Lifeboat Regulation as per SOLAS

General requirements for lifeboat:

    All lifeboats shall be of sufficient strength to:

1.     Enable them to safely launch when fully loaded with their full complement of person and equipment.

2.      Be capable of launched and towed when a ship is making headway at a speed of 5 knots in calm water.

3.     Except for free fall, each other lifeboat to be launched by falls shall be of sufficient strength to withstand when loaded with its full complement of person and equipment and with applicable skates or fenders in position, a lateral impact against ship side at an impact velocity of atleast 3.5m/sec and also a drop into water from a height of atleast 3 mtrs.

4.     The size, number and the capacity of the lifeboat for a merchant vessel is decided by the type of the ship and number of ship’s crew, but it should not be less than 7.3 m in length and minimum two lifeboats are provided on both side of the ship (port and starboard).

5.     The requirement for lifeboat of a cargo ship with 20,000 GT is that the boat must be capable of launching when the ship is heading with a speed of 5 knots.

6.     The ship must carry one rescue boat for rescue purpose along with other lifeboats. One lifeboat can be designated as a rescue boat if more then one lifeboat is present onboard ship.

7.     The gravity davits must be hold and slide down the lifeboat even when the ship is heeled to an angle of 15 degree on either side. Ropes are used to hold the lifeboat in stowed position with cradle. These ropes are called gripes.

8.      The wires which lift or lower the lifeboat are known as falls and the speed of the lifeboat descent should not be more then 36m/ min which is controlled by means of centrifugal brakes.

9.     The hoisting time for the boat launching appliance should not be less than 0.3 m/sec with the boat loaded to its full capacity.

10.                          The Lifeboat must be painted in international bright orange colour with the ship’s call sign printed on it.

11.                        A fully loaded lifeboat in calm water has an engine speed of atleast 6 knots and at least 2 knots when towing a 25-person life-raft and enough fuel for 24 hours.

Additionally for Tanker lifeboats

    Self rightening fully enclosed.

    Self-contained air system (Oxygen bottle)

    Fire protected lifeboat (Sprinkler system)

Regulation for lifeboat engine as per SOLAS

1.     Lifeboat shall be powered by a compression ignition engine. No life boat engine can be used if the fuel used in it has a flash point of 43˚C or less.

2.     The lifeboat engine can either be two stroke or four-stroke type, and can be started either by hand or by power.

3.     The engine must be capable to operate when life boat be flooded upto waterline of crankshaft. Power starting can be by using accumulator batteries or hydraulic.

4.     In power starting, normally two independent rechargeable energy sources are provided. However, any starting method should be capable of starting engines at 15˚C of ambient temperature within two minutes of commencing of starting procedure.

5.     The engine power is transmitted to propeller through gearbox. The gearbox is capable of disengaging the engine as well as engaging in either ahead or astern direction.

6.     The exhaust pipe outlet is located well clear of waterline.

7.     Engine should be capable of operating for not less than 5 minutes after starting from cold, with lifeboat out of water.

8.      Neptha or Butane spray is injected in air filter to start from cold condition.

MYTHS ABOUT MERCHANT NAVY SAILOR

OK, so over the years I had several thousand clinched questions asked about Sailors and Merchant Navy. So here are some myths about sailors and sailing, along with the reality attached to it : Myth: Everybody gets seasick – WRONG!!! this is usually the first question everyone asks. So ur in the merchant navy eh? don't u get sea sick?? Sea sickness is exactly like motion sickness. Does everyone have motion sickness? NO!! so why would everyone get seasick? Yea people do get sea sick but not as often as normally believed. Sailor’s life is the easiest : There is always work on a ship. what work you ask? cargo needs to be loaded, monitored, secured. routes need to be devised for the next voyage , necessary engine repairs need to be done. The need of the hour is speed, so by the time you are done with your work in port , it is time to depart. It is your good fortune if you get to go out. Sailors can guzzle any amount of alcohol – Sure back then sailors and pirates had barrels full of ale and would get drunk at the drop of a hat. But these days that can lead to you getting sacked. Companies have a zero alcohol policy, thanks to all the drunken accidents caused by ancient mariners. Alcohol upto a certain percentage is allowed, anything above that is unacceptable. Which makes sense coz in that state ur a danger to yourself and your crew. So try being sober for 5-6 months and then guzzling crazy amounts of alcohol. Sailors make a ton of money – Not really. It firstly depends on the type of ship ur on. oil tankers etc will obviously pay more thanks to the inherent risks involved. Secondly it depends on your company. obviously some companies pay more than others but even then, a decent MBA from a good college or a masters will end up paying you the same amount. sure the starting salary has a wide margin, but 5-6 years down the line it is almost the same. I’ve been asked – Don't u get bored just looking at the sea everyday? Riddle me this, do u get bored looking at the same roads, buildings etc each day? Atleast at sea u often wake up to the sights of an island right next to you, or maybe a few dolphins swimming with your ship, or a pack of birds which fly for days along with your ship which in my opinion is fantastic. The night sky is unbelievably clear, the moonlight does wonders to the sea at night. You have to see it to believe it , I find it calming, the soft rustle of the ship cutting across the water, small ripples that run for miles. Sailor eh? What about pirates? – Pirates are like a corrupt government. you know its there but not much can be done. it is an evil that exists and probably will for several decades to some. i dont know if the movie franchise ‘pirates of the caribbean’ can be blamed for it but it sure has risen over the years. what can be done? Ships = Massive pollution – Ships are responsible for just 3% of the world total pollution. the rest comes from industries, automobiles etc. i know there have been a string of oil spills in the recent past but those were all accidents. Bottom line after all this is that Sailors are human too. we too work hard, we too have families to think about and no sailing does not imply living on a cruise ship. it sucks ad hurts that sailors are branded as people who just love to while away time and are not really serious about life. working on a ship is no piece of cake. We live with cuts, bruises, burns almost daily. The work environment is hostile, and it requires a great competence to survive at sea. the sea does not forgive incompetence. i know most of you cant help it coz this seems to be the general opinion for everyone. Source: LIFE IN MERCHANT NAVY ""MARINERS BLOG""

Six management process

1. Control of document.
2. Control of records.
3. Control of non confirming products. 
4. Internal audits.
5. Corrective action.
6. Preventive action.