Entry & progression
Certificate: STCW Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats other than fast rescue boats (A-VI/2-1) — to take charge of survival craft and rescue boats during launch, at sea and recovery. Entry: STCW basic Personal Survival Techniques. Revalidation: refresher required (typically every 5 years).
Taking charge of a survival craft
- Know the types of survival craft — lifeboats and liferafts — and their equipment, markings and capacity.
- Prepare, launch and board survival craft safely, including davit-launched lifeboats and thrown liferafts.
- Manage the craft at sea: the sea anchor, the rations and water, the location signals, and keeping order and morale.
- Apply the survival principles: protection from the elements, location by rescuers, water discipline, and the will to survive.
Launching and clearing away a liferaft
- Check the painter (the line) is made fast to a strong point on the ship.
- Throw the raft to leeward and pull the painter hard to inflate it.
- Board it as dry as possible, from the ship or from the water, and get everyone aboard.
- Cut the painter, stream the sea anchor, and account for and care for the survivors.
WARNING — Secure the painter before you throw the raft Always confirm the liferaft's painter is made fast to the ship before throwing the raft over, or the inflated raft will drift away out of reach. The painter both holds and inflates it.
TIP — Protection, location, water, will The survival priorities in a craft are protection from cold and exposure, being located by rescuers, careful use of water, and maintaining morale and the will to survive. Order them that way and manage the craft accordingly.