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 controls.
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 or a fitter suitable qualified and holding a certificate in lifeboat maintenance.
An “on-load release mechanism” is defined as one:
One that can be released at any time from any height when the ship has an adverse list of up to 16°.
Designed to be operated when the boat is hanging in the falls at a height of 2-4 metres above the water.
Designed to be operated when the load applied to them is completely removed – that is, when the boat has been lowered and is waterborne.
Designed 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.
That can be released at any time from any height.
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 three 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.
During resetting of the release mechanism, the hook is manually returned to the upright position. Which of the following will also happen as a result of this action?
The locking plate will lift back into place.
The remote release handle will return to the closed position.
The spring-loaded stopper lever will disengage.
The second hook will automatically reset.
How is the D-shaped cam pin reset prior to recovering the lifeboat?
By lowering the cam reset lever.
By resetting the spring-loaded stopper lever.
By lifting the cam reset lever.
How is the D-shaped cam pin turned back into position under the locking plate during resetting?
By manually lifting the cam reset lever.
By the hook pressing against the locking plate.
By re-engaging the stopper lever.
By pushing the remote release handle back into position.
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 “Gulser Ana” in 2001, which of the following deficiencies were cited 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?
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.
MSC/Circ. 1093 requires which of the following 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 full set of maintenance manuals.
A specialized toolkit 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 five knots forward speed.
Check that the hook arrangement has properly reset and that the falls are fully engaged.
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 three 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 highlighted a number of additional significant contributing factors. Which of the following were included in that list?
The function of the spring-loaded stopper lever 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.
Hold the safety pin in place.
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.
What safety features are fitted to this mechanism to guard against accidental release? Select all applicable answers:
When the lifeboat is secured for maintenance or is being transferred to shore, by which parts must the craft be lifted?
The auxiliary eye plates.
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 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.
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.
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, in order to perform an operational test on the on-load release mechanism?
Fully in the water, such that no load is being applied to the falls and the hydrostatic interlock system has operated successfully.
Partially in the water, such that the mass of the boat is substantially supported by the falls.
Between 3 and 5 metres above the level of the water.
Fully secured in the davits, with additional retaining 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 Company Management Manual.
The ship’s SOLAS Training Manual.
The International Guide to Life-Saving Appliances on Merchant Vessels.
Which component directly holds the hook in the closed position?
The spring-loaded stopper lever.
Which face of the D-shaped cam pin is in contact with the underside of the locking plate when the mechanism is in the closed position?
Which face of the D-shaped cam pin is in contact with the underside of the locking plate when the mechanism is in the closed position?
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 spring-loaded?
The remote release handle.
Which of the following is a correct statement?
While resetting the release mechanism, it is essential to visually confirm that the spring-loaded stopper lever has returned to the locked position and the locking pin has been replaced.
While resetting the release mechanism, it is essential to confirm that all personnel are clear of the boat.
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 that the coxswain is seated at the forward end of the boat.
Which of the following topics must be included in the vessel’s SOLAS Training Manual?
Which two controls need to be pulled by the coxswain to start the release of the lifeboat?
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?