Liferafts

Cargo and passenger vessels as well as fishing crafts are equipped with approved liferafts. The number type and carrying capacity derive from regulations and additional requirements.

Approved are liferafts throw overboard type, liferafts davit launched type and large liferafts without any protective canopy and usable either way up.

Liferafts are automatically inflatable. For launching they may be thrown overboard or designed near launching appliances for launching fully manned.

All liferafts are so installed that they can be launched quickly, securely and safely if possible by one man even with 20° list over the high side. For that reason liferafts are nowadays almost always stowed on swinging-out storage frames, inclined ramps or equivalent appliances.

Every inflatable liferaft is made from coated synthetic fabric and as a rule is packed tightly folded in a plastic container. The weight of a liferaft including its packaging and full distress equipment lies between 100 kg and 185 kg depending on the size of the raft.

Every inflatable liferaft afloat withstands all weather conditions at sea for 30 days, it is operable over an air temperature range - 30°C to +66°C, it can be thrown into the water in its container, it has adequate stability in a seaway when inflated and the floor is waterproof and can be inflated for insulation against cold. The inflatable liferaft has a canopy of a clearly visible colour, which protects the occupants from the effects of the weather. It has a light on the top, inside and outside, an arrangement for collecting rainwater and fitting for the radar transponder or the aerial of the portable radio apparatus.

For inflation and to connect the inflated raft to the ship there is a release painter line, which is cut using a knife. Lifelines are provided all around inside and outside. Fitted to every opening is a boarding arrangement for persons in the water.

1. Answer the following questions:

1) What are the types of liferafts?

2) How are liferafts launched?

3) What is liferaft made of?

4) What is the weight of liferaft and its packaging?

5) Describe a liferaft.

2. Give English equivalents:

Спасательный плот, вместимость; шлюпбалка, крен, соответствующие приспособления, сворачивать; аварийное оборудование, зависеть от размера; противостоять, погодные условия; защищать, переносной аппарат, резать.

3. Match the words from the left column with verbs in the right one.

a) to coat with a) launch

b) to have b) weather conditions

c) to fold in c) plastic container

d) to withstand d) effects of weather

e) liferaft e) synthetic fabric

f) to protect from f) a light on the top

4. Are these statements true or false:

1) Passenger ships are never equipped with liferafts.

2) The weight of a liferaft is less than 80 kg

3) The inflatable liferaft has a canopy of grey colour.

4) Every inflatable liferaft afloat withstands all weather conditions at sea for 30 days.

5) Liferafts are automatically inflatable.

Additional text

Immediate actions in a lifeboat

1. Release the painter and get clear of the vessel.

2. Look for and pick up other survivors.

3. Ensure the Sea Anchor is streamed when clear of the vessel.

4. Rig the exposure cover.

5. Read the survival instructions.

Immediate actions in a liferaft

1. Cut the painter and get clear of the vessel.

2. Look for and pick up other survivors.

3. Ensure the Sea Anchor is streamed when clear of the vessel.

4. Close down entrances.

5. Read the survival instructions.

Secondary actions in survival craft

1. Identify the person in charge of the survival craft.

2. Post a look-out.

3. Open the equipment pack.

4. Issue the anti-seasickness medicine and seasickness bag.

5. In a liferaft dry the floor and inflate it, if appropriate.

6. Administer first aid, if necessary.

7. Manoeuvre towards other survival craft, secure craft together and distribute survivors and equipment between the survival craft.

8. Take a roll call.

9. Arrange watches and duties.

10. Collect any sharp objects that could cause damage to the liferaft and people inside it.

11. Prepare and use detection equipment, including radio equipment.

12. Decide on food and water rations.

13. Protect against heat, cold and wet conditions.

14. Make sanitary arrangements to keep the survival craft habitable.

15. Prepare action for

Arrival of rescue units

Being taken in tow

Rescue by helicopter

Landing and beaching

The order in which the above instructions are followed will depend on the particular circumstances of the situation at the time.

Principles of survival

Priorities

Regardless of how near rescue services may be, from the outset you must take action to safeguard yourself against the immediate threats to life. Having done that you should then consider the next greatest threat and protect yourself against and so on until a sequence of priorities is established. Without such a planned sequence only the lucky will survive.

First of all you must protect yourself against the hazards of the environment before you start to worry about, for example, the correct use of distress flares. So, it follows that Protection has a higher priority than Location. Since you can survive many days without Water and weeks without Food, both protection and location have higher priorities than food or water.

The principles of survival can therefore be considered under four main headings:

PROTECTION, LOCATION, WATER, FOOD

Date: 2015-02-28; view: 809