Instruction manual

PROFICIENCY IN SURVIVAL CRAFT AND RESCUE BOATS OTHER THAN
FAST RESCUE BOATS
4 2
Each lifeboat shall be of sufficient strength to withstand a load, without
residual deflection on removal of that load:
- in the case of boats with metal hulls, 1.25 times the total
mass of the lifeboat when loaded with its full complement of persons and
equipment; or
- in the case of other boats, twice the total mass of the
lifeboat when loaded with its full complement of persons and equipment.
Each lifeboat shall be of sufficient strength to withstand, when loaded with
its full complement of persons and equipment and with, where applicable, skates
or fenders in position, a lateral impact against the ship's side at an impact
velocity of at least 3.5 m/s and also a drop into the water from a height of at least
3m.
The vertical distance between the floor surface and the interior of the
canopy or enclosure over at least 50 % of the floor area shall be
- not less than 1.3 m for a lifeboat permitted to
accommodate 9 persons or less;
- not less than 1.7 m for a lifeboat permitted to
accommodate 24 persons or more;
- not less than the distance as determined by linear
interpolation between 1.3 m & 1.7 m for a lifeboat permitted to accommodate
between 10 and 23 persons.
c) Carrying capacity
The number of persons which a lifeboat shall be permitted to accommodate
shall be equal to:
- the number of persons, all wearing immersion suits, that
can be seated in a normal position with out interfering with the means of
propulsion or the operation of any of the lifeboat's equipment; or,
- the number of spaces that can be provided on the seating
arrangements. The shapes may be overlapped as shown, provided that footrests
are fitted and there is sufficient room for legs and the vertical separation between
the upper and lower seats is not less than 350 mm.
Each seating position within a lifeboat shall be clearly indicated.
d) Access
Every passenger ship lifeboat shall be so arranged that:
- it can be rapidly boarded by its full complement of persons;
and,
- rapid disembarkation can be possible.