Lifeboat Fittings Requirements
1) All lifeboats except free-fall lifeboats shall be provided with at least one drain valve fitted near the lowest point in the hull, which shall automatically open to drain water from the hull when the lifeboat is not waterborne and shall automatically close to prevent entry of water when the lifeboat is waterborne.
2) Each drain valve shall be provided with a cap or plug to close the valve, which shall be attached to the lifeboat by a lanyard, a chain, or other suitable means. Drain valves shall be readily accessible from inside the lifeboat and their position shall be clearly indicated.
3) All lifeboats shall be provided with a rudder and tiller. When a wheel or other remote steering mechanism is also provided the tiller shall be capable of controlling the rudder in case of failure of the steering mechanism. The rudder shall be permanently attached to the lifeboat. The tiller shall be permanently installed on, or linked to the rudder stock, however, if the lifeboat has a remote steering mechanism, the tiller may be removable and securely stowed near the rudder stock. The rudder and tiller shall be so arranged as not to be damaged by operation of the release mechanism or the propeller.
4) Except in the vicinity of the rudder and propeller, suitable handholds shall be provided or a buoyant lifeline shall be becketed around the outside of the lifeboat above the waterline and within reach of a person in the water.
5) Lifeboats which are not self-righting when capsized shall have suitable handholds on the underside of the hull to enable persons to cling to the lifeboat. The handholds shall be fastened to the lifeboat in such a way that, when subjected to an impact sufficient to cause them to break away from the lifeboat, they break away without damaging the lifeboat.
6) All lifeboats shall be fitted with sufficient watertight lockers or compartments to provide for the storage of the small items of equipment, water and provisions.
7) The lifeboat shall be equipped with a means for collecting rain water, and in addition, iſ required by the Administration, a means for producing drinking water from seawater with a manually powered desalinator. The desalinator must not be dependent upon solar heat, nor on chemicals other than seawater. Means shall be
provided for the storage of collected water.
8) Every lifeboat to be launched by a fall or falls, except a free-fall lifeboat, shall be fitted with a release mechanism complying with the following requirements:
a) the mechanism shall be so arranged that all hooks are released simultaneously
b) the mechanism shall have two release capabilities as follows:
i) a normal release capability which will release the lifeboat when it is waterborne or when there is no load on the hook,
ii) an on-load release capability which will release the lifeboat with a load on the hooks.
(This release shall be so arranged as to release the lifeboat under any conditions of loading from no load with the lifeboat waterborne to a load of 1.1 times the total mass of the lifeboat when loaded with its full complement of persons and equipment. This release capability shall be adequately protected against accidental or premature use. To prevent an accidental release during recovery of the boat, the mechanical protection (interlock) should only engage when the release mechanism is properly and completely reset. To prevent a premature on-load release, on-load operation of the release mechanism should require a deliberate and sustained action by the operator. The release mechanism shall be so designed that crew members in the lifeboat can clearly observe when the release mechanism is properly and completely reset and ready for lifting. Clear operating instructions should be provided with a suitably worded warning notice.
c) the release control shall be clearly marked in a colour that contrasts with its surroundings
d) the fixed structural connections of the release mechanism in the lifeboat shall be designed with a calculated factor of safety of 6 based on the ultimate strength of the materials used, assuming the mass of the lifeboat is equally distributed between the falls
e) where a single fall and hook system is used for launching a lifeboat or rescue boat in combination with a suitable painter, a single capability to release the lifeboat or rescue boat, only when it is fully waterborne, will be adequate.
9) Every lifeboat shall be fitted with a device to secure a painter near its bow. The device shall be such that the lifeboat does not exhibit unsafe or unstable characteristics when being towed by the ship making headway at speeds up to 5 knots in calm water. Except for free-fall lifeboats, the painter securing device shall include a release device to enable the painter to be released from inside the lifeboat, with the ship making headway at speeds up to 5 knots in calm water.
10) Every lifeboat which is fitted with a fixed two-way VHF radiotelephone apparatus with an antenna which is separately mounted shall be provided with arrangements for siting and securing the antenna effectively in its operating position.
11) Lifeboats intended for launching down the side of a ship shall have skates and fenders as necessary to facilitate launching and prevent damage to the lifeboat.
12) A manually controlled lamp shall be fitted. The light shall be white and be capable of operating continuously for at least 12 h with a luminous intensity of not less than 4.3cd in all directions of the upper hemisphere. However if the light is a flashing light it shall flash at a rate of not less than 50 flashes and not more than 70 flashes per min for the 12 h operating period with an equivalent effective luminous intensity.
13) A manually controlled lamp or source of light shall be fitted inside the lifeboat to provide illumination for not less than 12h to permit reading of survival and equipment instructions: however, oil lamps shall not be permitted for this purpose.
14) Every lifeboat shall be so arranged that an adequate view forward, aft and to both sides is provided from the control and steering position for safe launching and maneuvering.
Ref: LSA Code
