Instruction manual

PROFICIENCY IN SURVIVAL CRAFT AND RESCUE BOATS OTHER THAN FAST
RESCUE BOATS
11
1
11. Actions to take when aboard a survival craft
11.1 Initial action
11.2 Routines for survival
Initial vital action are :
- Cut the painter using the knife provided
- Stream the sea anchor, to reduce the risk of capsize and reduce the rate
of drift.
- Close up the acces points, to restrict incoming water and protect from
exposure.
- Maintain the craft, after checking for immediate damage.
Survivors should realize that by cutting the painter they are allowing the liferaft
to clear the area of immediate hazard, such as the side of an installation or the side
of a sinking parent vessel. Once the painter is cut, endeavours to move the raft into
clear water should be made by means of the paddles provided. Another method of
manoeuvre, for a circular craft, is to throw out the sea anchor and pull the liferaft
towards the weighted drogue.
It should not be the intention of survivors to clear the immediate disaster area.
The rate of drift on a inflated liferaft is considerable and unless a safe haven is within
sight, the sea anchor should be streamed at an early stage to effectively reduce the
drift and maintain the craft at the site of the last noted position.
It may be some time before the rescue services can locate survivors and it is
essential for the life raft entrances to be closed up to protect the occupants from
exposure. The floor should also be inflated at an early stage, when in cold climates,
to gain added insulation. This can also be deflated when in a warmer climate, to gain
an opposite cooling effect. Once the liferaft is closed up the natural body heat of
survivors will add to the interior warmth. When considered appropriate, ventilation
can later be allowed within the raft confines.
Survival in a liferaft needs to be managed correctly to bring about a successful
rescue. The maintenance of the craft needs to be managed by a person designated
leader. This is not to say that a dictatorial attitude should prevail, on the contrary
constructive ideas should be encouraged with a view to combined expertise
providing better solutions.
The other vital actions are :
- Sea sickness tablets : it is imperative that all survivors take the seasickness
medication as soon as practicable after boarding. Seasickness will incapacitate a
person, and to be useful a survivor needs to be both mentally and physically
aware.
- Dry out the survival craft : bale out loose from inside the liferaft/lifeboat with
balers provided. Employ one or two sponges to mop up dregs.
- Post a lookout : establish a lookout on the exterior of the liferaft .The lookout
should listen and watch for other survivors and locate other survival craft if
possible. An inside lookout should also be established to continually check the
buoyancy compartments of the liferaft and watch out for damage being