Maintenance and inspection of marine free-fall lifeboats

Recommended maintenance period and items in bellows:

1. Inspection and maintenance weekly

1.1 All parts shall be visually checked, the appliance should always be ensured to be ready for free fall launching life boat, as check if guide roller on ramp (or slide plate) is damaged or moved, and wouldn’t affect lifeboat to slide smoothly. Fixing boat chain and release hook are connected normally, and wouldn’t affect release hook to open easily.

1.2 Check fitted unit, fitted plate should be incorrect place, lifeboat should be held down, and correlative components should not be damaged.

2. Inspection and maintenance monthly

2.1 All parts shall be visually checked, the appliance should always be ensured to be ready for launching (include using jib launching), as check if guide roller on ramp (or slide plate) is damaged or moved, check jib and winch. Correlative components should complete and not be damaged, add lubricating if necessary.

2.2 Check if fitted unit operation is agility, boat board is held down by fitted plate well, other correlative components are damaged or lost.

2.3 Check boat fall, if it is fixed and winded on drum well; check rope, if it is damaged or corrupted, check lubricating on rope surface, add if necessary.

2.4 Check tackle, if it is agility, and if there is damaged or corrupted on rope groove of sheave.

2.5 Check release hook unit connected with life boat, check its upright hook, weld and fixing boat chain, chain link should be renewed if there is any crack, bend, distortion, the wear-down more than 8% of Dia. of chain or permanent elongation.

2.6 Check work condition about lifting winch, hydraulic winch shouldn’t have abnormal temperature rise, noise and leakage, check lubricating oil level and oil qualityin box, add if necessary.

2.7 Check hydraulic cylinder operation and if any oil leak.

2.8 Check electric section and their working condition, damage condition and lose efficiency.

2.9 Check hydraulic system working and if any oil leak.

3. Maintenance and inspection yearly

3.1 Check corrosion, misalignments, deformations on ramp and jib.

3.2 Repair the paint of the appliance, pay attention the grease nipple and rotating surface not be covered by paint, active space between border components not be blocked by paint.

3.3 Check damage connect and rope arrange condition of the boat fall, replace it immediately once find kink, loosed strand, single strand damaged 10% or worn diameter reduce 7% no matter it is on replace time.

3.4 Check and lubricate wire rope and all grease nipple, add if necessary.

3.5 Check tackle rotation, possible damages.

3.6 Check lifting hook, if it is damaged or deformation.

3.7 Check lifting winch operation. No abnormal temperature rise, noise and leakage on hydraulic winch, replace lubricating oil in reduction box.

3.8 Check release hook unit, include damages and deformations about correlative components, see this section 2.5.

3.9 Check hydraulic cylinder operation and seal, replace seal if necessary.

3.10 Check electric section, including clean and check the control box and remote control push button box, replace damaged parts, clean the dust inside and outside the electric motor and check its parts, if it is damaged or rusted there is no abnormal noise and vibration when motor is in operation. Check insulation and ground wire if there is any question.

3.11 Check hydraulic system, including check system pressure and performance during the operation. There is no abnormal temperature rise, leakage, vibration, noise or abnormal pulsation of pressure. Check oil level of the tank and oil quality, Replace hydraulic oil every 12 or 18 months. Check the filter, clean or replace if necessary etc.

3.12 Carry out a test for free fall launching life boat(with operator ), then recovery boat to its stowed position after launching into water.

4. Thorough examination at interval not exceeding 5 years

Beside all of the above-mentioned yearly inspect item, thorough examination should perform following item of inspection.

4.1 Check the wire rope, deal it following this section 3.3, replace it if not replace within 5 years.

4.2 Strip and check lifting winch, as the structure of hydraulic winch is complicated and compact, and requires high clean grade, it is difficult to inspect and maintain at working site, if it was damaged, suggest disassembling off the whole reduction box to the factory to replace and maintain.

4.3 Carry out a testing for free fall launching with1.1 times of fully-loaded lifeboat.

4.4 Carry outa controlled launching test with 1.1 times of fully-loaded lifeboat [the test include a recovering light-loaded lifeboat test (no more than 4 passengers)].

Note: Weekly and monthly inspections and routine maintenance should be conducted under the direct supervision of a senior ship’s officer in accordance with the manual.

All other inspections，servicing and repair should be conducted by the manufacturer’s representative or a person appropriately trained and certified by the manufacturer for the work to be done.

After the yearly inspection, test for the davit based on item 6 mentioned above if it needs, it can be used after tested successfully.

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