Life Savings Appliances

  In the name of ALLAH who is the most beneficient and merciful.                                  

The life savings equipment carried on board a ship depends upon the number of persons carried and the normal service of the ship. A transatlantic passenger liner would carry considerably more equipment than a coastal cargo vessel.

There must be sufficient life boat accommodation on each side of the ship for the whole of the ship’s complement(number/quantity that make something complete). The lifeboats must be at least 7.3 long and may be constructed of wood, steel, aluminium or fiberglass. They carry rations for several days, together with survival and signaling equipment such as fishing lines, first aid equipment, compass, lights, distress rockets and smoke flares. One life boats on each side must be motor driven.

The lifeboats are suspended from davits which allow the boats to be lowered to the water when the ship is heeled to 15 degrees. Most modern ships is heeled to 15 degrees. Most modern ships are fitted with gravity davits, which when released allow the cradle carrying the boats to run out board until the boat is hanging clear of the ship’s side.(fig.1)

The boat is raised and lowered by mean of an electrically driven winch. The winch is manually controlled by a weighted lever(fig.2) know as dead man handle which releases the main brake. Should the operator lose control of  the brake the lever causes the winch to stop. The speed of descent is also controlled by a centrifugal brake which limits the speed to a 36 m/min. Both the centrifugal brake and the main brake drum remain stationary during the hoisting operation. If the main power fails while raising the boats, the main brake will hold the boat.

Each member of the crew is supplied with a lifejacket which is capable of supporting an unconscious person safely.

Lifebuoys are provided in case a man falls overboard. Some are fitted with self igniting lights for use at night and others fitted with smoke signals for pin-pointing positin during the day.  

WRITTEN BY S/C ZEESHAN AHMED (A/C 2988)
INSTRUCTOR: CHIEF ENGINEER YASEEN SAHAB
DATE: 25/10/2009
TIME: 10:05:00 AM