AKARSHAN SOOD

MARINE ENGINEER
akarshansood@gmail.com

LIFEBOATS
All articles of equipment for lifeboats must be of good quality, efficient for the
purpose they are intended to serve and kept in good condition. Lifeboats must be
fully equipped before the vessel leaves port, and the equipment must remain in
the boat throughout the voyage. It is unlawful to stow in any boats articles other
than those required. All loose equipment must be securely attached to the boat to
which it belongs.

Stowage of Boats aboard Ship

Boats on the starboard side are numbered with odd numbers from forward to aft
(1-3-5-7 etc.). Boats on the port side are numbered with even numbers from
forward to aft (2-4-6-8 etc.). Boats stowed in nests are numbered from the top
down (1, 1A, 1B, etc.).

Maintenance of Lifeboat and Equipment

A man or group of men is especially assigned by the chief mate to take care of
and report the condition of the lifeboats each day. At drill each crew member
should inspect the boat to which he is assigned and examine its condition as far
as his own safety is concerned. In addition to daily inspection of the lifeboats it is
required by law that once each year every bit of equipment comes off the lifeboat
to be examined and overhauled. The entire boat must be overhauled and painted
and the equipment must be kept in perfect condition. In wartime, more frequent
inspection is expected.
Releasing Gear

The purpose of releasing gear is to permit releasing both of the falls

simultaneously as soon as the boat is waterborne, and thus to avert possible
mishap.

It consists of two releasing hooks on bridles, one at each end of the boat,
connected by a chain or rod running from one end of the boat to the other. The
releasing hooks are hinged on pins so that they may be rotated and upset. The
chain or rod between the two hooks is equipped with an operating grip in a
convenient location near the stem. It is fastened to the releasing hooks in such a
manner that a strain on it will cause the hooks to upset and thus free themselves
from the falls.

In operation, a strain is put on the chain by pulling the operating grip as soon as
the boat is waterborne, upsetting both hooks and freeing them from both falls
simultaneously. Releasing hooks connected to a rod running along the floor of
the boat are operated by means of a lever, functioning through universal joints,
which disengages a pin at each end, releasing the hooks.

Life nets

Life nets are rope nets which hang from the embarkation deck down to the water
line. The purpose of the life net is to let the crew climb down into the lifeboat after
the boat is water-borne.

Man ropes

Man ropes are attached to the spanner guy who runs from one davit head to the
other. On these ropes at three foot intervals are knots to enable seamen to climb
down the man rope and into the boat. The main use of the man rope is for the
men who are in the boat while it is being lowered, to hold on to, should the boat
capsize when it hits the water, or up end in the process of lowering.

Jacob’s ladder

One or more rope or chain ladders are placed near the boat or embarkation deck
so as to be thrown over the side in such a manner that the lower end reaches the
boat.

Sea Painter

The sea painter is a manila line three times the length of the distance from the
boat deck to the ship’s light load line, not less than 2 3/4 inch in circumference. It
is used to sheer the lifeboat away from the ship’s side and to keep the lifeboat
near the mother ship to pick up the remaining crew. It is made fast to the lifeboat
usually on the second thwart by means of a strap eye and toggle. The other end
is made fast to the main deck of the mother ship well forward on the outboard
side of everything. It is released by pulling the toggle.

Grab Rail

The metal rail extending 2/3 the length of boat below the turn of the bilge is for
survivors to hold on to or for righting an upset boat, if the boat has been
overturned in the water.

Use of Personal Equipment

No baggage, such as suitcases and sea bags, is permitted in any lifeboat. The
only exception to this is a small personal abandon-ship kit carried by the
individual seaman. Care should be taken that the abandon-ship kit is not
overburdened. Survivors have strongly recommended that cigarettes be set
aside to take into boats, and that they be in moisture-proof tins.

General Equipment of a Lifeboat

Two Boat Hooks -- one used fore and the other aft for holding or shoving off, or
for fishing a line out of the water.

One Canvas Hood and Spray Curtain -- used to protect the crew from the
spray of the sea and also to provide shade from the sun.

One Ditty Bag -- one canvas bag containing sewing palm, needles, sail twine,
marline and marline spike.

One Fishing Kit -- in good condition with hooks, fishing gear and booklet of
instruction.

Two Hatchets -- placed in the forward and after ends of the boat on long
lanyards for emergency use.

One Life Line -- with seine floats, for men in the water to hold onto.
Two Life Preservers -- for anyone who cannot get to their own or who have lost
theirs. They may also be thrown to persons in the water.

One Painter -- 15 fathoms, 2 3/4 inch, secured to the stem for being towed and
towing, coiled ready for use.

One Sea Anchor -- with a storm oil container to keep the boat headed into the
sea and to spread the oil so that the waves will not break on the small craft.

One gallon of storm oil -- to calm the seas.

One bailer -- usually made of wood or leather to bail the water out of the boat.

One bilge pump -- This works by suction and sucks the water out of the boat
below the floor boards.

One two-gallon bucket -- for bailing the boat or for other practical purposes.

Automatic Plugs -- used in draining the boat on the davits.

Twenty-five soft wood plugs -- 3 inches long, 1/4 inch to 3/4 inch taper
contained in a canvas bag. These are to plug up bullet holes or for similar
purposes.

Six woolen blankets -- to keep the wounded or sick warm or to use for men who
had to get away from the ship without any clothes.

One first-aid kit -- in a watertight container containing scissors, bandages,

tourniquets, boric lint dressings, absorbent cotton, adhesive tape, safety pins,
iodine with brush, ointment for burns, supply of splints and instructions in first aid.

30 fathoms of 15 thread manila line -- for general use.

Mast and sails -- for sailing the boat and reaching land or keeping in the sea
lanes where rescue is more likely. The sails are red or yellow in color to make
them visible for greater distances.

Oars -- a single banked complement of oars, two spare oars, and a steering or
sweep oar (painted a distinguishing color so as to be quickly recognized).

Hand operated propellers -- for extra large lifeboats which operate by

mechanical means hereby everyone pushes together and turns aver the hand
operated propeller.

Rowlocks -- must have a full set and a half.