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• 2023-02-13
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Introduction

Survival craft is a craft capable of sustaining the lives of persons in distress from the time of abandoning the ship. It includes any lifeboat, liferaft, free fall lifeboat, rescue boat or davit launched liferaft or other craft capable of sustaining the lives of persons.

In this article, we will discuss about survival crafts’ stowage requirement, on the basis of SOLAS & LSA code.

Stowage of survival crafts

Each survival craft shall be stowed:

1. In such a position that the survival craft in the embarkation position is not less than 2 m above the waterline with the ship in the fully loaded condition under all conditions of trim up to 10° and list up to 20° either way or to the angle at which the ship's weather deck edge becomes submerged, whichever is less.
2. In a state of continuous readiness so that two crew members can carry out preparations for embarkation and launching in less than 5 min.
3. In a secure and sheltered position and protected from damage by fire and explosion. In particular, survival craft on tankers, other than the liferafts stowed as far forward or aft, shall not be stowed on or above a cargo tank, slop tank, or other tank containing explosive or hazardous cargoes.

Lifeboats for lowering down the ship's side shall be stowed as far forward of the propeller as practicable and protected from damage by heavy seas:

1. On cargo ships of 80 m -120 m : one time to the length of the lifeboat forward of the propeller (distance from after end of the lifeboat to propeller)
2. On cargo ships of 120 m and upwards and passenger ships of 80 m and upwards: 1.5 times to the length of the lifeboat forward of the propeller

Every liferaft except required by Reg. III/31.1.4 (It means additional liferaft or liferafts for cargo ships where the horizontal distance from the extreme end of the stem or stern of the ship to the nearest end of the closest survival craft is more than 100 m) shall be stowed with its painter permanently attached to the ship and with a float-free arrangement.

Each liferaft or group liferafts or lifeboats for lowering down the ship's side shall be stowed as far forward of the propeller as practicable.

Stowage of rescue boat

The following requirement must be fulfilled:

1. Continuous readiness for launching in not more than 5 min.
2. In a position suitable for launching and recovery
3. If it is also a lifeboat, comply with the requirements regarding stowage of survival craft in Reg. III/13.