An Cosantóir

| 25 EMERGENCY PIPES Increasingly more and more Defence Forces exercises are integrated between the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service. Life onboard a ship or a plane can be totally alien to soldier used to having his feet on the ground. Onboard a naval service vessel you will regularly hear what are known as pipes over the ship's intercom. These can be in either English or Irish depending on what's happening. Last month we introduced you to some 'Routine Pipes' you may hear while onboard a naval vessel. Life at sea brings its own challenges and sailors have to be prepared for any eventuality. Here are a few pipes you may hear in case of an emergency either in an operational exercise or in a real life situation. Pipes are preceded by a blast from the bosun/seamans whistle. All pipes are repeated twice after a short pause. For Emergency Pipes use the General Alarm. Emergency Pipes: All exercises will be preceded by 'For Exercise (x2). All pipes to be repeated once after a slight pause. Fire Alarm when Alongside/Anchor: Fire indication zone… (state location) duty watch muster, investigate and report. DPO switch on ICOM. (QM Switch on your ICOM) Fire Alarm when Underway: Fire indication zone… (state location) Standing sea emergency party muster, investigate and report. False Alarm: Disregard last fire alarm. (This must come from member on duty) Fire when Alongside/Anchor: Emergency Stations (x2) Fire Fire Fire in the… (state location). Duty watch assume DC (Damage Control) state 1 condition Zulu, spare hands muster on… (state location). Fire Underway: Emergency stations (x2) Fire, Fire, Fire in the… (state location). Fore and aft DC parties close up. Assume DC state 1 condition Zulu, spare hands muster on… (state location). *Note: DC Officer may change DC sate to allow easier access to fire-fighting team. Collision: Brace, Brace, Brace Standby for collision port/starboard side. Close all red openings. After Impact: Duty watch/SSEP (Standing Seafarers Emergency Party) muster investigate and report, Cary out blanket search. Duty PO switch on ICOM. (QM switch on your ICOM). Flood: Emergency Stations (x2) Flood, Flood, Flood in the… (state location) Fore and aft damage control parties close up, assume damage control state condition Zulu. Spare hands muster on the… (state location) *Note: DCO May Change DC State to allow easier access to firefighter-team. Emergency Stations: Emergency stations (x2), Fore and aft damage control parties close up, assume damage control state 1 condition Zulu, spare hands muster on the… (state location) Abandon Ship: Abandon ship stations (x3). All hands muster at their starboard/ port life-raft station. Man Overboard: Man overboard (x3), boat crew and special sea duty men close up. standby to launch port/starboard boat. L/SBA (Leading Sick Berth Attendant (medic)) close up on the QM lobby. Quick Release Marker Buoy (QRMB): Hands close up on the after deck. Standby to lay QRMB. Laying in Position: Lay Lay Lay Steering Gear Failure: Steering gear failure (x3), watch on deck muster in the steering flat. (Officer of the watch may increase the DC state depending on ship position) Action Stations: Action stations (x2), guns crew and special sea duty men close up Assume damage control state 1 condition Zulu. Bandit Red: (for unauthorised armed boarder): Bandit red (x3), duty watch muster… (as directed). Bandit Blue: (for unauthorised unarmed boarder): Bandit blue (x3), duty watch muster… (as directed). Quick Draw: Quick draw (x3), port/starboard side. Defence Stations: Scheme of defence (x3), assume damage control state 1 condition Zulu, duty watch lay to the RU locker. Spare hands muster… (state location). Operation Awkward: Assume operation awkward state 3 condition X-Ray, duty watch muster on the bridge. Assume operation awkward state 2 condition Yankee, all hands muster in the junior rates mess. Bomb Threat: Bomb threat (x3), ship's company muster on the bridge, close all red openings below the waterline. www.military.ie the defence forces magazine

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