7/27/2019 63931504-Lifeboat

1/4

5Share

2

1digg

Home Life At Sea, Marine Knowledge,Marine Safety,Maritime Law, More Categories

Types of Lifeboat Release Mechanisms &SOLAS Requirements for Lifeboats

BYANISH 22 DECEMBER 2010 NO COMMENT

There are different types of lifeboats used on board a ship on the basis of the type of ship and other

special requirements. Not all the lifeboats have the same type of releasing mechanisms, for the

launching of a lifeboat depends on several other factors. In this article we will take a look at the main

types of lifeboat releasing mechanisms and also learn about the SOLAS requirements for lifeboats.

Types of lifeboat releases: On load and off load release.

There are two types of lifeboat releasing mechanisms- on load and off load. These mechanisms

release the boat from the davit, which is attached to a wire or fall by means of a hook. By releasing the

hook the lifeboat can be set free to propel away from the ship.

Off load mechanism:

The off load mechanism releases the boat after the load of the boat is transferred to water or the boat

has been lowered fully into the sea. When the boat touches the surface of water, the load on the fall

and hence the hook releases and due to its mechanism the hook detaches from the fall. If the

detachment dose not takes place, any of the crew members can remove the hook from the fall. Most of

the times the offload mechanism is manually disengaged in case of malfunction; however, in case of

fire, it is dangerous to go out and release the hook.

http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fmarineinsight.com%2Fmarine-knowledge%2Ftypes-of-lifeboat-release-mechanisms-solas-requirements-for-lifeboats%2F&t=Types%20of%20Lifeboat%20Release%20Mechanisms%20%26%20SOLAS%20Requirements%20for%20Lifeboats%20%7C%20Marine%20Insight&src=sphttp://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fmarineinsight.com%2Fmarine-knowledge%2Ftypes-of-lifeboat-release-mechanisms-solas-requirements-for-lifeboats%2F&t=Types%20of%20Lifeboat%20Release%20Mechanisms%20%26%20SOLAS%20Requirements%20for%20Lifeboats%20%7C%20Marine%20Insight&src=sphttp://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fmarineinsight.com%2Fmarine-knowledge%2Ftypes-of-lifeboat-release-mechanisms-solas-requirements-for-lifeboats%2F&t=Types%20of%20Lifeboat%20Release%20Mechanisms%20%26%20SOLAS%20Requirements%20for%20Lifeboats%20%7C%20Marine%20Insight&src=sphttp://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fmarineinsight.com%2Fmarine-knowledge%2Ftypes-of-lifeboat-release-mechanisms-solas-requirements-for-lifeboats%2F&t=Types%20of%20Lifeboat%20Release%20Mechanisms%20%26%20SOLAS%20Requirements%20for%20Lifeboats%20%7C%20Marine%20Insight&src=sphttp://www.google.com/buzz/posthttp://marineinsight.com/http://marineinsight.com/category/more-categories/life-at-sea/http://marineinsight.com/category/marine-knowledge/http://marineinsight.com/category/more-categories/marine-safety/http://marineinsight.com/category/more-categories/maritime-law/http://marineinsight.com/category/more-categories/http://marineinsight.com/author/anishw/http://marineinsight.com/author/anishw/http://www.google.com/buzz/posthttp://marineinsight.com/http://marineinsight.com/category/more-categories/life-at-sea/http://marineinsight.com/category/marine-knowledge/http://marineinsight.com/category/more-categories/marine-safety/http://marineinsight.com/category/more-categories/maritime-law/http://marineinsight.com/category/more-categories/http://marineinsight.com/author/anishw/http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fmarineinsight.com%2Fmarine-knowledge%2Ftypes-of-lifeboat-release-mechanisms-solas-requirements-for-lifeboats%2F&t=Types%20of%20Lifeboat%20Release%20Mechanisms%20%26%20SOLAS%20Requirements%20for%20Lifeboats%20%7C%20Marine%20Insight&src=sphttp://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fmarineinsight.com%2Fmarine-knowledge%2Ftypes-of-lifeboat-release-mechanisms-solas-requirements-for-lifeboats%2F&t=Types%20of%20Lifeboat%20Release%20Mechanisms%20%26%20SOLAS%20Requirements%20for%20Lifeboats%20%7C%20Marine%20Insight&src=sp

7/27/2019 63931504-Lifeboat

2/4

On load mechanism:

On load mechanism can release the lifeboat from the wire, with the ship above the water level and with

all the crew members inside the boat. The load will be still on the fall as the boat would not have

touched the water. Normally the height of about 1 m is kept for the on load release, so that the fall is

smooth without damaging the boat and harming the crew inside. A lever is provided inside the boat to

operate this mechanism. As the lever is operated from inside, it is safe to free the boat without going of

the out lifeboat, when there is a fire on ship.

Free Fall life boat release:

In Free fall life boat, the launching mechanism is similar to on load release. the only difference is that

the free fall lifeboat is not lowered till 1m above water level, it is launched from the stowed position by

http://marineinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/4-on-load-launch.jpghttp://marineinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/araterehook.jpghttp://marineinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/4-on-load-launch.jpghttp://marineinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/lifeboat_clip_image002_0002.jpg

7/27/2019 63931504-Lifeboat

3/4

operating a lever located inside the boat which releases the boat from rest of the davit and boat slides

through the tilted ramp into the water.

SOLAS and LSA code Requirements for lifeboat:

-The size, number and the capacity of the lifeboat for a merchant vessel is decided by the type of the

ship and number of ships crew, but it should not be less then 7.3 m in length and minimum two

lifeboats are provided on both side of the ship (port and starboard).

-The requirement for lifeboat of a cargo ship with 20,000 GT is that the boat must be capable of

launching when the ship is heading with a speed of 5 knots.

-The lifeboat must carry all the equipments described under SOLAS which can be used in survival at

sea. It includes rations, fresh water, first aid, compass, distress signalling equipments like rocket etc.

-The ship must carry one rescue boat for rescue purpose along with other lifeboats. One lifeboat can

be designated as a rescue boat if more then one lifeboat is present onboard ship.

-The gravity davits must be hold and slide down the lifeboat even when the ship is heeled to an angle

of 15 degree on either side. Ropes are used to hold the lifeboat in stowed position with cradle. These

ropes are called gripes.

http://marineinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/mj20040601_87.jpg

7/27/2019 63931504-Lifeboat

4/4

-The wires which lift or lower the lifeboat are known as falls and the speed of the lifeboat descent

should not be more then 36m/ min which is controlled by means of centrifugal brakes.

-The hoisting time for the boat launching appliance should not be less then 0.3 m/sec with the boat

loaded to its full capacity.

-The Lifeboat must be painted in international bright orange color with the ships call sign printed on it.

-The lifeboat station must be easily accessible for all the crew members in all circumstances. Safety

awareness posters and launching procedures must be posted at lifeboat station.

-Regular drills must be carried out to ensure that the ships crew members are capable of launching

the boat with minimal time during real emergency.