The Muster List outlines the duties and responsibilities of all crew members in various emergency situations.

A Muster list is to be prepared by the Master and displayed in easily accessible locations by crew throughout the accommodation. If a crew member changes, the Muster List is to be updated as soon as possible.

In an emergency, the Master must utilise all available resources as deemed necessary to effectively manage the situation. However, for planning purposes he must designate an “Emergency Team” tasked to handle emergency situations.

The Emergency Team is to be supported by the following emergency teams:
• Bridge Team
• Engine Control Room Team
• Emergency Response Team
• Support team

The Master may also appoint other emergency response teams. In doing so he must consider the total number of crew onboard and how they can best be utilised.

The Master must ensure that all crewmembers understand their assigned duties in an emergency.

Fire Plans or Fire and Safety Plans must be clear and prominently displayed in locations as required by flag and international regulations. As a minimum, they must be displayed in the following places:

• Bridge
• Engine Control Room
• Inside the accommodation
• At the gangway or other point of access to the vessel 

"Emergency Organisation" means all of the ship's Crew who are involved in dealing with an emergency.

The Emergency Organisation is under the command of the Master and is to do whatever is needed and possible to deal with an emergency.

During an emergency the Master may decide to order all non-essential personnel off the ship. In such situations the Master is to ensure there are means available for remaining personnel to evacuate the ship if they are unable to deal with the emergency.

In an emergency the Master and Chief Engineer must support one another and communicate closely to ensure the safety of the ship and those onboard. 

Crew are given responsibilities and duties within the following emergency teams:

Bridge Team
Responsible for coordinating the emergency. The OOW is responsible for external communications to and from the ship (this is to be clearly indicated in the muster list). The safe navigation of the vessel is a critical duty of this team.

Engine Control Room Team
Led by the Chief Engineer this team is responsible for the coordination of an engine room emergency or supporting the Master in any other emergency. This party will normally muster in the Engine room, but an alternative muster point must be identified in case the emergency is in the engine room itself.

Emergency Response Team
Responsible for tacking the emergency as directed by the Master. The team is led by the Chief Officer in the event of a Deck emergency or the Second Engineer in the event of an engine-room emergency.



Support Team
Responsible for supporting in an Emergency as directed.

Refer to the Emergency Response Plan and the vessels Muster List (FS20) for more detailed information.  

Suitable locations are to be designated for the Emergency Teams to muster.

When deciding where these should be, the muster stations should have good access to:
• The Upper Deck
• The Accommodation
• The Machinery Spaces

On some vessels it may be convenient to have all teams muster at the same location. At any rate muster stations must be in locations where they are unlikely to be cut off by fire.

The Emergency Party is to muster in a location where emergency equipment is readily available.

If a muster station cannot be used for any reason, the team leader is to agree a new Muster location with the Master.

At every Muster Station there should be a simple way to quickly identify if everyone is present, or if people are missing. 

The Boat Stations section of the Muster List must contain the name of every person in the ship.

Lifeboat crews should contain a mix of Officers and Ratings from various departments. An Officer or Rating holding a Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats qualification must be assigned to each boat.