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.
According to SOLAS 1974 regulation III/9, where do posters or signs illustrating the procedures for operating survival craft have to be located?
In the vicinity of survival craft and their launching.
In all passenger cabin alleyways.
On the inside of the forward hatches of all enclosed lifeboats.
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 of a fitter suitable qualified and holding a certificate in lifeboat maintenance.
Before launching a free-fall lifeboat, which of the following items is it essential to check?
By SOLAS, how often does a free-fall lifeboat normally have to be launched by free-fall mode and maneuvered in the water by its assigned operating crew?
At least once every 3 months.
At least once every 6 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 hook held in the closed position?
By the weight of the lifeboat alone.
By the remote release handle.
How is the release hook in this mechanism opened?
Hydraulic pressure is applied under the lifeboat, taking the strain off the hook and enabling it to be manually released by the crew.
Pneumatic pressure is applied directly to the hook to open it.
The lifeboat coxswain moves a switch and an electric signal is sent to the automatic release actuator.
Hydraulic pressure turns the hinged catch clear and the weight of the lifeboat opens the hook.
If the remote release handle fails to operate properly, what is the emergency procedure?
The glass panel in the casing of the hydraulic cylinder must be smashed and the screw arrangement turned, to build up the pressure in the cylinder and extends the piston to turn the hinged catch.
The locking pin must be withdrawn from the safety bolt and the hinged catch manually forced clear, allowing the hook to open.
Pressurize the hydraulic cylinder by connecting the emergency gas supply.
Use the emergency handle as a crowbar to force open the hook.
In preparation for recovery of the lifeboat, the pressure in the hydraulic cylinder must be relieved. How is this done?
By opening the bypass valve next to the remote release handle.
By manually rotating the end screw on the cylinder in an anti-clockwise direction.
By applying a downward pressure on the securing hook, causing the hinged catch to rotate and forcing the piston back into the housing.
By closing the bypass valve and operating the remote release handle until the pressure dissipates and the handle action goes slack.
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 into 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 direction must the end screw be rotated to pressurize the hydraulic cylinder during the emergency release procedure?
In which two of the following regulations is the legislation relating to life saving equipment on board a merchant vessel found?
Indicate which of the following requirements apply to muster and embarkation areas, according to SOLAS 1974 regulation III/11?
Into which Code were many of the technical items originally found in SOLAS 1974 transferred in 1996?
The Life-Saving Appliances Code.
Is it necessary for a crew-member to remain outside this type of lifeboat during release?
MSC/Circ. 1093 requires which of the following to be onboard 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.
Once the hinged catch is rotated clear during release, what actually opens the hook?
The weight of the lifeboat alone.
Rotation of the hydraulic release bypass valve by the coxswain.
Increasing pressure within the hydraulic cylinder.
Extension of the hydraulic piston.
Prior to operating the remote release handle, which of the following operations must be performed?
The bypass valve must be closed.
The safety pin must be replaced.
The safety catch must be removed.
The bypass valve must be opened.
Prior to recovery of the lifeboat after a drill, the pressure in the hydraulic cylinder is relieved. Why is this an essential requirement?
In order to prevent damage to the piston, which might cause a failure of the release mechanism in a real emergency situation.
So that all components are restored back to their original positions ready for the next drill.
So that the hinged catch rotates back to the locked position.
It acts as an additional safeguard, in case the locking pins have not been properly replaced.
SOLAS requires that each free-fall lifeboat shall be free-fall launched with its assigned operating crew aboard and maneuvered in the water at what minimum interval?
At least once every 6 months.
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 British Marine Accident Investigation Branch safety study into accidents involving lifeboat launch, recovery and maintenance highlighting a number of additional significant contributing factors. Which of the following were included in that list?
The emergency release procedure for this mechanism involves:
Using a hydraulic jack to open the release hook.
Smashing the glass panel and rotating the hydrostatic valve.
Smashing the glass panel and pressurizing the hydraulic cylinder by turning the end screw.
Removing the glass cover to the remote release handle and disconnecting the securing link.
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:
There are two safety pins in this release mechanism. Where are they located?
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.
What kind of release hook does this arrangement employ?
A single point release hook.
A dual function release hook.
A multiple point release facility.
A manual interlock release point.
When there have been crew changes, special requirements apply for the first abandon ship drill, as detailed in SOLAS 1974 regulation III/19. Which of the following statements applies?
If more than 50 % of the crew have not participated in an abandon ship drill on any ship within the previous 3 months, a drill must be held within 3 days of leaving the port.
If any crew members have been changed, a muster should be held before the ship leaves port.
If any new crew members are not in possession of a valid survival craft training certificate from an approved training facility, then a special abandon ship drill must be held for them within 24 hours of boarding the ship.
If more than 25 % of the crew have not participated in an abandon ship drill on that particular ship within the previous month, a drill must be held within 24 hours of leaving port.
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 it is impracticable to launch a free-fall lifeboat by the free-fall mode, alternative arrangements are acceptable under SOLAS 1974 regulation III/19. These are:
The lifeboat may be lowered into the water by winch instead, provided that the lifeboat is launched by free-fall mode at least once a year.
The lifeboat may be lowered into the water by winch instead, provided that the lifeboat is launched by free-fall mode with its assigned operating crew aboard and maneuvered in the water at least once every 6 months.
The lifeboat may be lowered into the water by winch instead, provided that an entry is made in the log book explaining why launching by the free-fall mode could not be done.
The lifeboat may always be lowered into the water by winch instead, provided that the frequency of such drills is increased to once every two months.
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 Company Management Manual.
The ship’s SOLAS Training Manual.
The International Guide to Life-Saving Appliances on Merchant Vessels.
Which component holds the hook in the “locked” position?
The remote release handle.
Which component is most at risk of damage if the hydraulic pressure is not released from the cylinder prior to recovery and refitting of the lifeboat?
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 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 is a correct statement?
Prior to launching of the lifeboat, it is essential to release the pressure from the hydraulic cylinder.
Prior to refitting the lifeboat in its stowed position, it is essential to release the pressure from the hydraulic cylinder.
While re-stowing the lifeboat, it is essential to confirm visually that the remote release handle has returned to its highest position.
While launching the lifeboat, it is essential to confirm visually that the piston has extended against the hinged catch.
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 in 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.
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?