Lifeboat Efficiency Certificate

[Des Taff Jenkins]

I was on the old USS Waipori, had to run from Port Kembla to Sydney owing to a Southerly gale.
While in Sydney the skipper mindful of the strong winds decide to have a lifeboat drill, we had the davits where one lifted a lever and the davits moved out over the side, only these didn't, one of the davits collapsed sending the lifeboat hanging down by the other, tipping one of the blokes into the water, the davit was rusty, god knows how long since they had been inspected. The skipper had the lifeboat strapped down on no four hatch and expected us to sail, no way Hosay, we had a week in Sydney.
Des

[happy daze john in oz]

On most cruise ships now there will be at least one crew life boat drill per cruise.

But no longer the bloods having to attend one, now in your cabin TV are two videos which you must watch.
Fail to do so and you get a very nasty phone call, the system shows who did or did not watch.

But I till take it up with deck officers given the chance, as in one it tells bloods to put on a life jacket and jump into the water.
Fine if you are at sea level, but some clows will take it as read and jump from a high deck.

Broken necks can do so much damage to you.

The videos ae made in USA I was told.

[James Curry]

Free fall life boat course in Dundee, Used to do two launches a day. One at high tide and one at low water. Think the drop was 30& 40 feet.
It was the build up waiting for the launch that sticks in my mind diffo remeber it was butt clinching time. Once you did it the next was easier. Did a few practice drills at sea , think the boats had to be dropped every 3 months.
When I was contracting I was usually picked, never let on I had done a few drops. It was a bit of fun for the crew thinking I would be bricking it.

[Phil Hughes]

Hi, I took my Lifeboatman Certificate exam in Cape Town as I was on the Union Castle ship "Warwick Castle" at the time, we had instruction from the 2nd; Mate during the trip before taking the exam and my certificate is in English and Afrikaans. I still have my Lifeboat booklet issued at the Vindi.
Phil. R698842.Vindicatrix Lifeboat Manual (2).jpgVindicatrix Lifeboat Manual (2).jpg

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Phil.
I still have my lifeboat book from the Vindi, but it is by Sr James Bisset, and Captain D W Sorrell.
Des