Safety Equipment Orals Questions
Distress Signals
What are common to all pyrotechnics?
Replaced every 3 years
Marked with date of manufacture and date of expiry
Business end identifiable day or night
Burns after immersion in water
SOLAS approved
What are the features of buoyant smoke signal?
Smoke of highly visible colour
Smoke for not less than 3 minutes
Buoyant / never swamped with water
Safe to operate near liquids with low flash points
What are the requirements for a lifebuoy self-igniting smoke signal?
Highly visible colour
Smoke for not less than 15 minutes
Safe to operate in low flash point liquid
Capable of quick release
What are the features of a rocket parachute flare?
Long range signal
Reaches height of not les than 300m
Bright red flare
Not less than 30000 candelas
Burns for not less than 40 secs
What are the requirements for line throwing appliances?
Not less than 4 projectiles
Not less than 4mm line, breaking load not less than 2Kn
Not less than 230m throw in calm weather
Not more than 10% lateral deflections in calm weather
What are the SOLAS requirements for Man Over Board lifebuoy (smoke & light)?
2 units installed, 1 on each side of vessel
Mounted 5 metres above waterline
Signal has clear unobstructed drop to sea
Designed for lifebuoy with minimum weight 4.3kg attached by 4mm diameter rope, 4 metres long
What are the features of a hand flare?
Used for short range signal / pin point location
Bright red flare
Not less than 15000 candelas
Burns for not less than 1 minute
What are the requirements for a Lifebuoy with self-igniting light?
Not less than 2 candelas
Not less than 50 flashes per minute
Not less than 2 hours duration
What is the appropriate method to dispose of expired pyrotechnics?
Arrange with local agent for safe disposal
Contact HM Coastguard for more information
Lifeboats and Rescue craft
What’s the difference between a fast rescue boat and rescue boat?
- Speed
- Rescue boat 6knots.
- FRC 20knots for 4 hours or 8 knots full
- Size
- Rescue boat 3.5m – 6.5m
- FRC 6.0m – 8.5m
- Launching arrangement
- Recovery speed is 0.3m/s for rescue boat and 0.8m/s for fast rescue boat.
- Equipment content is largely the same.
What are the Drills for Rescue Boats?
Passenger vessels have drills weekly
-First drill is immediately after departure
-Weekly thereafter
Other vessels have monthly drills
-RB / FRC must be maneuverer every 3 months.
Test the launching and recovery system, hook release, steering, engine, function test of equipment
What equipment will you find in a rescue boat?
Oars / paddles
Bailer
Illuminated compass
Sea anchor
Painter and release system
Buoyant line, 50m
Waterproof electric torch + spare bulbs + spare battery
Whistle
2 x rescue quoit on 30m line
Search light
Radar transponder
2 x TPA’s
Boat hook
Bucket
Knife / hatchet
2 x sponges
What type of wires are used for rescue boats?
6 x 36 flexible wire
Replaced every 4 years
Where are FRC / Rescue boats stowed?
In board, away from corrosive elements
Protected from the sea as best as possible
Safe access to and from the rescue boat and boarding
Sufficient lighting and back up lighting.
What’s the difference between a fast rescue boat and rescue boat?
- Speed
- Rescue boat 6knots.
- FRC 20knots for 4 hours or 8 knots full
- Size
- Rescue boat 3.5m – 6.5m
- FRC 6.0m – 8.5m
- Launching arrangement
- Recovery speed is 0.3m/s for rescue boat and 0.8m/s for fast rescue boat.
- Equipment content is largely the same.