Emergency Contingency Procedures ECP Recommended Lifeboat Launching Procedures	Doc No.: ECP 04-02B Revision: 01 Date: 15 Oct 2024 Issued by: DPA Approved by: MD

1. General safety precautions for launching and maneuvering of davit launched lifeboats, freefall lifeboats and rescue boats

• Launching to be carried out as far as practicable at anchorage or underway with no speed overground and engines stopped.
• Launching to be carried out as far as practicable during the daylight hours.
• Weather and sea conditions should be favourable for the task keeping in mind that sea conditions at sea surface may not be readily apparent from embarkation deck.
• A ship specific risk assessment shall be prepared for launching and manoeuvring of lifeboats and rescue boats. Risk assessment shall be reviewed and amended for environmental conditions during prevailing circumstances.
• The task is to be supervised by Chief officer and ensure proper radio communication established between all crew and bridge.
• The master is to ensure that all safety measures and precautions are being observed in accordance with the TMS procedures and instruction manuals.
• Safety briefing to all personnel involved shall be conducted prior to commencement of the drill. It shall be ensured that the crane operator is thoroughly familiar with the davit operation, and with the controller.
• As far as practicable, the operation shall not be carried out concurrently with any other activity such as bunkering, cargo operation, diving or underwater operation etc. so that full attention of all crew can be achieved for safety purpose.
• If within port limits, permission to be obtained from the port authorities in writing.
• Proper PPE to be used including lifejackets. Safety harness for launching preparations, removing/securing lashings to be considered as per design.
• Below options to be considered for boarding the lifeboats:
  • Option 1: Boarding via embarkation ladder
  • Option 2: Boarding from embarkation deck/platform
  • Option 3: Boarding freefall lifeboat via rescue boat

For enhanced risk mitigation, the master may consider requesting shore assistance such as shore launch boats after discussion with the office when in port limits.

2. Recommended procedure for launching and maneuvering of davit launched lifeboats and rescue boats

Step 1 – Prior to Commencing the Launch

• Inspect the exterior of the boat and fittings including gripes, securing pins. Remove charging cable and any other temporary obstructions including over-side.
• Make sure hook release arrangement is positively locked as per maker’s guidance such as verification of hydraulic locking lever and position of cams.
• Chief Officer shall verify:
  • Boat is plugged (additional prevention measures for water ingress).
  • All the limit switches are operational.
  • Release the davit securing pins (Harbour Pins).
  • Entry hatch of lifeboat is secured.

Step 2 – Unmanned Launching

• Make fast the painter to strong point and deploy additional aft painter if required.
• All personnel to stand well clear of davit and other moving parts.
• Lower the boat in controlled manner by lifting the brake lever and lower from stowed position until about 1 meter from the water level.

Step 3 – Deploying the Operating Crew

• Master shall assess the prevailing weather and sea conditions and decide on the safest means of boarding as per the options mentioned in section 1.
• Before boarding via embarkation deck, heave the boat to embarkation deck/platform. Test function of limit switch to ensure motor is cutting off.

Step 4 - Boarding

• All assigned operating crew shall board the boat with lifejackets donned.
• Establish communication with deck team and bridge master.
• Fasten seatbelts.
• Launch the boat by means of remote lowering wire from inside the boat until fully waterborne.
• If boarding by embarkation ladder, PPE and life-jacket must be donned, ladder must be thoroughly inspected and tested for securing arrangement and crew shall board in safe manner one at a time.

Step 5 - Onload Release

• Instruct the deck team to heave the boat approximately 15 CM to 30 CM from water level.
• Release the boat hooks in “ONLOAD” condition as per maker’s guidance.
• Painter may remain fast to vessel’s strong point at all times.

Step 6 - SOLAS Tests

• Test the engines ahead and astern.
• Test sprinkler system (for enclosed lifeboat).
• Manoeuvre the boat.

Step 7 - Re-securing

• Re-connect the hooks and lock as per maker’s guidance.
• Take particular caution due to effect of waves and movement of blocks of davit.

Step 8 - Visual Verification

• Instruct deck team to heave the boat approx. 15 CM to 30 CM and hold.
• Boat crew shall verify the hook release mechanism is positively locked as per maker’s guidance.
• Ensure hydraulic locking arrangements are activated to lock the release lever and hooks are reset satisfactorily.
• Master may decide to disembark crew from the boat and board via ladder.

Step 9 - Final Heaving and Securing

• Instruct deck team to heave the boat all the way to embarkation deck/platform.
• Secure the boat once all crew evacuate.

3. Recommended procedure launching and maneuvering of freefall lifeboat

3.1 : Training during Monthly Drills

The monthly abandon ship drills with free-fall lifeboats should be carried out according to the maker’s instructions, so that the persons who are to enter the boat in an emergency are trained to embark the boat, take their seats in a correct way and use the safety belts; as well as being instructed on how to act during launching into the sea.

SOLAS training manuals, posters, and signs shall be used to assist familiarization and the conduct of drills. Simulated launching should be carried out under the supervision of Chief officer and be conducted without the physical activation of the free-fall release system.

3.2 : Launching in Water

Below are the recommended steps to be considered. Vessels shall ensure compliance to maker’s instruction.

Step 1

• Inspect the exterior of the boat and fittings including the lashings and securing pins. Remove charging cable and any other temporary obstructions including over-side.
• Make sure that the release arrangement is positively locked as per maker’s guidance.
• Establish communication between deck team and bridge/master.
• Chief Officer shall verify:
  • Boat is plugged (additional prevention measures for water ingress).
  • All the limit switches are operational.
  • For simulated launching, ensure that the restraining device(s) provided by the manufacturer for simulated launching are installed and secure and that the free-fall release mechanism is fully and correctly engaged.

Step 2

• Disengage lashings, gripes, etc. installed to secure the lifeboat for sea or for maintenance, except those required for simulated launching as per maker’s design.

Step 3

• Participating crew shall board the boat. Crew members may don lifejackets as per design and arrangements on the boat.
• Occupy designated seats and fasten seatbelts under supervision of Chief officer.

Step 4

• All crew, except the assigned operating crew, disembark the lifeboat.
• Secure the entry hatch.

3.2.1 : For Simulated Launching

• The assigned operating crew activate the release mechanism when instructed by the chief officer.
• Ensure that the release mechanism operates satisfactorily and the lifeboat travels down the ramp to the distance specified in the maker’s instructions.

3.2.2 : For Freefall Launching

• Remove the simulation lashings as per maker’s instructions.
• The assigned operating crew fully prepare the lifeboat for free-fall launch and secure themselves in their seats for the release operation.
• The assigned operating crew activate the release mechanism when instructed by the chief officer. Ensure that the release mechanism operates satisfactorily.

3.2.3 : For Launching with Secondary Means

• Remove the simulation lashings as per maker’s instructions.
• The assigned operating crew fully prepare the lifeboat for secondary launch and lowering operations.
• Lower the lifeboat by the secondary means provided as per the maker’s instructions. No crew members shall be in lifeboat.
• Master shall assess the prevailing weather and sea conditions and decide on the safest means of boarding either by embarkation ladder or by rescue boat.
• Operating crew boards the freefall lifeboat in safe manner.

For freefall launching and launching by secondary means, follow steps 5, 6, 7, and 8. For simulated launching, go to step 8.

Step 5

• Test the engines ahead and astern.
• Test sprinkler system.
• Manoeuvre the boat.

Step 6

• Re-connect the hooks as per maker’s guidance with the retrieval system provided on board.
• All crew members safely disembark from freefall lifeboat.

Step 7

• Deck team to verify the heaving system is properly secured and it is safe to heave.
• Heave the boat all the way to embarkation deck/platform.

Step 8

• Secure the boat.