When conducting drills involving free-fall lifeboats, the operating crew should perform the following procedures:
- Board the lifeboat and occupy their assigned seats.
- Correctly fasten all safety belts and secure themselves according to established procedures.
- Carry out all launching preparations up to, but not including, the actual release of the free-fall release hook.
- The lifeboat should then either:
- be launched by free-fall with only the minimum required operating crew onboard, or
- be lowered into the water using the approved secondary launching arrangement with or without personnel onboard.
- After entering the water, the operating crew should manoeuvre the lifeboat to demonstrate proper handling and operation.
- At least once every six months, the lifeboat should either be launched by free-fall with the minimum operating crew onboard or, where approved, a simulated free-fall launch should be carried out instead.
Monthly drills involving free-fall lifeboats should always follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions. Personnel expected to use the lifeboat during an emergency must receive practical training in:
- Boarding procedures.
- Correct seating positions.
- Proper use of safety harnesses.
- Safety precautions during free-fall launching.
Whenever a free-fall launch is conducted as part of a drill, only the minimum number of personnel necessary to operate and recover the lifeboat should be onboard. Recovery operations involve significant risk and must therefore be planned and supervised carefully.