Survival craft handling, launching and recovery in heavy weather
Survival craft handling, launching and recovery in heavy weather
This domain tests boat handling and seamanship when the ship is rolling, the sea is running and the boat surges against the ship's side.
Core rules
- Launch on the lee side where possible; use the ship as a breakwater. Keep the painter secured and use it to hold the boat alongside.
- Use tricing pennants to hold the boat at the embarkation deck, then bowsing tackles to control it against the ship's side before lowering.
- Lower smoothly and avoid surging on the falls; release both hooks together only when the boat is waterborne and clear.
- In heavy weather, stream a sea anchor to hold the boat head to sea, keep the engine running, and use oil only as a last resort and only if carried.
- Recovery: hook on in the correct sequence, take up slack, hoist steadily, secure gripes and bowsing tackles, and do not allow anyone to stand under the boat.
Worked example
A lifeboat is surging against the ship's side and the falls are slackening. The candidate should keep the boat bowsed in, take up slack on the falls, wait for the roll to bring the boat in, and lower on the next favourable movement. Reasoning: slacking falls can jump the sheave and shock-load the hook; controlled tension and timing are safer than forcing the boat down.
Traps
Releasing one hook first; leaving the painter secured after the boat is waterborne; recovering with personnel under the boat; using the engine to fight the falls; forgetting the sea anchor.