Deutsch: Notfall / Español: Urgencias hospitalarias
An emergency is a situation that poses an immediate risk to health, life, property, or environment. Most emergencies require urgent intervention to prevent a worsening of the situation, although in some situations, mitigation may not be possible and agencies may only be able to offer palliative care for the aftermath.
In the maritime context, "emergency" refers to a sudden, unexpected and dangerous situation that requires immediate action to avoid loss of life or damage to property.
Examples of emergencies in the maritime context include:
- A fire onboard a ship
- A collision or grounding of a ship
- A man overboard situation
- A security breach or piracy attack
- A mechanical failure or equipment breakdown
- A medical emergency such as a heart attack or stroke
- A hazardous material spill or environmental emergency
- Severe weather conditions such as a hurricane or typhoon
In the case of a maritime emergency, the crew and passengers must act quickly and efficiently to respond to the situation and seek assistance from nearby ships or rescue services if necessary. It is also important for ships to have proper emergency response procedures in place and for crew members to receive regular training in emergency response and safety procedures.