Navigation and Seamanship

5.2.8.1.Lifeboat outfits

                                       

Lifeboat outfits

1. Sufficient number buoyant oars to make headway in calm sea.

2. Two boat hooks, for fending off when the boat is being lowered. These hooks should not be lashed.

3. A binnacle containing a magnetic compass which is luminous or provided with a suitable lighting arrangement. The compass may be fixed permanently in the totally covered boat.

4. Two painters of length at least 15 m of double the height of the boat from light water line, whichever is greater.

5. A sea anchor of adequate size and strength fitted with a hawser and a tripping line.

6. Two hatches, one ford and one aft. They can be used for many purposes, such as hammer, or for cutting ropes etc. The blade has a canvas cover and the handle has a lanyard for lashing.

7. A buoyant bailer and two buckets.

8. A manual pump.

9. A box containing the following distress signals:

a) Four rocket parachute flares .

b) Six red hand flares. It gives a bright red flare for atleast one minute.

c) Two Buoyant smoke signals

10. Full rations for the total number of persons which the boat is certified to carry, on the following scales for each person:

A) A total of not less than 10,000 kJ of food per person in air tight packages and stowed in a watertight container.

B) 3 litres of fresh water per person, in water tight receptacles, of which one litre per person may be replaced by a desalting apparatus capable of producing one litre of fresh water per person in 2 days.No food or water should be issued for the first 24 hrs.

11. A rust proof dipper with lanyard.

12. A rust proof graduated drinking vessel.

13. A jack-knife attached to the boat by a lanyard.

14. Three tin openers.

15. One set of fishing tackle.

16. One first aid outfit in a water proof case which can be tightly closed after use, for every 30 persons or part thereof.

17. Six doses of anti-seasickness medicine and one vomiting bag for each person.

18. One Heliograph for attaching attention of ships or aircraft in the daytime, with instructions for its use.

19. One water proof signaling torch, one spare battery and one spare bulb. Can be used for attracting attention of ships/aircraft at night.

20. One mouth-blown plastic whistle for attracting attention of the persons in the water when the lifeboat is searching for them at night.

21. An efficient radar reflector.

22. A searchlight capable of working for a total period of 6 hrs, out of which at least 3 hrs may be continuous.

23. A survival manual.

24. One copy of Life Saving Signals on a water proof card. These signals are shown at the end of this book.

25. Two buoyant rescue quoits with at least 30 m, of buoyant line each.

26. Thermal protective aids for 10 % of the capacity of boat or two whichever is the greater.

27. Portable fire extinguishing equipment for oil fires.

28. Sufficient tools for minor adjustments to the engine.

Note : All items of lifeboat equipment, except boat hooks, are either lashed or kept in lockers.