Instruction manual

PROFICIENCY IN SURVIVAL CRAFT AND RESCUE BOATS OTHER THAN
FAST RESCUE BOATS
4 5
The rudder and tiller shall be arranged so as not to be damaged by the
operation of the lifeboat release mechanism or the propeller.
A buoyant lifeline shall be around the outside of the lifeboat, except in the
vicinity of the rudder and propeller.
Lifeboats which are not self-righting when capsized, shall have suitable
handholds on the underside of the hull to enable persons to cling to the lifeboat.
The handholds shall be fastened to the lifeboat in such a way that, when
subjected to an impact sufficient to cause them to break away, they break away
without causing damage to the lifeboat.
Every lifeboat shall be fitted with sufficient watertight lockers or
compartments to provide for the storage of the small items of equipment, water
and provisions.
Means shall be provided for the collection and storage of rainwater.
Every lifeboat to be launched by a fall or falls shall be fitted with a release
mechanism complying with the following requirements:
- the mechanism shall be so arranged that all hooks are
released simultaneously;
- the mechanism shall have two release capabilities as
follows
- a manual release which will release the
lifeboat when waterborne or when there is no load on the hooks;
- an "on-load" release capability which will
release the lifeboat with a load on the hooks and be so arranged as to release
the lifeboat under any conditions of loading from no-load with the lifeboat
waterborne to a load of 1.1 times the loaded mass of the lifeboat when loaded
with its complement of persons and equipment.
- the release control shall be clearly marked in a color that
contrasts with its surroundings;
- the release mechanism shall be designed with a safety
factor of 6 based on the ultimate strength of the materials used, assuming the
mass of the lifeboat is equally distributed between the falls.
Every lifeboat shall be fitted with a means to enable the forward painter to
be released when under tension.
Every lifeboat shall be provided with a permanently installed earth
connection and arrangements for adequately sitting and securing in the operating
position the antenna provided with the portable radio apparatus.
Lifeboats intended for launching down the side of a ship shall have skates
or fenders as necessary to facilitate launching and prevent damage.
A manually controlled lamp visible on a dark night with a clear atmosphere
at a distance of at least 2 miles for a period of not less than 12 hours shall be
fitted to the top of the cover of closure. If the light is designed to flash it shall
initially flash at a rate of not less than 50 flashes per minute over the first 2 hours
of operation of the 12 hour operating period.