According to MSC/Circ.1093, which of the following is required to be on board for use in all operations involving the inspection, maintenance, adjustment and resetting of the lifeboat and associated equipment, such as davits or release gear?
A specialized toolkit supplied by the manufacturer.
Original certificates of competency in lifeboat maintenance for all personnel involved in inspections and maintenance of such equipment.
A full set of maintenance manuals.
A training video or CBT supplied by the manufacturer and approved by the IMO.
All inspections, other than weekly and monthly and any servicing and repair, other than routine, should be conducted by which of the following persons?
A manufacturer’s representative or a person appropriately trained and certified by the manufacturer for the work to be done.
A Company Superintendent.
A Senior Officer or a fitter suitable qualified and holding a certificate in lifeboat maintenance.
An “on-load release mechanism” is defined as one that is designed:
To be released at any time from any height.
To be operated when the boat is hanging in the falls at an approximate height of 2-3 metres above the water.
To be operated when the boat has been lowered and is waterborne, whether or not a load is being applied to it by the action of the ship or the sea.
To be released when the load applied to them is removed – that is, when the boat has been lowered and is waterborne.
By SOLAS, how often does a lifeboat (other than those of free-fall design or those on short international voyages and for whom the Administration has approved alternative arrangements) have to be launched and manoeuvred in the water by its assigned operating crew?
At least once every 3 months.
Details of specific responsibilities assigned to crew members during the launch of the lifeboat are shown where?
In the ship’s Personnel Manual.
On the main notice board.
On the Bridge Watch Keeping Schedule.
How is the D-shaped cam pin rotated back, locking the tail of the hook in preparation for recovery of the lifeboat?
Under the action of the interlock.
By adjusting the control cable.
By ensuring that the remote release lever engages in the locking groove.
By lifting the cam reset lever.
In the case study into the accident on board the Philippine-flagged bulk carrier “Washington Trader”, the Australian marine accident investigators found the reset lever extremely stiff. They concluded this was due to:
In the case study of the accident on board the Turkish-flagged bulk carrier “Gulsar Ana” in 2001, which of the following deficiencies were listed by the authorities, as contributing to the accident with the lifeboat?
In which two of the following regulations is the legislation relating to life saving equipment on board a merchant vessel found?
Into which Code were many of the technical items originally found in SOLAS 1974 transferred in 1996?
The Life-Saving Appliances Code.
MSC/Circ. 1093 requires which of the following to be on board for use in all operations involving the inspection, maintenance, adjustment and re-setting of the lifeboat and associated equipment, such as davits or release gear?
A full set of maintenance manuals.
A specialized tool-kit supplied by the manufacturer.
Original certificates of competency in lifeboat maintenance for any personnel involved in inspections and maintenance of such equipment.
A training manual, video or CBT supplied by the manufacturer and endorsed by the IMO.
On load release gear shall be overhauled and subjected to an operational test under a load of 1,1 times the total mass of the lifeboat when loaded with its full complement of persons and equipment at which of the following intervals?
At least once every 5 years.
Prior to recovering a lifeboat back on board, it is essential to:
Check that everybody is sitting down.
Ensure that the engine is in neutral.
Maintain a minimum of 5 knots forward speed.
Check that the hook arrangement has properly re-set and that the falls are fully engaged.
Establish contact on VHF channel 16 between the ship and the lifeboat.
SOLAS requires that each lifeboat (other than those of free-fall design or those on short international voyages and for whom the Administration has approved alternative arrangements) shall be launched and manoeuvred in the water by its assigned operating crew at what minimum interval?
At least once every 3 months.
SOLAS requires that, wherever possible, instructions for on board maintenance of life-saving appliances should include which of the following:
SOLAS requires that, wherever possible, instructions for on board maintenance of life-saving appliances should include which of the following:
The emergency release procedure for this mechanism involves:
Smashing the glass panel and pulling the control cable.
Removing the top cover and lifting the control handle.
Smashing the glass panel and lifting the interlock indicator.
Removing the safety pin and pulling the release lever.
The fall link is prevented from accidentally slipping out from under the hook by:
An audible alarm at the Coxswain’s position.
The function of the hydrostatic release is to:
Rotate the D-shaped cam pin.
Lock the tail end of the hook in the closed position.
Prevent accidental operation of the remote release handle.
Maintain the lever in the green sector.
The legislation relating to life saving equipment on board a merchant vessel is found in which two of the following regulations?
The two main components of this release mechanism are:
Weekly and monthly inspections and routine maintenance on lifeboats and associated equipment should be conducted under the direct supervision of which of the following persons?
A manufacturer’s representative.
A Junior Officer assigned to safety duties.
Where are details of specific responsibilities assigned to crew members during the launch of the lifeboat indicated?
In the ship’s Personnel Manual.
On the main notice board.
On the Bridge Watch Keeping Schedule.
In the seafarer’s employment contract.
Where should the lifeboat be located when an operational test on the on-load release mechanism is to be performed?
Fully in the water, free of all load on the falls and the hydrostatic interlock system having successfully operated.
Partly in the water, such that the mass of the boat is substantially supported by the falls and the hydrostatic interlock system has not operated.
Between 4 and 5 metres above the level of the water.
Fully secured in the davits, with additional retention devices applied.
Where would you find specific information on the operation and maintenance of the lifeboats and davits fitted on board your ship?
The SOLAS Convention 1974.
The Ship’s Safety Management Manual.
The ship’s SOLAS Training Manual.
The International Guide to Life-Saving Appliances on Merchant Vessels.
Which component secures the hook in the closed position?
The remote release handle.
Which of the following additional items must be completed following a weekly or monthly inspection of life-saving appliances?
The crew must be trained on procedures found in the SOLAS Training Manual.
The Superintendent must be notified.
The lifeboat must be lowered with a complete launching crew embarked.
A report of inspection must be entered in the log-book.
Which of the following additional items should be checked during an inspection of the lifeboat release gear?
Which of the following components is activated by the diaphragm in the hydrostatic release?
The remote release handle.
Which of the following is a correct statement?
When resetting the release mechanism, it is essential to confirm visually that the coxswain is seated at the control position.
While resetting the release mechanism, it is essential to confirm visually that the D-shaped cam pin and remote release handle are in the correct positions.
While re-stowing the lifeboat, it is essential to confirm visually that the remote release handle has rotated in the correct direction.
While launching the lifeboat, it is essential to confirm that the D-shaped cam pin has not released.
Which of the following topics must be included in the vessel’s SOLAS Training Manual?
Which two factors from the list below are commonly held to be most critical in ensuring the safe and successful release of a lifeboat?
Why have several national authorities released safety circulars in recent years, focusing on maintenance and operation of lifeboat release mechanisms?
Because they have been advised to do so by the IMO.
Because they feel it necessary to copy releases from the IMO.
Because there continue to be serious incidents related to the lifeboat release mechanisms.
Because ship’s Captains have mailed too many “Experience Feedback” forms about lifeboat release mechanisms.
Why is it important to follow a good maintenance routine on the lifeboat release mechanism?
Because the Chief Engineer must be able to fill in the information in the Planned Maintenance System.
So that the Remote Release Handle will not jam during a Superintendent’s Inspection.
So that the mechanism will always operate immediately and successfully whenever required.
Because it gives the crew a regular task on weekends.
Why is it important to train at launching the lifeboat?
Because the Captain must be able to prove that he is following company procedures.
So that the crew become thoroughly familiar with the launching mechanism.
In order that launching can be done successfully in the dark.
Because there is an instruction to do so in the planned maintenance system.
On load release gear shall be overhauled and subjected to an operational test under a load of 1,1 times the total mass of the lifeboat when loaded with its full complement of persons and equipment. At which of the following intervals must this be done?
At least once every 5 years.
Survival craft, rescue boats and launching appliances shall be visually inspected to ensure that they are ready for use. At which interval does SOLAS require this procedure to be carried out?