Instruction manual

PROFICIENCY IN SURVIVAL CRAFT AND RESCUE BOATS OTHER THAN
FAST RESCUE BOATS
6 11
6.2 Clearing the ship’s sides
The period of launching is potentially one of the most hazardous that the
boat and its crew will pass through.
Once a surface is reached and the falls are about to be released ( aft fall first) the
floating blocks/linkage on the end of the fall becomes a real danger to personnel
inside the boat. This danger is increased considerably if the sea conditions are
“choppy” and if a swell is present, causing excessive, violent motion of the boat.
The bow of the boat should be retained by the temporary painter and the
engine should be operational. The bowman should be employed constructively to
bear away by means of the boathook, while the coxswain should move ahead
and away by pushing the tiller towards the ship’s side. Extreme care must be
taken to ensure that persons are sitting low down in the boat to avoid contact
with the floating blocks, once released.
As the boat clears the side, weight will be seen to come on to the painter
and this should be slipped as soon as possible once sea room is obtained so that
the manoeuvre will keep the propeller clear of the slipped painter.
It is always desirable that the mother ship should provide a “ lee” when a
boat is launched. However, there may be occasions when this is not possible.
Neither must it be assumed that the parent vessel is always stopped; it could
very well have limited “ headway” when engaged on a launching operation.
6.2.1 Taking away a boat ( open boat without power, parent vessel stopped)
On reaching the surface the lifeboat falls should be released. This is
potentially one of the most dangerous times for the boat’s crew, whohave their
head height at the level of the fall blocks.
The outboard oars should be lowered while the inboard oars should remain
in the “ tossed” position. The bowman and the outboard oarsmen should stand by
to bear off from the ship’s side using the boathook and the looms of the oars
respectively.
Heaving on the painter, down the inboard side, would accentuate the
movement of the boat’s bow outward and away from the vessel’s side.
Once the bow is “arcing” away from the ship’s side the widening space
should permit the inboard oars to be lowered. Let the painter go as soon as
practicable.
The inboard oarsmen should gibe way on their oars while the outboard
oarsmen should hold water until that time when the boat’s stem is away from the
side.
Coxswain should give their orders sharply and clearly. It is equally
important that oarsmen should respond in a smart effective number in order to
clear the boat from the critical area of launching.