Liferaft, PFD, COB Safety Adam, Campbell, Barb, Bjarne April 2014

Liferaft, PFD, COB Safety

Adam, Campbell, Barb, BjarneApril 2014

Liferaft, COB and PFD Familiarization

Liferaft, PFD, COB SafetyGOAL: Be able to select a suitable liferaft for one's own boat,

deploy it effectively, board and survive until help arrives

Objectives:

Types of small-craft Liferafts

Mounting and Deploying the Liferaft

Practice Swimming in the pool with wet-weather gear and PFD

Right and Board the Liferaft

Practice COB recovery

Abandon-ship Checklist and Plan contents of Ditch-bag

Discuss survival attitude and strategies

Liferaft, COB and PFD Familiarization

Activities60 min: Classroom

10 min: Change into wet-weather gear, head onto pool deck

90 min: in Pool: Liferaft, PFD and COB practice

15 min: Shower, head back to class

45 min: Classroom, debrief

Liferaft, COB and PFD Familiarization

Safety

Safety is our Primary Concern If in doubt, ask questions

If uncomfortable, let us know. You don't have to do any activity you don't want to

Listen to instructions from Lifeguard and in-water monitors

Liferaft, COB and PFD Familiarization

Liferaft Categories

Small craft Manually deployed

Two containers:

Hard Case, Canister Usually stored on-deck

Soft Case, Valise Usually stored below-deck

Two categories:

Coastal

Offshore

Liferaft, COB and PFD Familiarization

Liferaft Categories

Small craft Manually deployed

Large craft

Liferaft, COB and PFD Familiarization

Liferaft CategoriesHard Case, Canister Usually stored on-deck

Soft Case, Valise Usually stored below-deck

Liferaft, COB and PFD Familiarization

Liferaft CategoriesCoastal May have:

Lighter construction

Non-insulated floor

Single layer, or no canopy

Offshore May have:

Heavier construction

Insulated/double layer floor and canopy

Comprehensive safety supplies (though you should consider packing extra)

Liferaft, COB and PFD Familiarization

Liferaft CategoriesHandout, pg 63 of SSH

Liferaft, COB and PFD Familiarization

Liferaft Construction

Parts: Floor

Canopy

Floatation

Inflation system

Boarding ramp / ladder / straps

Ballast

Diagram pg 56 of SSH

Liferaft, COB and PFD Familiarization

Liferaft Construction

Floor Double or Single layer

Inflated or Foam or Plain Fabric

Provides insulation against cold water

Liferaft, COB and PFD Familiarization

Liferaft Construction

Canopy Double or Single layer

Coloured (inside may differ)

Held up by inflated tube(s)

Windows/flaps

Raincatcher

Protects from sun, cold, wind, spray

Aids in keeping raft upright

Liferaft, COB and PFD Familiarization

Liferaft Construction

Ballast Water-filled bags

Boarding straps/ramp

Floatation

Liferaft, COB and PFD Familiarization

Liferaft Accessories Keep raft floating

Keep you alive

Attract Help

Liferaft, COB and PFD Familiarization

Liferaft AccessoriesTypical Offshore Pack for 6-Person Raft

Liferaft, COB and PFD Familiarization

Liferaft Accessories

Extras you may want in your Ditch Bag: Fishing gear

Solar Still

Patch Kit

Foam pad (good floatation, insulation, and for yoga)

Sunscreen, Hat, Sunglasses

Prescription glasses, medications

Radio

Pencil & Papersee List on page 63 of Sea Survival Handbook

Liferaft, COB and PFD Familiarization

Liferaft Accessories

Liferaft Servicing You can ask them to pack in extras you provide

Ask for any expired items

Liferaft, COB and PFD Familiarization

Liferaft Accessories

Solar Still

http://www.landfallnavigation.com/memss.html

Liferaft, COB and PFD Familiarization

Liferaft Mounting

On-Deck vs. Below-deck Fire may prevent you from accessing a liferaft stored below

If on deck, mounts need to be secure against waves washingover the deck (in Fastnet 1979, 12 liferafts were swept overboard)

Read Manufacturer's instructions regarding release mechanism.The painter / inflation line needs securing to the mother vessel

Can every crewmember deploy the raft overboard?

Will the raft tangle in any rigging when being deployed?

Liferaft, COB and PFD Familiarization

Liferaft Deploying

Switch Over To Other Presentation...

Liferaft, COB and PFD Familiarization

Pool Session

Head for the water...

Liferaft, COB and PFD Familiarization

Debriefing Let's spend 15 minutes talking about what we've learned

Liferaft, COB and PFD Familiarization

Planning Exercise Studies* have shown that only about 15 percent of people manage not to panic, with a whopping 70 percent suffering from impaired reasoning and 15 percent becoming irrational.

How To Overcome Panic? Plan and Rehearse

Write Checklists

Liferaft, COB and PFD Familiarization

Planning Exercise

IMO SOLAS Regulations (for big passenger ships)*

Printed emergency plan covering all foreseeable emergency situations is required

Abandon-ship drill and Fire drill must take place weekly

* Section 2, Regulations 29, 30

Liferaft, COB and PFD Familiarization

Planning Exercise

Exercise You have 90 seconds. Your boat is on fire.

Write down all the steps you would take. Start Now.

Liferaft, COB and PFD Familiarization

Planning Exercise

Congratulations !You have started your own Checklist. Keep it. Use it!

You likely also have some ideas about what shouldgo in your Ditch-bag

See SSH pages 11, 66-68 for more ideas.

Liferaft, COB and PFD Familiarization

Surviving In A Raft

Goals: Stay Alive

Attract Attention

Liferaft, COB and PFD Familiarization

Surviving In A Raft

Staying Alive Physical and Mental challenges

Plan how to use your rations

Can you catch more food, water?

Tell stories, play games to keep spirits up

Keep a routine. Try not to become passive.

Treat all injuries as best you are able – small problems grow

Do not give up Hope

Liferaft, COB and PFD Familiarization

Surviving In A Raft

Attracting Attention Keep a Lookout as often as practical

Plan how to use your signalling devices

Burning your raft with a flare might not be best idea

First attempts may not work. Don't give up.

If able to navigate and maneuver towards help, try it

Chapter 10 of SSH has good information on Attracting Help

Liferaft, COB and PFD Familiarization

Wrap Up

Questions, Comments?

Course Evaluations

Pack Up

Liferaft, COB and PFD Familiarization

References

Keith Colwell (2008) Sea Survival Handbook Royal Yachting Association

Rousmaniere, John (1980). Fastnet, Force 10 London: W.W.Norton & Co.

http://www.landfallnavigation.com/memss.html Solar Still

http://www.imo.org/ International Maritime Organization (IMO) SOLAS