jwo9958
05-16-2006, 10:50 PM
There has been quite a few questions lately on how to deploy a life raft. I thought I would post an answer as a new thread to answer some of these. When conducting classes on this topic it usually take about two hours so I will try and do it justice here without writting a novel. THT mebers please feel free to discuss this at length. Any more questions that arise, I will try and address these as well. What is said below applies to all makes, models, brands, canisters or valsises life rafts.
The life rfat is only deployed under the captain's orders of "abandon ship" Hopefully it is a smart captain, and htis captain kows that you only abandon ship at the last resort, when the vessel is no longer safe to be on. (See NTSB's findings on the F/V St. Patrick for further explanation) Once these orders are made, the life raft needs to be prepared. For valise style life rafts, take up to the deck and to the abandoning embarkation point, and secure the painter line to the vessel. You should have this point pre-planned, and you should already know how to secure that painter line. For canister style life rafts, the painter line should already be secured to the vessel, just relese pelican hook or quick snap shackle to free the lashing from the life raft.
The next step is to throw the life raft over the leward side of the vessel, (unless there is a fire, launch to windward) At this point there is a lot of variables if it is a canister style life raft. If it is a heavy canister style life raft and you cannot maneuver it safely to the embarkation station, you will need to launch it from wherever it is.. With the canister floating in the water, take the painter line to the embarkation station and re-attach the painter line.
So if it is a canister style life raft, or a valise is is floating in the water as a package. Some painter lines can be as long as 120 ft, or as short as 30ft. regardless of painter line length, re-attach the painter line. You do not want to have the life rfat blow away and now be 120ft. from your sinking vessel. Once the painter line is re-attached, pull the painter line to the end, and give a sharp tug, and the life rfat will inflate. It will take about 15 seconds for full inflation.
Keep in mind there is more CO2 in the bottle than is needed to fill up the life raft, so the excess CO2 will be comming out of the pressure relief valves. It will make a lound hiss, this does not mean there is a leak in your life raft. Also, the life rfat will be very cold. Once the life raft is inflated, you can jump from the boat right into or on top of the life rfat. Keep in mind the occupants who are already there. If you cannot jump directly into the life rfat yo will have to enter the water first. If this is the case, STAY TOGETHER in the water, and use the painter line to guide you to the life raft. If the life rfat is upsde down, go into the water, locate the CO2 cylinder, and climb on top of it to right the life raft. There will be a line or rope handles on the bottom of the life raft to help you.
Once inside the life raft cut yourself free of the vessle with the knife located by the entrance. Only cust yourslef free if it is a danger to be attached to the vessel you just abandoned. So I will stop here, but if you have further questions, please feel free to contact me. We have great classes regarding this stuff, as well as DVD's and seminars. Hope this hlps, but please remeber this is not a full explanation on how to deploy a life raft, or abandon ship.
Dan O'Connor
Life Raft and Survival Equipment
1-800-451-2127
www.lrse.com
The life rfat is only deployed under the captain's orders of "abandon ship" Hopefully it is a smart captain, and htis captain kows that you only abandon ship at the last resort, when the vessel is no longer safe to be on. (See NTSB's findings on the F/V St. Patrick for further explanation) Once these orders are made, the life raft needs to be prepared. For valise style life rafts, take up to the deck and to the abandoning embarkation point, and secure the painter line to the vessel. You should have this point pre-planned, and you should already know how to secure that painter line. For canister style life rafts, the painter line should already be secured to the vessel, just relese pelican hook or quick snap shackle to free the lashing from the life raft.
The next step is to throw the life raft over the leward side of the vessel, (unless there is a fire, launch to windward) At this point there is a lot of variables if it is a canister style life raft. If it is a heavy canister style life raft and you cannot maneuver it safely to the embarkation station, you will need to launch it from wherever it is.. With the canister floating in the water, take the painter line to the embarkation station and re-attach the painter line.
So if it is a canister style life raft, or a valise is is floating in the water as a package. Some painter lines can be as long as 120 ft, or as short as 30ft. regardless of painter line length, re-attach the painter line. You do not want to have the life rfat blow away and now be 120ft. from your sinking vessel. Once the painter line is re-attached, pull the painter line to the end, and give a sharp tug, and the life rfat will inflate. It will take about 15 seconds for full inflation.
Keep in mind there is more CO2 in the bottle than is needed to fill up the life raft, so the excess CO2 will be comming out of the pressure relief valves. It will make a lound hiss, this does not mean there is a leak in your life raft. Also, the life rfat will be very cold. Once the life raft is inflated, you can jump from the boat right into or on top of the life rfat. Keep in mind the occupants who are already there. If you cannot jump directly into the life rfat yo will have to enter the water first. If this is the case, STAY TOGETHER in the water, and use the painter line to guide you to the life raft. If the life rfat is upsde down, go into the water, locate the CO2 cylinder, and climb on top of it to right the life raft. There will be a line or rope handles on the bottom of the life raft to help you.
Once inside the life raft cut yourself free of the vessle with the knife located by the entrance. Only cust yourslef free if it is a danger to be attached to the vessel you just abandoned. So I will stop here, but if you have further questions, please feel free to contact me. We have great classes regarding this stuff, as well as DVD's and seminars. Hope this hlps, but please remeber this is not a full explanation on how to deploy a life raft, or abandon ship.
Dan O'Connor
Life Raft and Survival Equipment
1-800-451-2127
www.lrse.com