Arch on Lifeboats Prevents Capsize

Ever since the sinking of
the Titanic international maritime authorities have been working to increase the
number and quality of lifeboats on ocean going vessels. As time has gone on organizations
such as Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the IMO (International Maritime Organization)
have promulgated rules and regulations involved with all aspects of launching life
rafts, construction and their capabilities. While visiting the Cheoy Lee shipyard
in Doumen, China last week we noticed this lifeboat going on a 200’ oil platform
anchor tending vessel in its final staged of construction at the yard. Given the
capsize of a small boat Clearwater, Florida in February it occurred to us that this
design is food for thought.



life raft
This 19’ life raft has
a huge radar arch filled with foam designed to keep the boat from capsizing.



The boats pictured here were built by the Zhenjiang Just
Marine Equipment Co., Ltd
in the Din Mao Development Zone in Zhenjiang, China. According to the company their
rescue boats are built in accordance with the latest regulations of SOLAS. What
caught our eye was the anti-capsize radar arch which is filled with foam flotation.
The company also says that its “self-ladle deck can guarantee the seawater fast
discharge.” We take that to mean that its self-bailing cockpit has large scuppers.



life raft 15-foot
The incredible deep, deep-V
hull is designed to insure that the boat can survive a “free fall”


from the davit of a ship in an emergency.



The company goes on to say that, “All our products are fully complying with the
requirements of SOLAS 1974 and its amendments and the latest International Lifesaving
Appliance (LSA) Code and the rules(MSA.81) of rescue equipment specified by IMO.
All the products have been approved by classification societies and government administration,
and have got the certifications such as DNV, LR, ABS, USCG, BV, GL, CCS, KR, NK,
EC, and etc.


Those are pretty impressive credentials and we feel this design and variations of
it might have other, more general applications.





life raft
This 15-person life raft
is also marketed as a rescue boat.





13-ft life raft
This is the company’s
13’ variation on the same concept with an outboard engine.

 



life raft
The Zhenjiang company
also builds a larger version of the concept for rescue and life saving.

 



T Top
We have often wondered
if T-Tops on center consoles could be fitted with enough flotation to prevent capsizing
without being too ugly. If so, this babe might have something to smile about.



Your comments please…