Joan Manuel Rivas Santandreu Grau en Nutica I Transport Martim

Maig 2017 Angls Tcnic Martim

LIFEBOATS

Lifeboats are small boats that are used in case of an extreme emergency in order to abandon
the ship.
In accordance with the Spanish and international law they have to be well equipped, with
rows, two boathooks, a floating bailer, two pails, a survival manual, a navigation compass, a
floating anchor, a signal mirror, a whistle, flares, drinking water, food, a first aid kit
The outside of the lifeboats is painted in a vivid colour (usually orange) to be easily recognised
from a vessel that is going to assist the people thats on board.
We can distinguish different types of lifeboats: open lifeboats, semi-closed and closed
lifeboats and free fall lifeboats.

Open lifeboats: open lifeboats are the ones that dont have roof. Nowadays they are
becoming rather obsolete, because of the strict requirements of safety rules. We can find
them in old vessels, like some short distance ferries.

Semi-closed and closed lifeboats: we can find these types of lifeboats on most of the actual
vessels. They are safer than open lifeboats in case of extreme temperatures, strong winds or
rough water. In the case of closed lifeboats, they are constructed in such a way that they are
watertight and they can get upright on their own in order to increase safety.
Free fall lifeboats: some vessels are equipped with this type of lifeboats. We can usually find
them tankers, in which, in case of an emergency, because of the nature of their cargo, it can
be necessary to evacuate all the crew as fast as possible.

When in a situation of an emergency the master orders to abandon the vessel the process of
launching the lifeboats starts. Open and closed lifeboats are usually launched by means of
gravity davits, that are operable by one single person with an electrical mechanism, as well
as with a manual one that is used if the electrical system fails.

The procedure of launching the lifeboats varies in every vessel, but it always has six steps:
1. Firstly, a crew member has to make some initial preparations.
2. Then, the boat has to be lowered to deck level, where the passengers are going to
embark.
3. After doing that, passengers can start embarking on the lifeboat.
4. After embarking the personnel, the boat has to be lowered to the water.
5. Finally, the crew has to let the lifeboat go.

In the case of having a free fall lifeboat the procedure is faster and easier. When the crew has
finished the launching checks, when the helmsman operates the hydraulic release, the boat
descends quickly to the water.

All in all, we have to recognise the importance of lifeboats and life rafts. They have saved lots
of lives of people that would have died at sea in vessels on fire, about to sink, with a leak of
toxic chemicals

Pictures sources:
http://www.fotosdemenorca.com/ferry-nura-nova-buques-por-el-mediterraneo-002-apm12305.jpg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Canot_de_secours.jpg?uselang=ca
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Embarcation_de_sauvetage_P1020479.jpg?uselang=ca