Regular drills involving the launching and recovery of lifeboats and rescue boats are essential for maintaining crew competency and ensuring compliance with international maritime safety regulations. These drills familiarize crew members with emergency procedures and improve their ability to respond effectively during actual abandon ship situations.
As far as practicable, different lifeboats should be used during successive drills so that all survival craft receive regular operational testing and all crew members become familiar with each boat.
Every lifeboat must be launched and manoeuvred in the water by its designated operating crew at least once every three months as part of an abandon ship drill.