abandonship

Abandon ship is a maritime safety term referring to the evacuation of a vessel when the ship or its equipment cannot be made safe for continued operation. It is an order typically given by the master or officer of the watch in emergencies such as severe flooding, uncontrollable fire, or catastrophic structural damage. The phrase is commonly written as two separate words, but in casual usage or online writing it may appear as the compound “abandonship.”

In practice, abandoning ship follows international safety conventions and shipboard procedures. Crews muster at designated stations, lifeboats or liferafts are prepared and lowered, and occupants move to evacuation systems while preserving life-saving equipment. Personal protective gear such as life jackets and immersion suits may be used, depending on sea and weather conditions. The decision to abandon ship is taken when it is judged that staying aboard endangers lives more than leaving the vessel, and rescue opportunities are anticipated to be stronger from the survival craft.

After the order is given, the focus shifts to a controlled and orderly evacuation. Those remaining on board may perform essential tasks only as long as it is safe to do so, and once all hands are accounted for, the crew tries to reach a safe location in the lifeboats or liferafts and await rescue. The concept is also used metaphorically to describe leaving a failing project, organization, or relationship when continued involvement is deemed unsafe or impractical.

See also: SOLAS, lifeboat, evacuation drill, distress signal.