 

3 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

One cannot hear the information.

One cannot see the demonstration.

Not really necessary, the purpose of muster drill is to show up, shut up, and listen up, in that order.

 

4 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

On Oasis of the sea, our muster station was the aqua theater. 

And, this is only allowed since the promenade deck does not have sufficient space to muster at the boats.  SOLAS requires the muster station to be "as close as practicable" to the boats, so older ships with larger promenades will have muster stations under the boats.  And, even for ships that have the indoor muster stations, having a full muster drill would be far more benefit than the new system.

[www3traveler]

THANK YOU Chief   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[JGmf]

@chengkp75 you convinced us all on prior threads regarding the objective benefit of traditional muster stations, providing repeated crew training (muscle memory) of donning their own life vests, getting to their assigned stations/duties, dealing with various crowds, and whatever else we can't readily observe. 

 

Plus, it's the law, so case closed.

 

That said, I wish passengers would show-up quickly and shut-up so we can get it over with as quickly and efficiently as possible.  That's never going to happen though 😞