Instruction manual

PROFICIENCY IN SURVIVAL CRAFT AND RESCUE BOATS OTHER THAN

FAST RESCUE BOATS

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unloaded outrigger has been slewed. The davit arrangements operate at

vessel's heel up to 20° at-either side and trim up to 10°.

5.2.3 Automatic release hook

The primary aim in fitting these particular types of release equipment is to

facilitate the safe release of the rafts and boats from the davit falls during an

evacuation, especially in heavy weather conditions.

Whilst this type of release equipment represents a great technical advance

over the traditional hook, which has been used for so many years, it is also much

more complex. Consequently, to ensure that it will always function efficiently, it

must be properly adjusted, regularly maintained and correctly operated at all

times. Of particular importance is the need to ensure that the correct design of

ring or shackle is being used to connect the release equipment to the davit falls.

Failure to attend to any of these factors could cause a malfunction of the release

equipment, resulting in the raft or boat being released prematurely or,

alternatively, being retained on the falls when waterborne, with potentially

disastrous results in either case.

Unfortunately several serious accidents involving the use of these release

mechanisms have already been reported , they include:—

(a) premature release of lifeboats from the falls; causing death and

serious injuries to the occupants and extensive damage to the boats;

(b) retention of a lifeboat on the falls when waterborne; the occupants

were uninjured but great difficulties were experienced in releasing the boat;

causing loss of confidence to members of the crew witnessing the launches and

also damage to the rafts.

The testing to be conducted in the following manner:

(a) the operation of automatic release hooks for liferafts - by

suspending an appropriate weight; setting the hook and then lowering the weight

to the deck where it should be automatically released;

(b) the operation of “on-load” disengaging gear and “off-load” release

mechanisms - by lowering the boat into the water and then pulling on the control

lever after which the hooks should open. It should be noted that this equipment

should never be tested whilst the boat is hanging in the davits.