Instruction manual

PROFICIENCY IN SURVIVAL CRAFT AND RESCUE BOATS OTHER THAN
FAST RESCUE BOATS
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4. Survival craft and rescue boats
4.1 Lifeboats
LSA Code, Chapter IV
4.1.1 General requirements for lifeboats
a) Materials
The materials from which the lifeboat hull, deck, and canopy are constructed
shall be resistant to deterioration from:
- air temperature in the range of -30 to +65°C.;
- rot, corrosion, seawater, oil and fungus; and,
- sunlight.
Lifeboats shall be constructed of steel, aluminum or fibrous glass reinforced
plastics, except other materials if such are equivalent or superior to the specified
materials in physical properties and durability in a marine environment.
b) Design and Construction
All lifeboats shall
- be properly constructed;
- have rigid hulls;
- be of such form and proportions that they have ample
stability in a seaway and sufficient freeboard when loaded with their full
complement of persons and equipment;
- be capable of maintaining positive stability when in an
upright position in calm water and loaded with their complement and equipment
and holed in any one location below the waterline, assuming no loss of buoyancy
material or other damage.
Every lifeboat shall be capable of being launched and its equipment capable
of being operated by persons wearing immersion suits.
All lifeboats shall be of sufficient strength to:
- enable them to be safely lowered into the water when
loaded with their complement and equipment;
- be capable of being launched and towed when the ship is
making headway at a speed of 5 knots in calm water.
Hulls and rigid canopies shall be fire retardate or noncombustible.
Seating shall be provided on thwarts, benches or fixed chairs fitted as low
as practicable in the lifeboat capable of supporting the number of persons each
weighing 100 kg. for which spaces are provided.