Purpose:

  Describe how the lifeboats are lowered to the water from the TS Golden Bear.

Overview:

• Lowering the lifeboat.
• Raising the lifeboat.

Define:

• Brakeman-The operator of the brake release.
• PIC- Person in Charge.
• Davit-The equipment used to lower and hoist the lifeboat.
• Drain plug-Keeps the water from coming in the lifeboat.
• Frapping Line-Fiber ropes passed around the falls; used to keep the lifeboat from swinging as it is lowered or raised.
• Gripes- wire ropes used to secure the lifeboat in its cradle.
• Jacobs ladder- A ladder that is kick over the side of the ship.
• Man rope-Line with spaced figure-eight knots that are suspended from the davit span.
• McCluny hook-Used to release the tricing pendants after persons have embarked in a lifeboat
• Rottmer-A system that holds the lifeboat to the ship
• Sea painter- A line that keeps the lifeboat from moving away from the ship.
• Tricing pendants-The lines, which automatically pull the lifeboat into the embarkation deck as it is lowered in gravity davits.
• Winch operator-A system that lower the lifeboat to the water.

Material:

• Lifeboat
• Gloves (optional)
• Ropes
• Ship

Hazards:

• Loss of finger
• A blow to the head
• Falling

Procedure:

1.  The command is given for someone to go up the ladder and install the drain plug.

2.     You must drop the Man ropes, then run sea painter

3.     Go and deploy the Jacobs Ladder – Located on deck under blue cover.

4.     Make sure all personnel are out of boat –PIC Gives command standby the gripes (explain how the McCluny hook goes back together) and “On the count of three, release the gripes.” When the ship rolls inboard.  The people who are in charge of passing the frapping lines should guide the gripes past the frapping line cleat so the eye does not hang up on the cleat.

5.     Give the command to lower to the embarkation deck until the tricing pendant takes the strain and pulls the lifeboat into the ship.  Keep the falls under strain, as the tricing pendants are not designed to support the boat.

6.     Start loading the first person. Have the person to keep feet on the rottmer release, grab hold of manrope.

7.     Load the other two people – one aft and one forward to tend the Tricing Pendant, grab hold of manrope.

8.     Give the command to “Pass the Frapping Lines”– make sure Tricing Pendant is between frapping lines and hook bails point towards each other.

9.     Load the passengers.  All should sit on thwarts.

10.Take the strain off of the tricing pendant by hoisting the lifeboat a bit (when not using the electric hoist, the power should be turned off).

11.Give the command on three, release the Tricing Pendants when the ship rolls inboard.  The McCluny hook should be un-moused first and the lanyard should never be wrapped around the hand.  All should be sitting and holding a manrope before the tricing pendant is released.  Notice that the lifeboat’s tiller is positioned such that when it is in the water it will naturally turn away from the ship.

12.The CPIC should use hand and voice signals to communicate with the brakeman and winch operator.

13.Lower the lifeboat about 10 feet.  In a real situation, the lifeboat would be lowered to just above the surface of the water, and the coxswain would give the command to “Release the Rottmer Pin” on the top of the swell.

14.Hoist the lifeboat (power on) so that the frapping lines take some of the strain and the tricing pendants can be passed.

15.Pass the tricing pendants and firmly secure the McCluny hook with lanyard.

16.Lower the lifeboat to the embarkation deck and disembark the passengers.

17.Release the frapping lines and disembark crew with the person standing on the Rottmer Release being the last one off.

18.Test the limit switches – manipulate the limit switches to perform this test.

19.Hoist to the stop position

20.Go head and begin cranking

21.People tending the gripes should position the inboard gripe eye over the orange stopper and should prepare the Mccluny hook and turnbuckles for securing.

22.Pass the gripes – gripes should be secured, McCluny hooks and turnbuckles tightened.

23.    Secure the lifeboat for sea – retrieve the Jacob’s ladder, coil and hang manropes, pull the plug, stow the fenders, sea painter, etc.

Conclusion:

     This is how to lowering and rising the lifeboats into the water from the TS Golden Bear.