Answer SSEP Question 13

Q13. With reference to free fall life boat of an ocean-going ships:

A. Periodical maintenance, tests and checks on life boat and releasing gear.

B. Secondary means of lowering.

C. Lifeboat Drills.

Answer: A- Periodical maintenance, tests and checks on life boat and releasing gear.
Weekly - As part of company SMS procedure, visual inspections are carded out on the release hooks and the pins are carried out. Monthly  - The hydraulic power unit is test run and checked for proper pressure.
Oil levels are checked and topped up.
Annual
 Thorough Inspection of launching appliances by authorized shore based work shop/vendor/ Technician
- SOLAS chapter III Regulation 20.11.1. Requires;
1. Thorough annual examination of launching appliances
2. Dynamic test of the winch brake every year with weight of the boat.
3. Operational testing of free fall lifeboat either by free fall launching with operating crew on board or by simulated launching.
4. Launching appliance include the davits and winch of lifeboat, life raft and rescue boat.
Thorough Inspection
Annual thorough inspection of davit of free fall lifeboat include at least checking of; 
- Winch
- Electrical components
- Davit fall wire
- Hydraulic system
- Davit structure.
- Operational test of the davit
- Any deficiencies is rectified immediately
Dynamic test of winch brake
- The davits of free fall lifeboat has hydraulic brake.
- For conventional boats, the brakes are opened up and checked for condition. But this is not required for free fall lifeboat davits. This is because, opening of hydraulic brake decreases the reliability of the brake.
- The purpose of the dynamic test is to ascertain if the brake can take the load of the boat. If the davit brake holds the lifeboat in its any given position, it is considered that the brake is in good condition.
- As per SOLAS, Every year, this test needs to be done with the weight of the boat. The same is achieved by just lowering the lifeboat With the davit to perform this test

5 yearly 
Dynamic. test of winch brake
- SOLAS requires to carry out dynamic test with higher loads every 5 years. This load is 10% higher than the weight of the boat with all its compliments and equipment.
- Hence, the required weight is;
Required weight = 1.1 x (weight of lifeboat with all required equipment Weight of full complement of lifeboat)

Load test calculation for Lifeboat Davit
There are two ways in which we can conduct this test
(1) By placing the required weight inside the boat and then lowering the boat with the davit.
(2) By suspending the physical weight on lifeboat davit.
- As this test is usually carried out in dry dock with easy availability of shore crane and weights, the second option is preferred one.

B. Secondary means of lowering.
-Secondary means are introduced for reasons, if the free fall launching procedures appear unacceptable for reason such as solid objects floating in the area of the life boat excepted splash down or any other reason, the craft can be lowered to the water using the winch and fall wire.
The launch by winch and fall wire
- Method of lowering the fire boat is dependent on electrical power from ship's power supply, and an operator to be positioned at the maneuvering controls. This method is used when full control of the launch is required, i.e. for training purposes.
C. Drills.
Quarterly  - Once every 3 months, the lifeboat shall be lowered either by free fall launching or by secondary means of launching. If lowered by free fall, the required crew need to sit inside the boat and launch it from inside.
- Otherwise, it can be lowered to water by davit. Crew can then board the lifeboat by embarkation ladder.
- Irrespective of the lowering method adopted, once in a quarter it has to be maneuvered through water.
- Engine and sprinkler system shall be tested during maneuvering.
Half-Yearly
- Within every 6 months the free fall life boat has to be lowered by 'free-fall method at least once.
- If it is carried out as part of quarterly within that 6 months, free-fall lowering is not necessary. If you are lowering the boat every 3 months by free fall means, there is no other thing you need to do every 6 month.
- Simulated launching is accepted as free-fall lowering, provided lifeboat has the provisions for the same.
Amendments to SOLAS - entry into force 1 July 2008
- The Maritime Safety, Committee adopted an amendment to SOLAS regulation',III/193.3.4 concerning provisions for the launch of free-fall lifeboats during abandon-ship drills.
- The amendment will allow, during the abandon ship drill, for the lifeboat to either be free-fall launched with only the required operating crew on board, or lowered into.the Water by means of the secondary means of launching without the operating crew on board, and then maneuvered in the water by the operating crew.
- The aim is to prevent accidents with lifeboats occurring during abandon-ship drills.