LIFEBOATS (EQUIPMENT) (Hansard, 16 December 1942)

§ 27 Mr. Noel-Baker

The equipment which the Ministry of War Transport now requires ship-owners to provide in ships' lifeboats is designed to meet, so far as is practicable, the needs of shipwrecked seamen on every ocean, and in all conditions, including conditions in the tropics. I append particulars of the articles laid down as required. The minimum supply of water now required is approximately three quarts per person. This is about treble the pre-war requirement, and more water, in addition to this minimum, must be provided, as far as is reasonably practicable. Sun protection is afforded by canvas hoods and weather cloths fitted to the boats, and also by protective suits which are supplied to all members of the crews. Supplies for the use of passengers are now coming forward. An approved first aid kit must be provided in each lifeboat; the contents of these kits have recently been reviewed with expert medical advice. Fish hooks are now being provided by shipowners.

Following are the particulars:

Equipment of Ships' Lifeboats required by the Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances) Emergency Rules, 1942, datedth July, 1942, made by the Minister of War Transport

Equipment of Lifeboats in Foreign-going Ships

(a) A full single banked complement of oars and two spare oars and a steering oar;
(b) two plugs for each plug hole if not fitted with proper automatic valves; one set and a half of thole pins or crutches attached to the boat by lanyards;
(c) a line securely becketcd round the outside of the boat;
(d) approved means of enabling persons to cling to the boat should it be upturned, in the form of bilge rails and grab lines secured round the boat or other approved arrangements. The grab lines shall have attached to them by means of a line, one or more suitable containers filled with drinking water, of aggregate capacity not less than two gallons and so placed in the boat as to ensure that they will fall clear should it be upturned;
(e) a mast or masts with wire stays together with sails (coloured bright red) and with proper gear;
(f) an efficient compass in binnacle with approved means of illumination;
(g) a sea anchor of not less than the approved size, a baler, two galvanised iron buckets, a rudder and a tiller or yoke and yoke lines, two painters of sufficient length and a boat hook;
(h) a canvas hood with side screens all coloured yellow or bright orange adequate to provide shelter for the occupants of the boat;
(i) a supply of one gallon of vegetable or animal oil and an appliance of approved pattern for distributing the oil easily on the water arranged for attachment to the sea anchor;
(j) an approved first-aid outfit in a watertight case, together with such additional medicaments as may be specified by the Minister;
(k) not less than six good quality woollen blankets in waterproof covering;
(l) one dozen red flare lights of an approved type in a water-tight case;
(m) an electric torch suitable for Morse signalling together with two spare batteries and two spare bulbs;
(n) an efficient lantern trimmed, with oil in its receiver sufficient to burn for eight hours, or some other lantern or light of approved type; and a box of suitable matches in a water-tight case;
(o) two hatchets, one to be kept at each end of the boat and to be attached to the boat by a lanyard;
(p) a whistle attached to the boat by a lanyard;
(q) at least two light heaving lines;
(r) six hand rockets of an approved type in a water-tight case or other approved signals;
(s) a manual pump of an approved type for bilge pumping;
(t) four buoyant smoke signals of an approved type capable of giving off a volume of orange coloured smoke;
(u) a suitable locker for the stowage of the small items of the equipment with due regard to their preservation in good condition;
(v) an outfit comprising palm needle and twine;
(w) a repair outfit comprising suitable tools, patching and plugging materials;
(x) a supply of one gallon of fish, animal or-vegetable oil or other approved substance for massage purposes, to be kept in a properly labelled container;
(y) a bunting flag coloured yellow or bright orange, about 4 feet 6 inches by 8 feet attached to a light spar at one end;
(z) an approved set of charts covering the globe, in a waterproof wallet, together with protractor, writing paper, pencil and eraser.
(aa) Approved means of launching the boat against an adverse list.

Air Cases

The air cases of all lifeboats must be filled with an approved buoyant material to safeguard buoyancy in the event of the cases being punctured.

1950W

Emergency Rations

The minimum emergency rations required for each person the boat is deemed fit to carry areas follows:—

(a) 112 ounces of fresh water, the quantity to be increased as far as is reasonably practicable;
(b) 14 ounces of biscuits;
(c) 14 ounces of chocolate;
(d) 14 ounces of milk tablets;
(e) 14 ounces of pemmican (or other approved meat extract).

The water shall be kept in the boat in containers of approved size, design and construction, and there shall be provided at least one dipper with lanyard attached and three rustproof drinking vessels (one graduated in half, one and two ounces). The water shall be frequently changed to ensure, that it is always clean and fit for drinking.

All the foods specified shall be of approved manufacture packed in water-tight containers, labelled in such manner as the Minister may-require and stowed in water-tight tanks.

Motor Lifeboats

One of the lifeboats attached to davits must be a motor lifeboat fitted with approved means of propulsion, and be provided with sufficient fuel to enable the boat to make a voyage of 160 miles.

Two such motor boats must be provided in passenger ships certified or permitted to carry more than 30 passengers.

Personal Equipment

(i) Every person on board the ship shall be provided with a suit of protective clothing of approved type designed for carriage on the person and suitable for wear in a lifeboat or emergency raft. In addition a reserve supply of such suits shall be carried equivalent to 10 per cent. of the total number of the members of the crew carried in the ship.

(ii) Each officer and every supervising deck rating shall be provided with a jack-knife fitted with a tin-opener.

(iii) Each member of the crew shall be provided with a whistle with a lanyard attached.

Wireless Apparatus

All foreign-going ships must be provided with an approved portable wireless transmitting apparatus and an approved portable wireless receiving apparatus, both of which must be kept together, to be placed in one of the lifeboats for immediate use in the event of an emergency. One lifeboat on each side of the ship must be fitted with an aerial mast for the operation of such apparatus.

Tankers (Special Additional Lifeboat Equipment)

In addition to the equipment specified above, every tanker lifeboat must be provided with the following special equipment:

(i) a set of accessories including discharge hose fitted with nozzle and seacock, to enable the manual pump (see (s) above) to be used for fire-fighting purposes;
(ii) an asbestos blanket of a size approximately eight feet by six feet;

and each member of the crew is provided with a garment made of flame-resisting material, designed for carriage on the person.