3.4.1 Each abandon ship drill shall include ：
.1 summoning of passengers and crew to muster stations with the alarm required by regulation 6.4.2 followed by drill announcement on the public address or other communication system and ensuring that they are made aware of the order to abandon ship；
.2 reporting to stations and preparing for the duties described in the muster list；
.3 checking that passengers and crew are suitably dressed；
.4 checking that lifejackets are correctly donned；
.5 lowering of at least one lifeboat after any necessary preparation for launching；
.6 starting and operating the lifeboat engine；
.7 operation of davits used for launching liferafts；
.8 a mock search and rescue of passengers trapped in their staterooms；and
.9 instruction in the use of radio life-saving appliances.
3.4.2 Different lifeboats shall, as far as practicable, be lowered in compliance with the requirements of paragraph 3.4.1.5 at successive drills.
3.4.3 Except as provided in paragraphs 3.4.4 and 3.4.5, each lifeboat shall be launched, and manoeuvred in the water by its assigned operating crew, at least once every three months during an abandon ship drill.
3.4.4 In the case of a lifeboat arranged for free-fall launching, at least once every three months during an abandon ship drill the crew shall board the lifeboat, properly secure themselves in their seats and commence launch procedures up to but not including the actual release of the lifeboat (i.e., the release hook shall not be released). The lifeboat shall then either be free-fall launched with only the required operating crew on board, or lowered into the water by means of the secondary means of launching with or without the operating crew on board. In both cases the lifeboat shall thereafter be manoeuvred in the water by the operating crew. At intervals of not more than six months, the lifeboat shall either be launched by free-fall with only the operating crew on board, or simulated launching shall be carried out in accordance with the guidelines developed by the Organization*.
* Refer to Measures to prevent accidents with lifeboats (MSC.1/Circ.1206).
3.4.5 The Administration may allow ships operating on short international voyages not to launch the lifeboats on one side if their berthing arrangements in port and their trading patterns do not permit launching of lifeboats on that side. However, all such lifeboats shall be lowered at least once every 3 months and launched at least annually.
3.4.6 As far as is reasonable and practicable, rescue boats other than lifeboats which are also rescue boats, shall be launched each month with their assigned crew aboard and manoeuvred in the water. In all cases this requirement shall be complied with at least once every 3 months.
3.4.7 If lifeboat and rescue boat launching drills are carried out with the ship making headway, such drills shall, because of the dangers involved, be practised in sheltered waters only and under the supervision of an officer experienced in such drills.*
* Refer to the Guidelines on Training for the Purpose of Launching Lifeboats and Rescue Boats from Ships Making Headway through the Water adopted by the Organization by resolution A.624(15).
3.4.8 If a ship is fitted with marine evacuation systems, drills shall include exercising of the procedures required for the deployment of such a system up to the point immediately preceding actual deployment of the system. This aspect of drills should be augmented by regular instruction using the on-board training aids required by regulation 35.4. Additionally every system party member shall, as far as practicable, be further trained by participation in a full deployment of a similar system into water, either on board a ship or ashore, at intervals of not longer than 2 years, but in no case longer than 3 years. This training can be associated with the deployments required by regulation 20.8.2.
3.4.9 Emergency lighting for mustering and abandonment shall be tested at each abandon ship drill.
