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