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LSA
Liferafts .............................................................................................................................. 132
Markings on a Liferaft ....................................................................................................... 132
Boarding liferaft actions .................................................................................................... 133
HRU ................................................................................................................................... 134
Rescue Boat ....................................................................................................................... 134
Rescue Boat Launch .......................................................................................................... 135
EPIRB ................................................................................................................................ 136
Sarts ................................................................................................................................... 138
Emergency lighting ............................................................................................................ 140
LIFESAVING SIGNALS AND RESCUE POSTER - SOLAS No 1 IN WHEELHOUSE .... 140
Helicopter rescue operations. ............................................................................................ 141
Drills and Training ............................................................................................................ 141
Weekly Tests and Inspections ............................................................................................ 144
Instructions for on-board maintenance ............................................................................. 145
Test your knowledge .......................................................................................................... 145

What do you have on your boat? Where would you look for additional info?
The new large yacht code Specifies the LSA for yachts it refers to a code which one?
Who specifies this code?
You need to know what a yacht over 500gt needs and how and why each piece of
equipment works.

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LARGE YACHT CODE

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Liferafts
Which yachts require life boats?
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When would you expect a Solas A or Solas B for a liferaft?
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What does a Solas pack A liferaft contain?
All liferafts on ships are fitted with the following equipment:
• Rescue quoits with minimum 30-metre lines
• Non-folding knife with a buoyant handle. If the life raft holds more than 13
persons, then a second knife
• For 12 persons or less, 1 bailer. For more than 13 persons, 2 bailers should be
kept
• 2 sponges
• 2 buoyant paddles
• 3 tin openers
• 2 sea anchors
• 1 pair of scissors
• 1 first aid waterproof kit
• 1 whistle
• 1 waterproof torch for communicating morse code with 1 spare set of batteries
and bulb
• 1 signalling mirror/heliograph
• 1 radar reflector
• 1 life-saving signals waterproof card
• 1 fishing tackle
• Food ration totalling not less than 10000 kJ for each person
• Water ration- 1.5 litres of fresh water for each person
• One rust proof graduated drinking vessel
• Anti sea sickness medicine sufficient for at least 48 hours and one seasickness
bag for each person
• Instructions on how to survive (Survival booklet)
• Instructions on immediate action
• TPA sufficient for 10% of the number of persons or two, whichever is greater
• Marking shall be SOLAS ‘A’ Pack
• 6 Hand Flares
• 4 Rocket Parachute Flares
• 2 Buoyant Smoke Signals

Markings on a Liferaft
• The makers name or trade mark;
• A serial number;
• The date of manufacture;
• The name of the approving authority;
• The name and place of servicing station where it was last serviced;

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• The number of persons it is permitted to accommodate over each.

What do you do once in the liferaft?

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Boarding liferaft actions

Primary Actions
Once survival craft are in the water, the following actions and procedures should take
place:
• Assist other survivors to board craft. Use safety knife provided. Manoeuvre
clear from ship’s side or obstructions.
• Reduce the rate of drift. This allows survivors to reach the craft and helps keep
craft at location of casualty. Ideally hold entrances at angle to weather as it
helps to prevent capsizing.
• Keep out of water (sea or rain) and wind. Allow natural body heat of survivors
to warm interior air. When warm and atmosphere is heavy and uncomfortable,
adjust ventilation. A very small opening should be sufficient.
• Insulation – Inflate the floor of the raft. Seaworthiness – Remove excessive
water. Check for damage. Repair or plug if necessary. Check position of
inflation (topping up) valves.

Secondary Actions
• Seasick - Life rafts in particular are known to make even the best sailors
seasick. Seasickness is incapacitating and may destroy the will to survive, and
to carry out survival procedures, you need to be physically fit and mentally
capable. It is therefore IMPERATIVE to take seasickness pills as early as
possible.
• Seasickness is not only a physical handicap, but valuable body fluid may be
lost. The pills themselves will make your mouth feel dry but resist the urge to
drink.
• Injured Crew - Maintain a clear airway and control any bleeding. Treat
injured survivors using the first aid kit. Instructions for use are included.
• Bail out - Remove any water with bailer and dry out with sponges.

• Warming up - If men are chilled or shivering, get everybody to huddle

together but do not upset trim – the closer they get, the warmer they get. Cover
with spare clothing. Sit on lifejackets as extra insulation if necessary. Loosen
any constriction on feet. Keep wriggling toes and ankles to reduce chance of
getting cold injuries. Change lookouts if necessary to prevent frostbite on
exposed skin.
• Make a large target - Join up and secure with other craft – mutual aid. In
cold weather, get maximum numbers together for warmth. Two or more craft
are easier to find than one.
• Search for Kate Winslet (Titanic) - Listen for whistles: post lookouts to look
for survivors, signaling lights and lights of other rafts, ships or aircraft.

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Lookout to collect useful debris, etc. Assist survivors by using the quoit and
line, thereby avoiding swimming. Raft may be maneuvered using drogue or
paddle.
• Read the survival craft handbook for further guidance on actions to be
taken, etc.
• Morale and will to survive - Cold, anxiety, hunger, thirst, effects of
seasickness all work against the will to survive. Keep spirits up. Maintain
confidence in rescue.

HRU

What is a HRU? What depth must it work?

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What is a weak link and why?
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Rescue Boat
What is a rescue boat?
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What equipment must it have?
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Rescue Boat Launch

To make it safe it must be PRACTISED on a regular basis and it must be executed
according to a set routine.

The MCA have issued guideline as to how this evolution should be practiced. MSN
1722 lists these considerations, which may be summarized as follows.
• There must be a toolbox talk prior to any launch, dropping anchor, etc.
• There is no legal requirement to practice launching underway but if such a
practice is carried out it should normally be carried out at anchor or alongside
where there is sufficient movement between the vessel and the water.
• Drill should only be carried out under the supervision of an officer
experienced in such drills. Provision should be made to render assistance if
necessary e.g. by preparing another boat. Instructions on procedure should be
given to the boat crew before commencement.
• Lifejackets and immersion suits (where appropriate) and head protection
should be worn.
• 2-way radiotelephone comms. between rescue boat, the bridge and the i/c of
lowering should be established.
• During lowering and recovering the propeller of the ship should be stopped on
that side if practicable (in most yachts, which are relatively small, this will
probably not be practicable as it would slew the ship very quickly).
• The boats engines should be running before it enters the water.
• The practice should be followed by a de-brief.

The text of the M Notice states that none of the above stipulations are intended to
inhibit launching drills carried out on such ships where drills are carried out on a
regular basis with a fully trained and experienced crew. Yacht crews launch and
recover the tenders on such a regular basis and in such a variety of conditions that
many yachts carry considerable expertise in this area. It would not be too difficult for
some yachts to develop the habit of launching underway as a routine procedure for
example approaching an anchorage; instead of launching a RIB after anchoring it
could be launched during the approach and be immediately available to the owner.
This enhances the performance of the yacht whilst providing good practice for any
future man overboard.

The crew of the rescue boat should never be in the boat when it is slung inboard;
it should be manned when it reaches deck level and when recovering the boat, the
crew should step out as it reaches deck level before it is swung in. It is the custom in
professional yachts for evolutions such as launching a tender to be carried out quietly
and quickly with the minimum of fuss to avoid disturbing or alarming the guests - this
is one evolution where such an approach is not appropriate. The person in control of
the evolution should give clear and concise ORDERS which must obeyed smartly.
The precise method of launching will vary according to the launching equipment
fitted and type of boat carried. Advice should be sought from manufacturers. Detailed

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instructions for this should be contained in the “Training Manual” required by the
regulations. To be able to safely launch a rescue boat underway the following
equipment needs to be carried
:
• An approved boat with the engine connected to a fresh water cooling hose.
• An approved launching arrangement. It must be in accordance.
• A boatrope - effectively the bow line of the boat. When it is released into the
water it will fall back on this and be towed by the mother vessel until ready to
proceed.
• An approved release mechanism in accordance with the above regulations.
The most common type is the RFD hook - it needs to be able to release the
boat swiftly as soon as it reaches the water.
• Tending lines - to steady the boat as it is being maneuvered on the davit.

EPIRB

406 MHz EPIRBs work with the Cospas-Sarsat polar orbiting satellite system, giving
true global coverage. There is an alert delay of about 90 minutes dependant on when
the satellites come into view on the horizon.
The satellite can determine the position of your EPIRB to within 5km (3 miles). The
coded message identifies the exact vessel to which the EPIRB is registered. They can
then home in on 121.5MHz to locate the casualty.

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EPIRB how long must it work for?

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How often to be checked?

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What frequencies must Solas-approved EPIRB transmit on and why?
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Sarts
A Search and Rescue Transponder (SART) is a self-contained, waterproof radar
transponder intended for emergency use at sea. The radar-SART is used to locate a
survival craft or distressed vessel by creating a series of dots on a rescuing ship's radar
display. A SART will only respond to a 9 GHz X-band (3 cm wavelength) radar. It
will not be seen on S-band (10 cm) or other radar. Shipboard Global Maritime
Distress Safety System (GMDSS) include one or more search and rescue locating
devices. When a radar signal is received from a ship or aircraft, the S4 Rescue
automatically transmits a response signal, which clearly identifies the survival craft on
the radar screen by means of a stream of 12 in-line dots. Once activated the S4 will
remain in standby mode for over 96 hours. SARTs are typically cylindrical, about the
size of a person's forearm, and brightly coloured.

WWW.EGMDSS.COM

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SART transmit on which frequency?

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How long do they last in standby condition?
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Then how long following the standby period being continuously interrogated?
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Briefly describe how a SART works and how you would locate one at sea. Sketches
would help.
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What is the general alarm?

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Emergency lighting
Solas – Part D Reg 43 The electrical power available shall be sufficient to supply all
those services that are essential for safety in an emergency, due regard being paid to
such services as may have to be operated simultaneously. The emergency source of
electrical power shall be capable, of supplying simultaneously at least the following
services for the periods specified hereinafter, if they depend upon an electrical source
for their operation: For a period of 18 h:
• The navigation lights and other lights required by the International
Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea in force;
• On ships constructed on or after 1 February 1995 the VHF radio installation
required by regulation IV/7.1.1 and IV/7.1.2; and, if applicable:
For a period of 18 h:
• All internal communication equipment as required in an emergency;
• The shipborne navigational equipment as required by regulation V/12;* where
such provision is unreasonable or impracticable the Administration may waive
this requirement for ships of less than 5,000 gross tonnage;
• The fire detection and fire alarm system; and
• Intermittent operation of the daylight signalling lamp, the ship's whistle, the
manually operated call points and all internal signals that are required in an
emergency; unless such services have an independent supply for the period of
18 h from an accumulator battery suitably located for use in an emergency.
• For a period of 18 h one of the fire pumps;
• The steering gear where it is required to be so supplied by that regulation.

LIFESAVING SIGNALS AND RESCUE POSTER - SOLAS No 1 IN

WHEELHOUSE
Create a list of all the distress signals. Then learn it!

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Helicopter rescue operations.

Do not
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Do not
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Do not
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Do not
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Do not
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Do
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Do
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Do
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Do
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Do
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Drills and Training

On a ship engaged on a voyage where passengers are scheduled to be onboard for
more than 24 hours, musters of newly-embarked passengers shall take place prior to
or immediately upon departure. Passengers shall be instructed in the use of the
lifejackets and the action to take in an emergency.

Whenever new passengers embark, a passenger safety briefing shall be given

immediately before departure, or immediately after departure. The briefing shall be
made by means of an announcement, in one or more languages likely to be
understood by the passengers. The announcement shall be made on the ship's public
address system, or by other equivalent means likely to be heard at least by the
passengers who have not yet heard it during the voyage.

Crew members with enclosed space entry or rescue responsibilities shall participate in
an enclosed space entry and rescue drill to be held onboard the ship at least once
every two months. It is recommended that new seafarers shall attend a dedicated
course for entry into dangerous spaces

Emergency Drills

Drills shall, as far as practicable, be conducted as if there were an actual emergency.

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Every crew member shall participate in at least one abandon ship drill and one fire
drill every month and-
• where more than 25% of the crew have not participated in abandon ship and
fire drills onboard that particular ship in the previous month the drills of the
crew shall take place within 24 hours of the ship leaving a port;
• where a ship enters service for the first time, after modification of a major
character or when a new crew is engaged, the drills shall be held before the
vessel sails

Each abandon ship drill shall include-

• Summoning of passengers and crew to muster stations with the general
emergency alarm followed by drill announcement on the public address or
other communication system and ensuring that they are made aware of the
order to abandon ship;
• Reporting to stations and preparing for the duties described in the muster list;
• Checking that passengers and crew are suitably dressed;
• Checking that lifejackets are correctly donned;
• Lowering of at least one lifeboat after any necessary preparation for
launching;
• Starting and operating the lifeboat engine;
• Operation of davits used for launching liferafts;
• A mock search and rescue of passengers trapped in their staterooms; and
• Instruction in the use of radio life-saving appliances.
• Emergency lighting for mustering and abandonment shall be tested at each
abandon ship drill.

As far as is reasonable and practicable, rescue boats other than lifeboats which are
also rescue boats, shall be launched each month with their assigned crew aboard and
manoeuvred in the water and in any case this requirement shall be complied with at
least once every three months.

Enclosed space entry and rescue drills

Enclosed space entry and rescue drills shall be planned and conducted in a safe
manner,
Each enclosed space entry and rescue drill shall include:
• Checking and use of personal protective equipment required for entry;
• Checking and use of communication equipment and procedures;
• Checking and use of instruments for measuring the atmosphere in enclosed
spaces;
• Checking and use of rescue equipment and procedures; and
• Instructions in first aid and resuscitation techniques.

On-board Training and Instructions

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On-board training in the use of the ship's life-saving appliances, including survival
craft equipment, and in the use of the ship's fire-extinguishing appliances shall-
• Be given as soon as possible but not later than two weeks after a crew member
joins the ship;
• If the crew member is on a regularly scheduled rotating assignment to the ship,
such training shall be given not later than two weeks after the time of first
joining the ship;
• Include instructions in the use of the ship's fire-extinguishing appliances, life-
saving appliances, and in survival at sea, which shall be given at the same
interval as the drills;
• Incorporate individual instruction covering different parts of the ship's life-
saving and fire-extinguishing appliances, such that all the ship's life-saving
and fire-extinguishing appliances shall be covered within any period of two
months.

Every crew member shall be given instructions which shall include but not necessarily
be limited to-
• The operation and use of the ship's inflatable liferafts;
• The problems of hypothermia, first-aid treatment for hypothermia and other
appropriate first-aid procedures;
• Any special instructions necessary for use of the ship's life-saving appliances
in severe weather and severe sea conditions;
• The operation and use of fire-extinguishing appliances; and
• Risks associated with enclosed spaces and onboard procedures for safe entry
into such spaces which shall take into account, as appropriate, the guidance
provided in recommendations developed by the IMO.

Arrangements
The date when musters are held, details of abandon ship drills and fire drills, enclosed
space entry and rescue drills, drills of other life-saving appliances and onboard
training shall be recorded in such log-book as may be prescribed by the
Administration; provided that if a full muster, drill or training session is not held at
the appointed time, an entry shall be made in the log-book stating the circumstances
and the extent of the muster, drill or training session held.

Content of Muster Lists

The muster list shall specify detail of the general alarm signal and also the action to be
taken by crew and passengers when the alarm is sounded. The list will specify how
the order to abandon ship will be given.
The muster list shall show the duties assigned to different members of the crew
including:
• Closing of watertight doors, fire doors, valves, scuppers, sidescuttles,
skylights, portholes and other similar openings in the ship;
• The equipping of survival craft and other life-saving appliances;
• The preparation and launching of survival craft;
• The general preparations of other life-saving appliances;
• The muster of passengers;

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• The use of communication equipment;

• Manning of fire parties to deal with fires;
• Special duties assigned in respect of the use of fire fighting equipment and
installations.

Weekly Tests and Inspections

The following tests and inspections shall be carried out weekly and a report on them
shall be entered in the log-book-
• All survival craft, rescue boats and launching appliances shall be visually
inspected to ensure that they are ready for use and the inspection shall include,
but not be limited to,
• The condition of hooks, their attachment to the lifeboat and the confirmation
that the on- load release gear has been properly and completely reset;
• All engines in lifeboats and rescue boats shall be run for a total period of not
less than 3 minutes, provided the ambient temperature is above the minimum
temperature required for starting and running the engine and during this period
of time it shall be demonstrated that the gear box and gear box train are
engaging satisfactorily;
• If the special characteristics of an outboard motor fitted to a rescue boat would
not allow it to be run for a period of 3 minutes other than with its propeller
submerged, a suitable water supply may be provided; and
• The general emergency alarm shall be tested.

Monthly Tests

The following tests and inspections shall be carried out monthly and a report on them shall be
entered in the log-book-

• All lifeboats, except free-fall lifeboats, shall be turned out from their stowed
position, without any persons onboard, if weather and sea conditions so allow;
and
• Inspection of the life-saving appliances, including lifeboat equipment, shall be
carried out using the checklist required by subsection to ensure that they are
complete and in good order.

Every inflatable liferaft, inflatable lifejacket, marine evacuation system and inflated rescue
boat shall be serviced-

• At intervals not exceeding 12 months, provided where in any case this is

impracticable, the Administration may extend this period to 17 months; and
• At an approved servicing station which is competent to service them,
maintains proper servicing facilities and uses only properly trained
personnel15.

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Instructions for on-board maintenance

Instructions for on-board maintenance of life-saving appliances shall be easily understood,
illustrated wherever possible, and, as appropriate, shall include the following for each
appliance-

• A checklist for use when carrying out the inspections

• Maintenance and repair instructions;
• A schedule of periodic maintenance;
• A diagram of lubrication points with the recommended lubricants;
• A list of replaceable parts;
• A list of sources of spare parts; and
• A log for records of inspections and maintenance.

Test your knowledge

How long must the buoyant line be on a lifebuoy?
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How many line throwing devices should you have?
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Do you fire the line throwing device up wind or down wind?
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Flares must be stored in what? How long does a rocket flare burn for? Colour?
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Do you need hand flares? How long must they burn for?
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Smoke signals, must emit which colour? How long for?
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Lifejackets, what must they be able to do in calm water?
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What else must a lifejacket have on it or attached to it?
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Tell me about the light.
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Immersion suits how quickly should it be able to be donned in?
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Tell me about lifebuoys.
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What is a training manual?
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