Inflatable liferaft and rigid lifeboat familiarisation
What this domain tests
You must know the main parts of an inflatable liferaft, how it is released and righted, and how a rigid lifeboat is launched and boarded. The questions are practical: which line, which release, which action first.
Inflatable liferaft
- The container sits in a cradle with a painter and a hydrostatic release unit (HRU). The HRU frees the raft at about 1.5-4 m depth; the weak link breaks and the painter inflates the raft. It can also be launched manually by pulling the painter.
- Board from the ship's deck or ladder where possible; otherwise swim to the raft, hold the painter and climb in at the entrance.
- If it inflates upside down, one person climbs onto the CO2 cylinder, pulls the righting line and turns the raft over while others stay clear.
- Inside: canopy, entrances, ballast bags, sea anchor (drogue) holding the head to wind, bailer, sponges, repair kit, bellows, water, rations, first aid kit, seasickness tablets, torch, flares, radar reflector. Cut the painter only when ready to move.
Rigid lifeboat
- Boarded from the embarkation deck; seatbelts fastened, head and back against the headrest, hands holding the safety line.
- Launched on davits with on-load release hooks and gripes; the coxswain confirms the boat is waterborne and the hooks are clear before releasing.
- The boat has its own engine, can tow a liferaft, and carries its own equipment and rations.
Worked example
A raft inflates upside down beside the ship. You do not jump onto it. One person climbs onto the cylinder, takes the righting line and leans back; the raft flips upright, then the group boards and the sea anchor is streamed.
Traps
- Confusing the painter with the HRU.
- Cutting the painter before the raft is boarded and loaded.
- Inflating a raft inside its container or on deck.
- Releasing lifeboat hooks before the boat is waterborne.
- Standing under the boat during launching.