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Safety & Lifesaving
Lifeboats and Davits
Lifeboats and Davits covers totally enclosed and free-fall lifeboats and the appliances that launch them, including davits, winches, wire falls, release hooks and free-fall launch ramps. The boat, its launching appliance and its release gear are approved and surveyed as one system. A used lifeboat is only as sound as the hook and davit it will hang from on your unit.
How davit-launched and free-fall lifeboats work
A davit-launched boat hangs from two wire falls on a gravity davit. Releasing the winch brake lets the boat lower under its own weight, and a centrifugal governor limits the lowering speed. Once the boat is afloat, the coxswain opens both hooks together with the on-load release. A hydrostatic interlock blocks on-load release until the hull is waterborne, unless the crew deliberately overrides it.
A free-fall boat sits on an inclined ramp with its occupants strapped in, facing aft. The coxswain releases it from inside, and it slides off and drops into the sea. It clears the unit in seconds and moves away under its own power. A davit or crane with a hook recovers the boat and lowers it for drills.
Configurations and what each suits
| Type | LSA Code section | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Totally enclosed, davit-launched | 4.6 | Most jack-ups and older semisubmersibles |
| Free-fall | 4.7 | High stowage, harsh-weather fields, fast clearance |
| Self-contained air support | 4.8 | Smoke or gas around the launch area |
| Fire-protected | 4.9 | Units where burning oil on the sea is credible |
A fire-protected boat carries a water spray system over the canopy and air support. It protects the occupants in a continuous oil fire for at least 8 minutes, and the air supply lasts at least 10 minutes. Air cylinders and the spray pump add test and maintenance items to the file.
Key specifications
| Parameter | Why it matters | Typical units |
|---|---|---|
| Certified capacity | Seats against persons on board at each station | Persons |
| Fully loaded launch mass | Sets davit working load and winch brake rating | kg or lb, kN on the davit |
| Certified free-fall height | Must equal or exceed stowage height above the lightest waterline | m or ft |
| Speed and endurance | LSA Code asks for at least 6 knots fully loaded, with fuel for 24 hours | Knots, hours |
| Release gear make and model | Decides compliance with MSC.320(89) and spares support | Hook type and serial |
Standards a used boat and davit must still meet
- LSA Code chapter 4 for the boat and chapter 6 for launching appliances, with prototype and production tests under MSC.81(70)
- SOLAS chapter III regulation 1.5, which required on-load release gear not meeting the LSA Code as amended by MSC.320(89) to be replaced no later than the first drydock after 1 July 2014, and by 1 July 2019 at the latest
- MSC.1/Circ.1392 for the evaluation that shows a hook meets the amended requirements
- MSC.402(96) for annual and five-yearly examination, testing and overhaul by an authorised provider
- SOLAS chapter III regulation 20, for the winch brake dynamic test and the five-year limit on falls
At the five-yearly examination, the winch brake is tested dynamically with 1.1 times the mass of the boat with its full complement and equipment. The release gear is overhauled and tested under load at the same visit.
Failure modes and what a survey checks
- Hook cams, pins and linkages for wear, corrosion and free play beyond maker limits
- Hydrostatic interlock function and the cable runs to the release handle
- GRP hull around the hook fixings and keel for cracks, delamination and old repairs
- Engine starting systems, cooling and the stern gear
- Spray pump, nozzles and air cylinder test dates on fire-protected boats
- Winch brake linings, centrifugal governor and hand-crank gear
- Davit arm pivots, sheaves, limit switches and the falls for broken wires
- Free-fall release hydraulics, hook and ramp rails
Documentation that makes a used lifeboat credible
- Type approval certificate for the boat and for the davit and winch
- Release hook evaluation record under MSC.1/Circ.1392
- Annual and five-yearly MSC.402(96) reports, with the provider's authorisation
- Falls certificates with installation and end-for-end dates
- Engine hours and maintenance log, and air cylinder hydrostatic test dates
- Davit load test certificate and arrangement drawing
Integration with your unit
A replacement boat from another maker changes the mass, the hook spacing and sometimes the lifting points. Check the davit working load, winch brake rating and fall length before anything else. Free-fall boats need a ramp built for that model and a certified height that covers your air gap at transit and operating drafts. Check the shore supply for battery charging and the winch motor at each station.
Refurbishment, recertification and surplus
Recertifying a used boat means a full MSC.402(96) five-yearly scope by a provider authorised for that make. That includes hook overhaul, a load test, engine service, new falls if due and an air system test. Unused surplus boats from cancelled newbuilds are the best value when the hook is compliant and the maker still supports the model. Naventr can arrange an inspection by an authorised provider before you make an offer. For extra capacity at lower mass, compare life rafts, and for recovery craft see rescue boats. Viking Norsafe, Palfinger Marine and Fassmer are well-known lifeboat and davit makers.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can a used lifeboat be recertified?
Yes, through a full MSC.402(96) examination by a service provider authorised for that make and type. If the five-yearly work is due or its records are missing, that includes overhaul of the release gear and a dynamic winch brake test at 1.1 times the fully loaded mass. The flag or class surveyor then accepts the boat on the provider's report.
What documents should come with a used lifeboat and davit?
Ask for the type approval certificates, the MSC.1/Circ.1392 hook evaluation record, the last annual and five-yearly MSC.402(96) reports with the provider's authorisation, falls certificates with dates, engine hours, air cylinder test dates and the davit load test certificate. Gaps usually mean repeating the five-yearly scope.
Do old lifeboat release hooks have to be replaced?
Only if they do not meet the LSA Code as amended by MSC.320(89). SOLAS required non-compliant on-load hooks to be replaced by 1 July 2019 at the latest. A compliant hook stays in service with normal MSC.402(96) servicing, so ask for its evaluation record.
Can a free-fall lifeboat replace a davit-launched one?
Not without new launching structure. A free-fall boat needs a ramp built for its model and a certified drop height that covers your stowage height. A davit-launched boat needs a davit and winch rated for its loaded mass. Swapping between the two is a modification that needs flag or class approval.
How often do lifeboat falls need renewing?
SOLAS chapter III regulation 20 requires wire falls to be renewed when worn or at intervals not over five years, whichever comes first. They are also turned end for end at intervals not over 30 months. Used falls from another boat should not be reused.
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