Moxie Media’s Lifeboat Inspection, Drills, Operation, and Maintenance Training Curriculum
This curriculum provides safety and technical guidance for maintaining, testing, and operating lifeboats. Moxie designed the three courses in this training series for personnel on vessels, platforms, and drilling rigs.
In addition to familiarizing crew with lifeboat launch and retrieval procedures, the program also includes inspection and maintenance best practices.
When combined with hands-on training and routine drills, this curriculum will give crew the robust background needed for lifeboat supervisory duties.
Lifeboat Inspection, Drills, Operation, and Maintenance Courses Include:
Lifeboat Muster, Drills, Launch & Retrieval:
It is undoubtedly essential that crew are well versed in launch procedures. When they are familiar with launching lifeboats on their installation, that knowledge doesn’t just meet regulatory drill and launch requirements. It also saves lives in an emergency.
Every second counts in an emergency. And in order to muster, board, and launch the lifeboat quickly, crew need adequate practice and drills.
With this in mind, this program will help train crewmembers on the important lifesaving features of the lifeboat.
This course begins with proper drill, muster and lifeboat load-in practices . After that, the training takes a look at critical lifeboat systems such as winch, hook, engine, sprinkler, air, and communication systems.
Many accidents have occurred due to unfamiliarity with the lifeboat launch system and its release mechanism. And since many manufacturer’s launch systems differ, knowledge of the specific lifeboat release mechanisms at your facility is critical.
Retrieval of the lifeboat is another essential skill for a safe drill. The coxswain must maneuver the boat so that each cable can connect to the boat hooks. Some boats have a single attachment, while others have an attachment at the bow and stern of the boat. The captain MUST make sure to configure the lifeboat release mechanism for retrieval. This will ensure that when the cables cannot accidentally disconnect when attached to the boat hooks.
In an emergency, the lives of every crewmember depend on the lifeboat captain performing duties with speed and diligence. However, it’s imperative that all personnel working on vessels and offshore installations be trained in lifeboat operations. During an abandonment, any crewmember may be called to step in if the lifeboat captain is missing or injured.
Lifeboat Survival Practices:
Once crew and captain have successfully launched, their survival still relies on their ability to operate the lifeboat at sea. What’s more, they must know how to assist rescue providers with their transfer to a more secure venue.
This program provides crew with the knowledge they need to survive after lifeboat launch.
The course covers survival practices such as how to safely power away from the danger zone, navigate in heavy seas, and stabilize the craft’s position with a sea anchor. Additionally, the program includes other important emergency procedures, such as assisting with injuries, apportioning provisions, and facilitating rescue. Also the course teaches personnel how to adjust rescue and transfer procedures depending on weather conditions and sea state.
It doesn’t matter whether they’re helping other survivors in life rafts, attaching a tow line to a vessel, or entering the water to swim to a Coast Guard rescue litter. This training program will give crew the knowledge they need to calmly put survival techniques into practice.
This program is a general guide to the weekly inspection and maintenance process, as well as the quarterly maintenance recommended by the lifeboat OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer).
IMO Resolution 402 (96), Section 4 requires inspections weekly, monthly, annually and every five years. Two documents, Resolution MSC.404(96) and MSC.1/Circular.1206, outline the IMO Maritime Safety Committee’s requirements for maintenance, testing, inspection, repair and servicing of life-saving appliances.
But it is important to realize that each jurisdiction interprets these IMO documents differently and adopt specific instructions for the vessels and platforms flying their flags. As a result owners, managers and service suppliers must be aware of the requirements applicable for their own jurisdictions
The U.S. Coast Guard Policy Letter 01-2020 now states that “all lifeboats aboard a facility, shall, at a minimum, be launched annually with the assigned lifeboat crew in order to fulfill the requirements of the annual emergency evacuation drill required by the unit’s Emergency Evacuation Plan (EEP)”.
However, many operators are reluctant to launch lifeboats due to safety concerns. That is why this program also provides guidance on how offshore companies can perform alternative lifeboat launch drills. Alternative drills can replicate all required performance tasks while the lifeboat is stowed in the davit with the maintenance pendants attached.
Lifeboat Safety, Drills, and Maintenance
Lifeboat training ensures readiness in the event of an emergency and helps to avoid accidents during drills. These three courses, when delivered together, will provide a thorough general overview of all the most important aspects of lifeboat operations. The curriculum is ideal for initial training, and also, an excellent choice for scheduled refresher training.