You shouldn’t go with a boat which doesn’t not equipped fully those mentioned no matter how cheap is the offered deal. In this article, Discover Halong will provide a brief instruction on Safety Facilities on Halong Bay’s cruises and where to find them on your cruise.
1/ Life vests (Life jackets)
Life vests are usually placed inside guest cabins, 2 life vests each room. Aside from that, you can also find them at public areas such as restaurant (so called the dining room), under the chairs and at reception area. Life vests will be used in emergency situations and also when you sit on tender boats (smaller transfer boats) to approach specific attractions on the bay.
2/ Lifeboats and lifebuoys
Lifeboats and lifebuoys are enough for all guests and crew onboard. They are usually hanged at both side of the sundeck and only used for emergency cases, not for swimming or rowing around. Lifebuoys can also be found at reception area and on tender boats.
3/ Fire extinguishers and emergency hammers
In each cabin, crew members arrange one fire extinguisher and one emergency hammer. You will need to use the hammer to break the glass windows to escape from the boat in case of sinking or big fire which cannot be stopped by fire extinguishers. Some cruises combine hammers with light bulbs to help you send out S.O.S signal when you are floating in the middle of the sea. There is also fire alarm, fire extinguishers at different areas on board, following the standard guide and ready to be used.
4/ Exits maps
Entering your cabin, you will find an exits map which shows exit ways for all areas on board. The map is usually hanged on the wall, right next to cabin’s door. Also, at public areas such as restaurant and reception area, you can see similar maps. It is good to take a quick look at the map when you arrive onboard and remember it beforehand.
5/ Other safety facilities
The boats are supported with modern marine equipment, including: VHF Radio, GPS Plotting, Two-way radios, Water Ingress Alarm System, Anti-sinking Pump System, Fire Alarm system to secure that the daily operations go smoothly and safety, especially when Halong Bay is a gulf area full of limestone mountains.
Moreover, the medical aid is available for use on board. If you have any health problem requiring you to be transfer to the mainland, speedboats are available for serving. All crews have to join SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) training course about safety, first aid, how to deal with emergency case and take care of guests on board.
