Solas Training Manual Partiv

8/12/2019 Solas Training Manual Partiv

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Section 4.1

Page 4.1

General Requirements

Launching arrangements are to be such that the fully laden survival craft or rescue boat can be

deployed even if the mother vessel has an adverse trim of 10° and a list of 20° in either direction. On

vessels constructed before 1986 the trim and list limits are 10° and 15° respectively, and for oil,

chemical and gas carriers the list limits may be greater as determined by a vessel's damage stability

requirements. These requirements do not apply to the secondary means of launching free-fall

lifeboats.

Launching of survival craft or rescue boats must be independent of the ship's power supplies and

may rely only on gravity or independent stored mechanical power. (An exception to this is that the

secondary means of launching free-fall lifeboats may rely on ship's power). The launching appliance

must be a low maintenance system and, as far as practicable, remain operational even in conditions

of icing. The system must be arranged to facilitate safe boarding.

The launching system, excluding winch brakes, must be statically load tested to 2.2 times the

maximum working load. Winches are statically load tested to 1.5 times the maximum working load

and dynamically load tested to 1.1 times the maximum working load at maximum lowering speed.

Falls and Winches

Falls are to be resistant to rotation and constructed from corrosion resistant steel wire rope. They

must be long enough to allow the survival craft to r each the water in its lightest sea-going draft,

against an adverse list of 20° and unfavourable trim.

Hand gear is provided for the recovery of each survival craft. Where davit arms are recovered by

- - - - - - - . .

power safety devices ('limit switches') automatically cut the power before the fall or davit becomes



Section 4.1

Page 4.2

Maximum and minimum lowering speeds for fully laden and vacated survival craft are laid down or

are to be to approved by the appropriate authority.

Each launching appliance must be fitted with a brake so that descent of the survival craft or rescue

boat may be stopped at any time. Manual brakes must be arranged so that they automatically

assume the 'ON' position, unless the operator HOLDS the brake in the 'OFF' position.



Section 4.2

Page 4.3

In addition to the general requirements previously stated, on vessels built after July 1986 the

launching appliance must:

• Allow the lifeboat to be boarded and launched directly from the stowed position (applies to

cargo vessels only) .

• Be arranged so that the launching can be activated by one person on the ship's deck, and also

from within the lifeboat (this also applies to liferafts).

On some older vessels davits are sometimes conspicuously marked

with a red band six inches wide painted on a white background to

indicate that the strength of the deck or davit is insufficient for safely

launching and recovering the lifeboat when loaded with its full

complement of persons and equipment. In such cases the lifeboat

may be launched and recovered with the operating crew only. Other

occupants must embark or disembark the boat whilst it is afloat and

the launching system not under load.

Radial davits are now generally obsolete but may

be found on older vessels. They comprise a

manually hauled block and rope tackle at each

end of the lifeboat. Experience and skill is

required to lift, swing out and lower the lifeboat.



Section 4.2

Page 4.4

Luffing davit hand operated by

a mechanical wor m screw



Traditional open lifeboat.

Releasing a lifeboat from a traditional block and fall system has always been Note the heavy lifting chain and

fall block which may present a

a time fraught with danger . Heavy chains and heavy floating blocks sub ject to danger during launching and

recovery.



Section 4.2

Page 4.6

- - - - -===--



IHydrostatic lock / sensor

Typical arrangement of l i feboat On-Load / Off Load release mechanism©Schat-Harding



Section 4.2

Page 4.8

Typical On-Load / Off-Load release handle in a totally enclosed lifeboat.

The red release lever is to the r ight of the coxswain's seat.

To release the lifeboat from the falls after it is waterborne (of f -load) first remove the safety pin (with the blue

head) and then the red lever must be lifted and pulled downwards.

To release the lifeboat in an on-load condition it i s necessary to break the glass located to the right of the

red lever. This will give access to the override mechanism which will allow the boat to be released from the

falls whether or not it is waterborne. The process, which is designed to prevent premature or accidental

release, requires progressive actions and cannot be completed without the coxswain leaving his seat and

other occupants being aware that he is doing so.



Section 4.2

Page 4.9

When recovering a boat with a patented release system care must be taken to ensure that all control

and safety devices are correctly set, that release pin cams properly engage and that the falls are

pr operly engaged by the lifting hooks. With some systems there is a significant potential for serious

accidents during recovery and the utmost care must be taken.

On-Load / Off Load disengaging gear requires regular servicing and proof testing at intervals not

exceeding five years.



Free Fall Launching and Recovery

After boarding and ensuring that each person

is correctly secured in their seat and the stern

door is closed the boat is released from the

stowage position by the coxswain completing

the operations that release the main lock and

release gear . The boat the rolls down the

inclined trackway at the velocity

necessary to clear the trackway and free fall,

bow first to the water. The boat will 'porpoise'

in the water, regain the surface, and have

sufficient momentum to be making headway.

Section 4.2

Page 4.10

If, because of lack of stern space or depth of water, free-fall launching is not a safe option, then the

boat may be deployed using the falls and winch. The necessary locks must be released and the

suspension sling engaged on the hook. Details of

the launching method will vary according to the

boat and davit manufacturer, but the object is to

launch the boat in a controlled manner, even

when the free-fall option is not available.

To recover a free-fall lifeboat the davit arm is

lowered and the boat manoeuvred beneath it, with

the lifeboat stern-on to the stern of the mother

vessel. Once hooked on the boat is lifted by winch

and falls, re-stowed on the trackway and made

secure and ready for use once again.



Section 4.3

Page 4.11

Rescue boat launching appliances may be either a single fall or twin fall system and they must

comply with the general requirements for davits, previously outlined in this section. In addition all

rescue boats must be capable of being launched with the parent vessel making up to five knots

headway, in calm conditions. To meet this cr iteria painters may be used. Each rescue boat launching

appliance must be fitted with a powered winch motor capable of raising the boat from the water with

its full complement and equipment at a rate of not less than a.3m/s.

The arrangement must allow for the rescue boat to be boarded and launched directly from the

stowed position complete with the operating crew. An exception to this is that if the rescue boat is

also a lifeboat, and other lifeboats are boarded and launched from an embarkation deck, then a

similar arrangement may apply to the rescue boat.

The rescue boat and its launching arrangement must be kept in a continuous state of readiness so

that it may be launched in f ive minutes or less.

If a rescue boat launching and recovery system with two falls is

used some administrations require that a nylon recover y strop

arrangement is available to facilitate operations in adverse

weather. The purpose and method of using nylon recovery

strops has been previously described in the section Lifeboat

Disengaging and Recovery.



Section 4.3

Page 4.12

Wave Compensating Davits

Launching and recovery davits for fast rescue boats - as required on sea-

going passenger vessels - have to take into account that the fast rescue

boat is intended to be safely launched and recovered even in severe

weather. Such davits are fitted with devices to compensate for the rise

and fall due to the waves and swell, and for the oscillations due to the

motion of the parent vessel. The winch is fitted with an automatic high

speed tensioning device which prevents the wire fall from

going slack because of the sea state.



Types of on-load / off-load

release hooks used with

single fall rescue boat

launching systems.

If the same davit is used to

launch life rafts and the rescue

boat two different hooks are

connected to the same runner.

Here the liferaft off-load release

hook is seen on the left and the

rescue boat on-Ioad/off-Ioad

hook is on the right.





Type s at off -load

release hooks used

with literatt launching

systems.

so that the hook opens and releases the liferaft once the load has been removed, i.e. when the r aft

is waterborne. 'Setting' the hook should be deferred u n ti l the raft is near the water (say 11/2 m ). If



On this davit launched liferaft the black

closure gives access to the lowering shackle

After inflation at the davit head the raft is

bowsed hard alongside and then boarded

After connecting the off-load release hook

the liferaft is swung out ready for inflation

1= Painter line. 2= Bowsing lines

3= Container retention line

4= Handle giving remote lowering

control from within the inflated raft

The bowsing lines are then released

and the literaft is lowered to the water





Section 4.4

Page 4.18

f 4 ] - - - -



The Hydrostatic Release Unit (HRU) is a device designed to

automatically release some item after it has become submerged

to a pre-determined depth. They thus free, and make available

for survivors to use, essential equipment which might otherwise

sink with a stricken vessel. HRUs are used with EPIRB's, and

some lifeboats, but they are most commonly associated with

liferafts.

Normally a liferaft is restrained in its cradle by means of a strap

which includes a manual, quick release device such as a

senhouse slip. Incorporated into the liferaft restraining and

painter securing system is an HRU. Should an occasion occur

when manual release is impossible (e.g. it the vessel were to

sink very rapidly) the HRU will release the liferaft from the cradle

and cause it to inflate.

Section 4.4

Page 4.19

When more than one liferaft is stowed on the same cradle or launching ramp, some

administrations permit the use of one HRU for all rafts grouped together, whilst others

require a separate HRU for each literatt. As indicated previously, a liferaft stowed

forward at a distance of over 100m from other survival craft need not be fitted with an

HRU. This is because the unit may release the liferaft after becoming submerged in

heavy bow seas. HRUs set to release at greater depth than the standard (as used on

some naval ships) are available to suit particular needs.



Section 4.4

Page 4.20

The liferaft starts to surface

because of its internal

buoyancy, pulling out the

painter , which is now only

connected to the vessel by the

"weak link."

~

~~When the painter is pulled out fully the

liferaft inflates and the buoyancy force

acting on the inflating liferaft is sufficient to

break the weak link. The raft is now free of

the stricken vessel and will be fully inflated

at the surface ready for boarding.



A hand operated vacuum pump connected to a

release unit via small bore stainless steel tubing.

I l o ' ' ' ' ' I D ! I

Il~(!)K'm

I

IO . .m ,

I O l f U , l U

Control panel for electric remote

release of liferafts.

Schematic arrangement

of a remote liferaft

release system using

stored gas pressure.



Section 4.5

Page 4.22

The form taken by a means of rescue may vary from being based on a davit launched liferaft, a

rescue boat or on a marine evacuation system.

If the means of rescue is a form of davit launched liferaft then the launching davit must be fitted with

a powered winch capable of raising the loaded means of rescue to the deck of the ship at a rate of at

least O.3m/sec. An appliance used for the launch and recovery of a fast rescue boat may be used as

part of a means of rescue system provided it meets and does not conflict with any other relevant

requirement. A means of rescue based on a marine evacuation system must be provided with a

mechanically powered means to safely hoist persons lying down.



Section 4.6

Page 4.23

The lighting systems at muster and embarkation stations must be powered from the ship's mains and

from the emergency power supplies, and so arranged that any interruption affecting either supply will

not leave any area without illumination.

In and around the launching area the following must be illuminated.

Passenger Ships

• Decks from which survival craft are embarked.

• Launching gear and survival craft.

• Water into which the survival craft will be launched.

• The stowage position of throwover liferafts.

• Posters and signs in vicinity of survival craft.

• Assembly & embarkation stations.

Cargo Ships

• Launching gear and survival craft.

• Water into which the survival craft will be launched.

• The stowage position of throwover liferafts.

• Posters and signs in vicinity of survival craft.

Boat preparation lights should illuminate entrances to lifeboats, interiors of partially enclosed lifeboats

and rescue boats. In addition the winches and deck area surrounding the davits should also be

illuminated. In small ships, where it is impracticable to fit permanent lighting, rechargeable portable

battery lamps (not torches) may be permitted.



Section 4.6

Page 4.24

Vessels that car ry a liferaft forward (e.g. tanker s and bulk carriers) that may not have lighting

provided in the area may illuminate the area by use of a hand safety lamp or torch.



Section 4.7

Page 4.25

Launching survival craft should not be endangered or inhibited by factors that may be hazardous or

add difficulty to the evacuation process.

• There should be available means to prevent any overboard discharge of water on to survival

craft during abandonment or man overboard operations.

If there is a danger that any of survival craft may be damaged by stabilizer fins there is to be

available a method, oper able from the emergency power source, of bringing the fins inboar d.

• Other dangers and inhibitions when launching include propellers, thrusters, bilge keels, sea

suctions, rubbing bands and other hull protrusions, etc.

It should be remember ed that some protrusions and discharges that are normally well below the

waterline may be a more significant danger if the ship takes on an unusual list or trim.

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Solas Training Manual Partiv

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