Instruction manual

PROFICIENCY IN SURVIVAL CRAFT AND RESCUE BOATS OTHER THAN
FAST RESCUE BOATS
5 9
5.1.8 On board maintenance
S.O.L.A.S., Chapter III
R 20 Operational readiness, maintenance and inspection
Before the ship leaves port and at all times during the voyage, all life-
saving appliances shall be in working order and ready for immediate use.
Instructions for on-board maintenance of life-saving appliances
complying with the requirements of regulation 36 shall be provided and
maintenance shall be carried out accordingly.
The Administration may accept, in lieu of the instructions required by
above paragraph, a shipboard planned maintenance programme.
Falls used in launching shall be turned end for end at intervals of not
more than 30 months and be renewed when necessary due to deterioration
of the falls or at intervals of not more than five years, whichever is the earlier.
The Administration may accept in lieu of the "end for ending" required in
above paragraph, periodic inspection of the falls and their renewal whenever
necessary due to deterioration or at intervals of not more than four years,
whichever one is earlier.
Spares and repair equipment shall be provided for life-saving appliances
and their components which are subject to excessive wear or consumption and
need to be replaced regularly.
Weekly inspection:
- all survival craft, rescue boats and launching appliances shall be
visually
inspected to ensure that they are ready for use;
- all engines in lifeboats and rescue boats shall be run for a total period
of not less than 3 min provided the ambient temperature is above the minimum
temperature required for starting and running the engine. During this period of
time, it should be demonstrated that the gear box and gear box train are
engaging satisfactorily. If the special characteristics of an outboard motor fitted to
a rescue boat would not allow it to be run other than with its propeller submerged
for a period of 3 min, it should be run for such period as prescribed in the
manufacturer's handbook;
- the general emergency alarm system shall be tested.
Monthly inspections
- Inspection of the life-saving appliances, including lifeboat equipment,
shall be carried out monthly using the checklist to ensure that they are complete
and in good order. A report of the inspection shall be entered in the log-book.