CHAPTER 7

SURVIVAL CRAFT AND RESCUE BOAT EQUIPMENT AND

FITTINGS
PART I
SEA ANCHOR
Section 1
Prototype tests
1

General

A sea anchor shall comply with the requirements of Schedule 13, Part 4 of MSN
1676 (M).

Deployment

A sea anchor with its full length of 30m line should be thrown into a swimming
pool or from a jetty into the sea. The reinforced ringed entrance of the sea anchor
must open up immediately.

Towing

3.1
A fully streamed sea anchor should be towed over a distance of 500m at a
range of 1 to 6 knots. The sea anchor should be carefully observed throughout the
tow and must remain completely stable, not breaking through the surface of the
water. On completion, the sea anchor and attachments should be examined and
must not show any signs of deterioration or damage.
3.2
With a dynamometer fitted in the tow line the sea anchor should again be
towed over a distance of 500m and the tensile force in the line recorded at speeds
of 1.5, 3 and 6 knots. If there is a tide running the force should be recorded in each
direction and the mean taken. The forces recorded should be in the range:15 kg 10% at a speed of 1.5 knots;
40 kg 10% at a speed of 3 knots;
100 kg 10% at a speed of 6.0 knots.

MSIS015/CH 7/REV 1.01/PAGE 1 OF 4

Strength

To demonstrate the strength of the sea anchor and its attachments to the shroud and
towing line the anchor should be uniformly loaded internally with a weight of 100
kg. The sea anchor should then be suspended by at least 2m of towing line for a
period of 6 hours. On completion the anchor, shroud lines and all attachments
should be carefully examined and there must not be any visible signs of any
deterioration or damage.

Porosity

The material used in the manufacture of the sea anchor should be tested for
porosity by attaching it to the open end of a 50 mm internal diameter pipe as shown
in figure 7.1 below. Water should be passed through the material at a slow rate
through the pipe of this size equal to 2220 cubic centimetres per second equating
to 110 cubic centimetres per second per square centimetre under a head of 56 mm.
The test should be carried out over at least 10 seconds and repeated 5 times using a
different sample of material each time, the average value being taken as the flow
rate. An accuracy of 10% should be acceptable.

Figure 7.1

Test to determine porosity of sea anchor material

MSIS015/CH 7/REV 1.01/PAGE 2

PART II
PAINTER RELEASE GEARS
Section 1
Prototype tests
1

General

1.1
Painter release gears for lifeboats and rescue boats should comply with the
requirements contained in paragraph 5.6, Part 1, Schedule 2, of MSN 1676 (M).
1.2
The material used in the manufacture of painter release gears should be
corrosion resistant and should be of a certified quality.
1.3
The following should be submitted to the testing establishment for the
prototype testing of the gear:
.1 two gears which have been passed for delivery, and
.2 a functional description of the gear together with any other documents
necessary to carry out the tests.

Definitions

2.1

In this Section the following definition should apply:

"Approved working load" means the horizontal force required to tow the
lifeboat, or rescue boat, at 5 knots, divided by sine 45.

Corrosion

Two gears should be submitted to the corrosion test which should be made in a
mist chamber in accordance with BS 7479: 1991 (ISO 9227: 1990) for 1000 hours
or an equivalent national standard. Any corrosion effects and other damage to the
gear should be recorded. The corrosion effects, if any, must not interfere with the
operation of the release mechanisms.

Deformation

4.1
The painter release should be tested in several distinct directions of the
upper hemisphere not obstructed by the canopy or other obstruction in the boat
with a force of 2 times the approved working load but not exceeding 3.0 tonnes.
The gear should show no signs of permanent deformation or damage after these
tests.
4.2
Painter release gears should be loaded to 1.1 times the approved working
load and the release operated. Those operations must be carried out without
binding or damage to any part of the mechanism.
MSIS015/CH 7/REV 1.01/PAGE 3

Strength

5.1
One painter release gear should be proof loaded to 6 times the approved
working load, at an angle of 40 to the horizontal, holding this load for at least 5
minutes. After removal of the load the release gear should be dismantled and
examined for damage.
5.2
The other release gear should be proof load tested by subjecting it to a
steadily increasing load at an angle of 40 to the horizontal until failure occurs.
This breaking load should be recorded.

Section 2
Production tests
1

Static load

Each release gear should be statically proof load tested to 2 times the approved
working load and should be provided with an approved Test House Test Certificate
certifying that it has been so tested. Other nationally approved Proving House Test
Certificates may be accepted by the MCA.

Section 3
Installation tests
1

General

The surveyor should be satisfied with the securing arrangements of the painter
release gear to the lifeboat or rescue boat. The painter should not be prematurely
released because of bumps or jolts suffered by the boat during launching.

Release

The fully laden lifeboat, or rescue boat, should be towed by the painter at 5 knots
(these conditions may be simulated) and the release gear operated. These tests
should be carried out at least twice; the first time with the painter horizontal, the
second time with the painter at an angle of 40 to the horizontal. The release
operations must be to the satisfaction of the surveyor.

MSIS015/CH 7/REV 1.01/PAGE 4