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Lifeboats are hard-shell boats with enclosed cabins that can be launched and operated independently of the ship. Items to be inspected include the basic lifeboat structure and its release gear. By conducting these routine checks, you’ll be able to promptly identify any issues or potential problems that could compromise the lifeboat’s functionality during an emergency. During the launch procedure, the crew will give the signal to assemble at your designated muster stations.
Can lifeboats accommodate more than 150 people?
Most crew members will use inflatable life rafts instead of lifeboats. As well as the lifeboats, there will be a number of inflatable life rafts. Normally these are reserved for the crew because they’re not as comfortable (and the crew may have to use slides to reach them, rather than stepping onto them from the ship’s deck. Modern-day cruise ships often have fully enclosed lifeboats made from fiberglass that protect against the elements.
How are passengers assigned to lifeboats in an evacuation?
Cruise ships take extensive precautions to keep passengers safe, including carrying lifeboats and life rafts. While no one hopes to ever rely on lifeboat rations, it’s reassuring to know cruise ship lifeboats are stocked with essentials to aid survival for multiple days if needed. The number of people each lifeboat can hold varies by cruise line and specific boat model. But most cruise ship lifeboats have a capacity of between 150 to over 300 people. Another bit of good news is that there are more life rafts located on a ship than is necessary.
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So, lifeboats to accommodate 70% of the total guests + crew is mandatory. A lifeboat is a solid open boat hanging on the side of each cruise ship. Lifeboats take up space along the side of a cruise ship, and there must be adequate room to allow them to be lowered into the ocean. Therefore, there needs to be an alternate way for people to evacuate a cruise ship safely. Governance indicates that cruise ships must be equipped with sufficient lifeboats to board a full complement of individuals in only ten minutes, which is the optimal time frame. Tests are usually done in fine weather over the day with agile volunteers.
The first thing that comes to mind when mentioning lifeboats on a cruise ship is the Titanic. This is because it is a well-known fact that the Titanic simply did not have enough lifeboats to accommodate all of the passengers on board. These multi-purpose lifeboats ensure cruise ships are well-equipped for routine and emergencies.
There will be enough lifeboats for 75% of the mega cruise ships’ maximum capacity for crew and passengers. Cruise ships have enough lifeboats and liferafts to accommodate passengers and crew members. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) requires a cruise ship to have lifeboats holding at least 75% of its maximum passengers and crew. The remaining 25% can be accommodated using life rafts and other life-saving equipment.
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This might not seem like enough for a cruise ship that can hold over 6000 passengers and crew. Tendering is where guests use a lifeboat, or smaller boat, to get from the cruise ship to the port. Modern Lifeboats are well-equipped, and carry enough food and water for passengers onboard to survive for a week at sea.
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How Do Lifeboats Work On Cruise Ships
Just under 500 people were evacuated by helicopter before the ship managed to start some of her engines and limped back to port. Some ships have found themselves in an emergency situations at sea – although this is very rare. In the front center of the boat, above the diesel engine, there is the command console from where the boat’s pilot will ensure that everybody reaches safety. An off-load release requires the weight of the lifeboat to be off the hook. Once the lifeboat reaches the water, the weight transfers to the water. Partial coverage leaves the risk of some passengers being left behind if total evacuation is needed.
What Are Lifeboats Like on Modern Cruise Ships?
We don’t live in the same times as the sinking of the Titanic, and there are always enough life rafts and life boats on cruise ships to safely evacuate anyone on a ship that’s in trouble. The number of lifeboats on a cruise ship will vary depending on the size of the ship, but there will usually be enough boats to carry every passenger onboard. Many people worry that cruise ships don’t have enough lifeboats if an emergency evacuation is needed. However, these days a cruise ship’s lifeboats can be multipurpose — used to ferry passengers to the port as necessary. And, as cruise ships have grown bigger and bolder, this has carried over to the lifeboats in some instances.
Not only that, but you only need one launching appliance and one set of machinery. This means that the cost of maintaining a single boat is less than the cost of maintaining two boats. Be sure to join my email list for my best cruise tips and handpicked deals each week. This blog helps over a million people to plan their cruises each month.
The lifeboats might be partially or completely hidden behind panels or glass on some ships. Here’s an interesting time-lapse video of a 150-capacity lifeboat being loaded and released with 150 people (crew members) as part of a periodic capacity test. There is a SOLAS requirement that lifeboats must be able to be launched if listed as much as 20ยบ. It would be rare for a ship to list more than that, but it has been known in the case of Costa Concordia. For example, if the ship is is on fire or is it listing to one side so much, the lifeboats can’t be launched.
The lifeboat is usually released right as it’s about to enter the water to minimize damage to the lifeboat or injuries to the occupants. An on-load release allows for quick evacuation but must be watched to ensure no accidental release of the lifeboat. They typically feature a partial roof or canopy to protect passengers from the weather while the sides remain open to provide visibility and ventilation. Passengers and crew can find seating, life vests, and necessary survival equipment.
Cruise ship lifeboats are an essential safety feature on board any cruise vessel. These life-saving vessels are designed to protect passengers and crew in emergencies when evacuation is necessary. While the lack of bathrooms is not ideal, including fully plumbed heads and holding tanks on lifeboats would reduce maximum passenger capacity. Tradeoffs exist between comforts and saving space for people in life-or-death evacuations. According to some maritime safety advocates, cruise ships should have enough lifeboats for 100% or more of the people on board. Rafts are temporary habitats until passengers can transfer to lifeboats or be rescued.
The reasoning is straightforward – during an emergency evacuation like a sinking, having the capacity to get every single person safely off the ship as quickly as possible should be the goal. They require launching equipment and lines to lower them into the water from the cruise ship. Lifeboats allow passengers to evacuate the cruise ship and get fully clear of any hazards while waiting for rescue. The total lifeboat capacity should be at least 75% of the total guests + crew count. As per the guidelines of IMO, a cruise ship should have life rafts that could accommodate more than the remaining 25%.
It turns out, there is scope within the regulations for lifeboats to be developed which exceed the maximum 150 person capacity. There was plenty of space on board the ship to house another 44 lifeboats, which would have been enough. The issue likely wasn’t the cost either – another 32 lifeboats would apparently have only cost $16,000 – a tiny fraction of the total $7.5 million cost of the ship (source). Saying that the larger Royal Caribbean 370 capacity lifeboats do have a water closet.
Able-bodied guests may be required to slide down a chute and into an inflatable life raft in a case of emergency. Normally life rafts are reserved for the crew because they’re not as comfortable. When I sailed onboard P&O’s Arvia, the crew spotted a liferaft out at sea. Royal Caribbean and Costa Cruises also use yellow lifeboats, instead of orange.
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