Exam Question
(a) Describe, with the aid of a sketch, the braking arrangement for the controlled lowering of life boats. (10)
(b) State the periodic survey requirements relating to the wire rope fall of lifeboats. (10)
Class 4 (4th Engineer)
SSEP
📅 Nov 2025
Reference Answer
### (a) Lifeboat Winch Braking Arrangement
This system is designed to allow the controlled lowering of a lifeboat under gravity, ensuring a safe descent speed and the ability to stop the descent at any point. The arrangement primarily consists of a fail-safe manual brake and an automatic centrifugal brake.
#### 1. Principle of Operation
The system operates on a fail-safe principle. A 'dead man's handle' or brake lever must be actively held by an operator to release a primary brake, allowing the boat to lower under its own weight. An independent, speed-sensitive centrifugal brake automatically engages to limit the lowering speed to a safe value as prescribed by SOLAS (typically not exceeding 1 m/s), irrespective of the operator's action on the manual brake lever.
This system is designed to allow the controlled lowering of a lifeboat under gravity, ensuring a safe descent speed and the ability to stop the descent at any point. The arrangement primarily consists of a fail-safe manual brake and an automatic centrifugal brake.
#### 1. Principle of Operation
The system operates on a fail-safe principle. A 'dead man's handle' or brake lever must be actively held by an operator to release a primary brake, allowing the boat to lower under its own weight. An independent, speed-sensitive centrifugal brake automatically engages to limit the lowering speed to a safe value as prescribed by SOLAS (typically not exceeding 1 m/s), irrespective of the operator's action on the manual brake lever.
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