Survival craft

Lifeboat

A rigid, covered boat in which the crew leaves a sinking ship. It keeps people alive until rescue.

Key facts

The types you meet are partially enclosed boats, totally enclosed boats and free-fall lifeboats launched by a stern drop.
It has its own engine. With a full complement and equipment it makes at least 6 knots, and towing the ship’s largest liferaft it holds at least 2 knots.
The fuel supply is enough for 24 hours of steaming with the fully loaded boat at 6 knots.
Together with the liferafts it makes up the "survival craft" in the meaning of SOLAS.
A boat with a self-contained air support system can run with the entries closed: the air inside stays breathable and the engine runs normally for at least 10 minutes.
A fire-protected lifeboat protects the people inside for at least 8 minutes while enveloped in a fire of burning oil products. A water spray system does the work, drawing sea water with a self-priming pump.

Equipment and performance

Speed: at least 6 knots with a full complement and equipment, and at least 2 knots when towing the ship’s largest liferaft
Fuel supply: for 24 hours of steaming with the full boat at 6 knots
Fresh water: 3 litres per person; 1 litre may be replaced by a desalting apparatus, and 2 litres by a hand reverse-osmosis desalinator producing that amount in 2 days
Food rations: at least 10 000 kJ per person, in airtight packaging in a watertight container
Thermal protective aids: for 10% of the complement or two, whichever is greater
Searchlight: 2500 cd, beam at least 6° vertically and horizontally, continuous operation no shorter than 3 hours
Pyrotechnics carried in the boat: four rocket parachute flares, six hand flares and two buoyant smoke signals
Self-contained air support: breathable air and a running engine for at least 10 minutes with the entries closed
Fire protection: protection for at least 8 minutes enveloped in a fire of burning oil products

Weekly: inspection of the hooks and their attachments, an engine run of at least 3 minutes, and if weather allows, moving the boat without persons on board far enough to show the launching gear works (not free-fall boats on cargo ships).
Monthly: turning the boat out from the stowed position without persons on board, and an equipment inspection with a checklist (except free-fall boats).
Annually: a thorough examination and operational tests of the boat and the release gear per resolution MSC.402(96); at least once every 5 years the on-load release gear is overhauled and tested with a load of 110% of the fully equipped and manned boat.
The falls are renewed no less often than every 5 years, and earlier whenever their condition deteriorates.

SOLAS III/21 and III/31; LSA Code chapter IV (equipment: 4.4.8, self-contained air: 4.8, fire protection: 4.9). Inspections: SOLAS III/20.

This is not a legal text: when in doubt, the current wording of the Convention and the LSA Code decides.

Survival craft and rescue boats (STCW A-VI/2-1).