The Most Common Adopted Signals by Ship Management Companies

TYPES OF SURVIVAL CRAFT

Liferafts versus Lifeboats• Liferafts in general are collapsible, and

stored in a heavy-duty fiberglass canister, and also contain some high-pressure gas (in commercial models, usually compressed air) to allow automatic inflation to the operations size.

• SOLAS and military regulations require these to be sealed, never opened by the ship's crew; they are removed at a set periodicity (annually on merchant vessels) and sent to a certified facility to open and inspect the liferaft and contents.

• In contrast, a lifeboat is open, and regulations require a crew member to inspect it periodically and ensure all required equipment is present.

• Lifeboats have hulls and engines.

THREE TYPES OF LIFERAFTS

Coastal Life Raft

• The coastal life raft is designed for short-term emergency use. They typically cost less and take up less space than other types of life rafts.

• They should be used only near a coast. It would be dangerous to attempt returning to shore on a coastal life raft from far out in the ocean.

• Many coastal life rafts come equipped with canopies to shield occupants from the elements. Coastal life rafts commonly have single layer floors and four low-walled sides.

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• The offshore life raft, designed for sustaining life in very demanding climates, is equipped with two buoyancy tubes and a canopy shelter.

• Since they are designed for longer-term survival than coastal life rafts, they do not capsize easily.

• An offshore life raft will commonly have an inflatable floor with dual-wall air chambers. Some include ballast bags, which further protect the raft from capsizing. While an offshore raft is more expensive than the coastal life raft, it offers greater protection.

Ocean Life Raft

• The ocean life raft offers the most protection; it was designed to help occupants survive a long period of time at sea. Ocean life rafts commonly come equipped with plenty of survival gear, canopies to protect you from the elements and ballast bags to prevent the rafts from capsizing. Ocean life rafts were designed for vessels that travel long distances across vast oceans, with double-layered floors to help keep occupants warm and safe.

• Ocean-going rafts are designed for long-term survival of at least 30 days, and are required equipment on most commercial vessels.

• Liferafts can be inflatable-can be inflate or re-inflated by the occupants.

• Rigid liferaft maybe entirely rigid hull with inflatable side.

• Ship-launched lifeboats are lowered from davits on a ship's deck, and are unsinkable in normal circumstances.

• The cover serves as protection from sun, wind and rain, can be used to collect rainwater, and is normally made of a reflective or fluorescent material that is highly visible.

• Lifeboats have oars, flares and mirrors for signaling, first aid supplies, and food and water for several days.

• Some lifeboats are more capably equipped to permit self-rescue, with supplies such as a radio, an engine and sail, heater, navigational equipment, solar water stills, rainwater catchments and fishing equipment.

Life Raft Launching Method• This method of launching a

liferaft causes inflatable liferafts to automatically launch themselves if the ship sinks. (hydrostatic)

• The system is activated by the water pressure.

• When the ship sinks, the increasing water releases the liferaft canister from its cradle.

• The davit launched life raft is to be connected to the davit then inflated at the deck level, thus enabling the passengers to board the raft from the deck.

• The raft is then launched to the water.

• The raft must be equipped with an automatic release gear, which makes release the raft automatically under water if no time is left for the manual release.

• The throw overboard liferaft is released from the cradle and thrown overboard or slides automatically when released.

LIFEBOATS

• A lifeboat is a small, rigid boat carried for emergency evacuation in the event of a disaster aboard a ship.

• The ship’s tender of cruise ships often double as lifeboats.

• The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the International Life-Saving Appliance Code (LSA) requires certain emergency equipment be carried on each lifeboat and liferaft used on international voyages. Modern lifeboats carry an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) and either a radar reflector or Search and rescue Transporder(SART).

Open Lifeboat

• Has no roof , no overhead protection. Open lifeboats are becoming obsolete now because of stringent safety norms, but one may find them on older ship.

• Closed lifeboats are the most popular lifeboats that are used on ships, for they are enclosed which saves the crew from sea water, strong wind and rough weather.

• Water tight integrity is higher in this type of lifeboat and it can also get upright on its own if toppled over by waves.

• Are classified as – Partially (with foldable canopy)enclosed and fully enclosed lifeboats.

• Free fall lifeboat is similar to an enclosed lifeboat but the process of launching is entirely different. The free fall life boat is located at the aft of the ship, which provides a maximum clear area for free fall.

LIFEBOAT LAUNCHING

DAVITS AND FREE FALL

Davits: Offload Mechanism• The off load mechanism releases

the boat after the load of the boat is transferred to water or the boat has been lowered fully into the sea. When the boat touches the surface of water, the load on the fall and hence the hook releases and due to its mechanism the hook detaches from the fall. If the detachment dose not takes place, any of the crew members can remove the hook from the fall. Most of the times the offload mechanism is manually disengaged in case of malfunction; however, in case of fire, it is dangerous to go out and release the hook.

Davit: on load Mechanism• On load mechanism can release

the lifeboat from the wire, with the ship above the water level and with all the crew members inside the boat. The load will be still on the fall as the boat would not have touched the water. Normally the height of about 1 m is kept for the on load release, so that the fall is smooth without damaging the boat and harming the crew inside. A lever is provided inside the boat to operate this mechanism. As the lever is operated from inside, it is safe to free the boat without going of the out lifeboat, when there is a fire on ship.

Free Fall• Doors, ventilators, ports,

operly are properly closed before launching.

• Survivors are seated with their seatbelt properly adjusted.

• Should ensure that is clear below and give ample warning that he is about to let go the boat fall and allow sufficient time for unready survivor to object, before actually launching the boat.

Safe Launching of Lifeboat

• The launch area onboard the ship

• The side of the ship

• The drop zone

Rescue Boat

• Serve as a command center for survival craft once they are in the water.

• When ship is evacuated, the main job of rescue boat is to tow lifeboats and liferafts to safety and tie them together.

PERSONAL LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES

• Lifebuoy

– Made from buoyant material, do not require inflation

– They can float and support the weight of a person in the water.

– Practically evenly distributed on the ship and one shall be placed in the vicinity of the stern.

• Self igniting lights

• Self activating smoke signal

• Bouyant Lifelines (8mm, 5k N)

• Immersion Suit– Keeps the wearer warm and dry.

– Conserves body heat while allowing freedom of movements

– Covers the body except face

– Some are designed to wear without a lifejacket.

• TPA ( Thermal Protective Aid)– Designed to keep survivors warm and protected

against rain, wind and cold.

– Helps to preserve body heat.

– Can accommodate a mother and a child.

• Life Jacket– Of 5 types

– (must be approved of Solas) • Solid Life jacket and Fully automatic life jacket

Type I - Offshore Lifejacket, Type II - Near Shore Buoyant Vest, Type III - Flotation Aid, Type IV - Throwable Device, Type V - Special Use Device

This PFD is designed for extended survival in rough, open water. It usually will turn an unconscious person face up and has over 22 pounds of buoyancy. This is the best PFD to keep you afloat in remote regions where rescue may be slow in coming.

This "classic" PFD comes in several sizes for adults and children and is for calm inland water where there is chance of fast rescue. It is less bulky and less expensive than a Type I, and many will turn an unconscious person face-up in the water.

These life jackets are generally considered the most comfortable, with styles for different boating activities and sports. They are for use in calm water where there is good chance of fast rescue since they will generally not turn an unconscious person face-up. Flotation aids come in many sizes and styles.

These are designed to be thrown to a person in the water. They are not designed to be worn and must be supplemented by wearable PFD. It is important to keep these devices immediately available for emergencies, and they should not be used for small children, non-swimmers, or unconscious people.

Special use PFDs include work vests, deck suits, and hybrids for restricted use. Hybrid vests contain some internal buoyancy and are inflatable to provide additional flotation.