Lifeboats, rescue boats and davits

Lifeboats are meant to save lives, but for decades they have also killed the crews who train with them. The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch found that over ten years, lifeboats and their launching systems cost the lives of 12 professional seafarers, 16% of all lives lost on UK merchant ships, and every one of those accidents happened during a drill or a test. Accidents with the release hooks killed seven of them. Lifeboats are still among the three most frequent detainable deficiencies: in 2025, Tokyo MOU inspectors recorded 152 detainable lifeboat deficiencies, more than for any other item except fixed fire-extinguishing systems and ISM.

This course follows the equipment from the rulebook to the deck. It covers SOLAS Chapter III, the LSA Code and resolution MSC.402(96), which since 1 January 2020 has said exactly who may examine, test, overhaul and repair lifeboats, rescue boats, launching appliances and release gear. You will see how a davit-launched system works, what the crew checks every week and month, what the authorised service provider does every year and every five years, how the hook rule changed release gear across the world fleet, and how to run drills without hurting anyone. The last lesson shows what flag, class and port State control inspectors look for. Rules adopted in 2024 and 2026 that are still coming in are flagged as such.

Every rule statement is cited to the instrument and paragraph, so you can check it against your own flag’s requirements and the manufacturer’s manuals. The manufacturer’s instructions always come first for your particular equipment.