Method and apparatus for recovery of survivors off-shore from ships lifeboats and the like

摘要

A method of rescuing survivors off-shore in a ships lifeboat 2 utilises a rescue craft 1 of the oil rig suppply type i.e. having a stem of low height to constitute a take-on entry. The method comprises connecting a tow-line 8 from the rescue craft 1 to the lifeboat 2, extending a mat 4 astern from the take-on entry and placing a floating docking device 13 astern of the mat 4. The rescue craft 1 is manoeuvred so that the lifeboat 2 is aligned with the docking device 13 and the mat 4; then the lifeboat 2 is pulled onto the docking device 13 which in turn is pulled over the mat 4 and onto the craft via the take-on entry 5 to enable survivors to be removed directly from the lifeboat 2 onto the deck of the rescue craft 1. The docking device 13 is preferably of tubular open-work frame form (see Fig 8) with guide means (8) for the lifeboat tow line 8. IMAGE