#FREE FALL LIFEBOAT FREE#

#FREE FALL LIFEBOAT FREE#

Maintenance required on free fall lifeboats Maintenance by Ship staffĮvery company has a weekly and monthly checklist for lifeboat which we have to follow. This test will make sure that the release mechanism is working.Īfter simulation test, the boat then need to be lowered with davit and manoevered in water. Once the boat releases, after moving slight distance, simulation wire will hold the boat. One crew will operate the release gear of the boat. When the boat is secured, this wire will be loose with no weight on it. One end of this wire is connected to boat and other on the ship structure. In simple words, the boats that are fitted with simulated launching has a securing wire. Simulated launching does same but without lowering the lifeboat with free fall. When we lower the lifeboat by free fall method, we are testing the release mechanism of the lifeboat.

Simulated launching replaces the requirement of lowering the lifeboat by free fall method. Now what does it mean by “simulated launching” of the free fall boat ? Simulated launching Or you can carry out simulated launching provided lifeboat has the provisions for that. But if you had lowered the boat by secondary means such as davit, you need to lower the boat by free fall every 6 months. If you are lowering the boat every 3 months by free fall means, there is no other thing you need to do every 6 month. We need to test the engine and sprinkler system during manoeuvring. Irrespective of how we lower the boat, we need to manoeuver it in water every three months.

Crew can then board the lifeboat by embarkation ladder. Otherwise, we can lower the free fall lifeboat to water by davit. If lowering by free fall, the required crew need to sit inside the boat and launch it from inside. Lowering requirement of Free fall lifeboatĪs per SOLAS we need to lower the free fall lifeboat as followsĮvery 3 months we can lower the lifeboat either by free fall launching or by secondary means of launching. So Lets see what maintenance we need to do on free fall lifeboats to ensure that everything is alright. Person responsible for maintenance not sure what maintenance to do.

Isn’t it a worrying factor ? It surely is.īut why do we have so many observations on life saving equipments ? There are 3 factors that contribute to maintenance issues These are not there because of any cargo requirement, or any commercial need.Īnd yet, we find so many observations on life saving equipments during external inspections.įor example, as per USCG, detentions due to “rescue boat” was one of the top 5 deficiencies in 2015. Life saving equipments are the only equipments on board which are for us. On board ships, who can be your real friend who will help when you are in real need.ĭid I hear, Life saving equipments ? You are absolutely correct. They say, A friend in need is a friend indeed.