Life Saving Appliances

Question 1

How many VHF radios must a vessel have?

Answer 1

3

Question 2

How many SART’s must a vessel have?

Answer 2

• 1 on each side of vessel
• Stowed in a location so that they can be rapidly placed in survival craft.
• 1 stowed in each survival craft and freefall lifeboat.

Question 3

How many distress flares must be carried?

Answer 3

12 rocket parachute flares on the bridge.

Question 4

What are the regulations regarding lifebuoys?

Answer 4

1) At least one in vicinity of the stern
2) Capable of being rapidly cast loose
3) At least 1 on each side of the ship must have a buoyant lifeline of no less than twice the height it is stowed at or 30m
4) Not less than half of the lifebuoys should have self igniting lights and not less than 2 with self-activating smoke signals.

Question 5

What are the regulations regarding lifejackets?

Answer 5

1) <24 hours, 2.5%x No. of passengers for infants
2) >24 hours, infant lifejacket for every infant
3) 10% of passengers for number of child lifejackets
4) Lifejackets stowed at watch stations.
5) Accessories made available for too small lifejackets to fit.

Question 6

What are the regulations regarding immersion suits?

Answer 6

1) Provided for every person assigned to crew the rescue boar or the marine evacuation system party.
2) If the vessel is constantly in warm climates this is not necessary.

Question 7

What illustrations and instructions should be in your cabin and muster stations?

Answer 7

1) Muster station
2) Essential actions in case of an emergency
3) Method of donning lifejackets

Question 8

How much deck space should the muster station have per person?

Answer 8

0.35m2

Question 9

At what angles should an embarkation ladder be functional at?

Answer 9

10 degrees trim
20 degrees list

Question 10

How quickly should 2 crew members be able to embark and launch survival craft?

Answer 10

5 minutes

Question 11

What is the operational readiness for LSA’s?

Answer 11

Before the ship leaves port and at all times during the voyage, all LSA’s must be in working order and ready for immediate use.

Question 12

How are falls maintained?

Answer 12

Inspected periodically with special regard to areas passing through sheaves and renewed at deterioration or 5 years.

Question 13

What tests should be carried out weekly?

Answer 13

1) Survival craft, rescue boats and launching appliances shall be visually inspected to ensure they are ready for use. (Condition of hooks, attachment to lifeboats and the on-load release gear being properly reset).
2) Engines in lifeboats and rescue boats ran for 3 minutes given the correct ambient temperature. (Gear box and gear train are working).
3) Lifeboats shall be moved from their stowed position without any persons on board to demonstrate satisfactory operation of launching appliances.
4) General emergency alarm to be tested.

Question 14

What tests should be carried out monthly?

Answer 14

1) All lifeboats except freefall should be turned out from their stowed positions if weather permits.
2) Inspection of LSA, including lifeboat equipment shall be carried out using a checklist required by Reg 36.1 and a report entered in the log book.

Question 15

What should the instruction for on-board maintenance include?

Answer 15

1) Checklist for use when inspecting.
2) Maintenance and repair instructions.
3) Schedule of periodic maintenance.
4) Diagram of lubrication points with recommended lubricants.
5) List of replaceable parts.
6) List of sources for spare parts.
7) Log of records for inspection and maintenance.

Question 16

What are the regulations regarding servicing of inflatable liferafts, inflatable lifejackets, marine evacuation systems and maintenance and repair?

Answer 16

1) Serviced every 12 months, extension to 17 if impractical. (At an approved servicing station).
2) Marine evacuation system deployed every 6 years. (5 yearly service)

Question 17

What are the regulations regarding servicing HRU’s?

Answer 17

12 months, 17 if impractical, at a competent servicing station.

Question 18

What are the regulations regarding maintenance of launching appliances?

Answer 18

1) Annual survey.
2) Dynamic test of winch brake at maximum lowering speed.
3) Every 5 years, same test with 1.1x the load of full lifeboat and equipment.

Question 19

What are the regulations regarding maintenance of release gears?

Answer 19

1) Annual survey.
2) 1.1x full lifeboat every 5 years.
3) Freefall launch with operating crew on board.

Question 20

What are the regulations regarding maintenance of davit automatic release hooks?

Answer 20

1) Annual survey.
2) 1.1x full lifeboat every 5 years.

Question 21

What are the regulations for lifeboats?

Answer 21

1) 6 knots for 24 hours or 2 knots when towing a 25 person liferaft.
2) Started at ambient temp of -15C within 2 minutes.
3) Means of going astern.
4) Engine ready for use at all times.
5) External lights visible for 2 miles.
6) Not carry more than 150 persons.
7) Clearly marked seating positions.

Question 22

What are the regulations for T.E.L.B.s?

Answer 22

1) Required on all ships over 85m long.
2) Self-righting.
3) If capsized should have a means of above water escape.

Question 23

What are the regulations for lifeboats with a self-container air support system?

Answer 23

1) Required on any ships that carry cargoes that emit toxic vapours or gases.
2) Air for 10 minutes.
3) Compressed air held at higher pressure than outside to ensure a seal.

Question 24

What are the regulations for fire protected lifeboats?

Answer 24

1) Required on all new oil, chemical and gas tankers that carry cargoes with a flashpoint not exceeding 60C.
2) Water spray for 8 minutes at 800C.
3) Spray system consists of a self-priming motorised pump plus a network of piping and spray nozzles.

Question 25

What is the evacuation time after abandon ship alarm?

Answer 25

Passenger ships - 30 minutes
Cargo ships - 10 minutes

Question 26

What should be a permanent marking on a lifeboat?

Answer 26

1) Number of persons approved to carry.
2) Manufacturers name and address.
3) Model and serial number.
4) Month and year of manufacture.
5) Approval information including the administration.

Question 27

How do hydrostatic release units work?

Answer 27

1) Diaphragm releases spring at 1.5-4 metres which cuts the raft lashings.
2) The raft floats clear of the ship with the painter still attached.
3) As the painter extends the extra full inflates the liferaft.
4) When the raft inflates, the extra buoyancy breaks the weak link and the raft comes to the surface.

Question 28

How often should HRU’s be replaced?

Answer 28

2 years

Question 29

What is the procedure for launching a T.E.L.B?

Answer 29

1) Muster at lifeboat stations.
2) Check all personnel are present, PPE is correct.
3) Report to master who orders the lifeboats to be made ready.
4) Delegate the 2IC to ensure the harbour pins are removed, painter is secure, boarding ladder is over the side and that the ship’s side is clear.
5) Enter lifeboat, check plugs are in position, check engine and remove battery charging line.
6) Report back to master.
7) Master orders abandon ship.
8) Perform another headcount, checking PPE.
9) Commence embarkation ensuring all are seated and secure.
10) 2IC checks the side is clear, releases the gripes and boards the lifeboat.
11) 2IC checks all doors and vents are closed and secures their harness.
12) Lower the boat with the remote brake lowering wire.
13) Start the engine when it reaches the water and release painter.
14) If lifeboat has a sprinkler system this would be started now.
15) Full throttle at a right angle to vessel until away.
16) Don’t open vents until well clear of toxic fumes.

Question 30

How do smoke detectors work?

Answer 30

Photosensors detect light that is reflected off particles from a light beam in the sensing chamber. When no particles are present the light beam does not strike the photosensor showing all clear but when particles are present and reaches a certain amount an alarm sounds.

Question 31

How does a heat detector work?

Answer 31

Optical flame detectors can sense the ultra violet or infrared range of frequency which is usually emitted from flames.

Question 32

What is the general rule with LSA equipment?

Answer 32

All LSA equipment must be surveyed every 12 months.

Certificates are valid:
Cargo - 2 years
Passenger - 12 months

Question 33

How would you manually launch a life raft?

Answer 33

1) Check the painter is well secured to a strong point.
2) Remove the lashing from the container of the raft.
3) Check the ship side is clear.
4) 2 people should lift the container form both sides and throw it.
5) Pull the painter with a hard jerk to inflate the raft.
6) Inflation should take 20-30 seconds.
7) Board the life raft using the embarkation ladder.
8) When everyone is on board and a headcount has been completed cut the painter with the knife provided at the entrance.

Question 34

How would you launch a life raft by davit?

Answer 34

1) Open the lashing and remove the container from by the HRU.
2) Tie the end of the painter to a strong end of the deck.
3) Keep the container in the open and attach the davit hook to the given eye.
4) Take up the raft load by davit and hang the container over the side.
5) Pull the painter and inflate the raft.
6) Connect securing lines.
7) Allow personnel to enter.
8) Drop the davit down and detach the hook when just above the water.

Question 35

What is a SART?

Answer 35

An electronic device that automatically reacts to the emission of radar. This enhances the visibility on a radar screen.

Question 36

What is an EPIRB?

Answer 36

Transmits a signal on a specified band to locate persons in distress.

It is a secondary means of distress alerting, so will come later than alerting SAR authorities.

Question 37

What is an EPIRB?

Answer 37

Transmits a signal on a specified band to locate persons in distress.

It is a secondary means of distress alerting, so will come later than alerting SAR authorities.