Lifeboat Equipment (List / PDF / Pictures / Explanation)

Today’s post is about lifeboat equipment. We’ll cover the equipment needed according to Solas/LSA Code, provide a list of equipment in PDF format, and include pictures and explanations of how each piece is used.

Have you ever stopped to think about what it would be like to be stranded in the middle of the ocean, with no help in sight? It’s a terrifying thought, but it’s a very real possibility for those who work at sea.

That’s why having all the lifeboat equipment in good condition is essential for any vessel that sails the seas. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at the key pieces of lifeboat equipment that can mean the difference between life and death in an emergency situation.

Lifeboat Equipment List

1.  Oars with crutches
2.  2 Boot Hooks
3.  1 Buoyant bailer and 2 buckets
4.  Survival Manual
5.  Fixed compass
6.  Sea Anchor with hawser
7.  2 Painters
8.  2 Hatchet
9. 3L of drinking water per person
10. 1 Rustproof dipper with lanyard
11. 1 Rustproof graduated drinking vessel
12. Food rating of 10,000 Kj /person, lifeboat is permitted to carry
13. 4 Rockst parachute
14. 6 Hand flare
15. 2 Buoyant Smoke Signal
16. 1 Waterproof torch with spare bulb and batteries
17. 1 Day light signaling mirror.
18. Lifesaving signal poster
19. 1 whistle
20. first aid kit
21. Anti-Seasickness tablet and Sea Sickness bag
22. 1 Jack knife
23. 3 tin opener
24. 2 buoyant rescue quoits
25. Manual pump for bailing, if lifeboat is not automatically self bailing.
26. 1 set of fishing tackle
27. Toolbox
28. Portable fire extinguisher
29. 1 Search light
30. Radar Reflector
31. TPA (10% of lifeboat capacity)
32. Food ration and fishing tackle can be dispensed by Administration for a coastal vessel (Generally vessel on international voyages need to have this)

Lifeboat Equipment as per Solas / LSA Code

List of Lifeboat Equipment can be found in LSA Code, Ch IV Survival Craft, 4.4.8 Lifeboat Equipment

Except where otherwise stated, the normal equipment of every lifeboat shall consist of:

1. except for free-fall lifeboats, sufficient buoyant oars to make headway in calm seas. Thole pins, crutches or equivalent arrangements shall be provided for each oar provided. Thole pins or crutches shall be attached to the boat by lanyards or chains.
2. two boat hooks.
3. a buoyant bailer and two buckets.
4. a survival manual; (Refer to instructions for action in survival craft (resolution A.657(16)).
5.  an operational compass which is luminous or provided with suitable means of illumination. In a totally enclosed lifeboat, the compass shall be permanently fitted at the steering position; in any other lifeboat, it shall be provided with a binnacle, if necessary to protect it from the weather, and suitable mounting arrangements.
6. a sea-anchor of adequate size fitted with a shock-resistant hawser which provides a firm hand grip when wet. The strength of the sea-anchor, hawser and tripping line, if fitted, shall be adequate for all sea conditions.
7. two efficient painters of a length equal to not less than twice the distance from the stowage position of the lifeboat to the waterline in the lightest seagoing condition or 15 m, whichever is the greater. On other lifeboats, one painter attached to the release device required by paragraph 4.4.7.7 shall be placed at the forward end of the lifeboat and the other shall be firmly secured at or near the bow of the lifeboat ready for use.
   [Para 4.4.7.7 says: Every lifeboat shall be fitted with a device to secure a painter near its bow. The device shall be such that the lifeboat does not exhibit unsafe or unstable characteristics when being towed by the ship making headway at speed up to 5 knots in calm water. Except for free-fall lifeboats, the painter securing decive shall include a release device to enable the painter to be released from inside the lifeboat, with the ship making headway at speeds up to 5 knots in calm water]
8. two hatchets, one at each end of the lifeboats.
9. watertight receptacles containing a total of 3 L of fresh water as described in paragraph 4.1.5.1.19 for each person the lifeboat is permitted to accommodate, of which either 1L per person may be replaced by a desalting apparatus capable of producing an equal amount of fresh water in two days or 2 L per person may be replaced by a manually powered reverse osmosis desalinator, as described in paragraph 4.4.7.5, capable of producing an equal amount of fresh water in two days.
   [Para 4.1.5.1.19 says; 1.5 l of fresh water for each person the liferaft is permitted to accommodate, of which either 0.5 L per person may be replaced by a de-salting apparatus capable of producing an equal amount of fresh water in two days or 1 L per person may be replaced by a manually powered reverse osmosis desalinator, as described in paragraph 4.4.7.5, capable of producing an equal amount of fresh water in two days. The water shall satisfy suitable international requirements for chemical and microbiological content and shall be packed in sealed watertight containers that are of corrosion resistant material or are treated to be corrosion resistant. Flexible packaging materials, if used, shall have a negligible vapour transmission rate (<0.1 g/m 2 per 24 hours at 23°C / 85% relative humidity when tested to a standard acceptable to the Administration, except that individually packaged portions within a larger container need not meet this vapour transmission requirement. Each water container shall have a method of spill proof reclosure, except for individually packaged portions of less than 125 mL. Each container shall be clearly marked with date of packing and date of expiry, the production lot number, the quantity of water in the container, and instructions for consumption. The containers shall be easy to open, taking into account immersion suit gloved hands. Water for emergency drinking complying with the requirements of an international standard acceptable to the Organization* is acceptable in compliance with these requirements;]
   [Para 4.4.7.5 All lifeboats shall be fitted with sufficient watertight lockers or compartments to provide for the storage of the small items of equipment, water and provisions required by paragraph 4.4.8. The lifeboat shall be equipped with a means for collecting rain water, and in addition if required by the Administration a means for producing drinking water from seawater with a manually powered desalinator. The desalinator must not be dependent upon solar heat, nor on chemicals other than seawater. Means shall be provided for the storage of collected water.]
10. a rustproof dipper with lanyard.
11. a rustproof graduated drinking vessel.
12. a food ration as described in paragraph 4.1.5.1.18 totalling not less than 10,000 kj for each person the lifeboat is permitted to accommodate; these rations shall be kept in airtight packaging and be stowed in a watertight container.
13. four rocket parachute flares complying with the requirements of section 3.1.
14. six hand flares complying with the requirements of section 3.2.
15. two buoyant smoke signals complying with the requirements of section 3.3.
16. one waterproof electric torch suitable for Morse signalling together with one spare set of batteries and one spare bulb in a waterproof container.
17. one daylight signalling mirror with instructions for its use for signalling to ships and aircrafts.
18. one copy of the life-saving signals prescribed by regulation c/29 on a waterproof card or in a waterproof container.
19. one whistle or equivalent sound signal.
20. a first-aid outfit in a waterproof case capable of being closed tightly after use;
21. anti-seasickness medicine sufficient for at least 48 h and one seasickness bag for each person;
22. a jack-knife to be kept attached to the boat by a lanyard;
23. three tin openers;
24. two buoyant rescue quoits, attached to not less than 30 m of buoyant line;
25. if the lifeboat is not automatically self-bailing, a manual pump suitable for effective bailing;
26.  one set of fishing tackle;
27.  sufficient tools for minor adjustments to the engine and its accessories;
28.  portable fire-extinguishing equipment of an approved type suitable for extinguishing oil fires;*  [ Refer to the Revised Guidelines for Marine Portable Fire Extinguishers, adopted by the Organization by resolution A.602(15).]
29.  a searchlight with a horizontal and vertical sector of at least 6°and a measured luminous intensity of 2500 cd which can work continuously for not less than 3 h;
30.  an efficient radar reflector, unless a survival craft radar transponder is stowed in the lifeboat;
31.  thermal protective aids complying with the requirements of section 2.5 sufficient for 10% of the number of persons the lifeboat is permitted to accommodate or two, whichever is the greater; and
32.  in the case of ships engaged on voyages of such a nature and duration that, in the opinion of the Administration, the items specified in paragraphs 4.4.8.12 and 4.4.8.26 are unnecessary, the Administration may allow these items to be dispensed with.

Lifeboat Equipment List pdf

The PDF file limits your ability to make changes based on what equipment your vessel has. That’s why I gave you a Word file, which is easier to edit. Download Lifeboat Equipment List

Lifeboat Equipment Picture

This are the minimum equipment’s required as per Solas inside your Lifeboat, But there are few more things which you find along with this equipment’s like Portable Ladders (Lsa Code 4.4.3.3), Tiller, Drain Plug what we need to check during routine inspection. FOr that i will write another blog post with complete details.

FAQ

Thanks for reading, If you have any questions on Lifeboat Equipment please do comment below.