Lesson Four. Life-Saving Appliances

Exercise 1. Read and learn the following words and expressions:

1.	reinforced	усиленный, укрепленный
2.	enclosed	закрытый
3.	approved	одобренный, утвержденный
4.	carrying capacity	грузоподъёмность, несущая способность
5.	to derive from	выводить, определить
6.	inflammable	легко воспламеняющийся
7.	buoyancy - плавучесть; способность держаться на поверхности воды
8.	to wear (wore, worn)	одевать, носить
9.	to abandon ship	покидать судно
10.	whistle	свисток
11.	alleyway	коридор
12.	self-regulating, self-righting	самовыравнивающийся
13.	to capsize	переворачиваться
14.	lifelines	леерные ограждения
15.	davit launched life raft	плот, спускаемый шлюпбалкой
16.	canopy	тент, навес
17.	fully manned	полностью человекоуправляемый
18.	gas accumulation	газонакопление
20.	inclined	наклонный
21.	inflatable	надувной
22.	radar responder or the aerial	радиолокационный передатчик или антенна
23.	rail	леер
24.	arrangement	расположение
25.	safety valve	предохранительный клапан
26.	feed and blowoff	поддув и сдув

Exercise 2. Read and translate the text, paying attention to the words in italics.

Life-Saving Appliances

Among the collective life-saving appliances the main ones are lifeboats, life rafts and life buoys. Lifeboats can be open, partially enclosed and totally enclosed type. Each type of lifeboats is used nowadays, but modern ships are equipped with glass-fibre reinforced ones because of their high corrosion resistance and low maintenance requirements.

Cargo ships and passenger vessels as well as fishing crafts are equipped with approved life rafts. The number, type and carrying capacity derive from regulations and additional requirements. Life rafts are automatically inflatable and can be launched either automatically thrown overboard or manually.

Life buoy is a life saving buoy designed to be thrown to a person in the water, to provide buoyancy, to prevent drowning. Some modern life buoys are fitted with a seawater-activated light or lights to aid rescue at night. The life buoy usually is ring-shaped (круглой формы) or horseshoe-shaped (в форму подковы) and has a connecting line allowing the casualty to be pulled to the rescuer.

Personal life-saving appliances include lifejackets, immersion suits and some other personal floatation devices (PFD’s in short).

A lifejacket can be made from solid material self-inflated, plastic, etc. Lifejackets use air or gas to keep the water afloat (держаться на плаву) and must be inflated before they provide buoyancy. Each crewmember should check how a lifejacket is put on and inflated before having to use in emergency. It should be mentioned that inflatable (working) lifejackets will also be required to be worn in certain situations when working at or near the ship’s sides or stern and not only before abandoning ship or operating on the open deck under poor weather condition. Standard lifejackets must be orange, yellow or red, and have a whistle attached. The lifejacket is stowed in a cabin wardrobe. Instructions for putting it on are on the inside of the door to the wardrobe and/or on display cards on alleyway bulkheads.

An approved PFD is designed to keep man afloat in the water. PFDs are generally smaller, less bulky and more comfortable than lifejackets. They have less flotation than lifejackets and have limited turning capacity. An inflatable PFD is a type of personal flotation device that either automatically inflates when immersed in water, or is inflated by the wearer using an oral or manual inflation device. Most inflatable PFDs use a carbon dioxide cartridge to inflate.

Exercise 3. Give brief answers to the following questions:

1. How many types of life-saving appliances do you know? 2. How many lifeboats are on a ship? 3. Where are they located? 3. What type of lifeboats is the most popular nowadays and why? 4. How can life rafts be activated? 5. What do you know about the lifejackets? 6. Where is lifejacket stored? 7. When should lifejacket be used? 8. What does the abbreviation PFD mean? 9. What document regulates the lifesaving appliance list? 10. Why should any crewmember know everything about the life-saving appliances and their operation?

Exercise 4. Give equivalents:

· in Russian: life raft, enclosed lifeboat, to lower lifeboat, inflammable life raft, to put on lifejacket, afloat, to stow, under fair weather conditions, attached to, to immerse, flotation, to pull side-tapes down, manual inflation device, to ensure, ring-shaped, PFD, abandoning ship, to be belted, to launch lifeboat, under poor weather conditions, temperature range, alleyway bulkhead, to be inflated;

· in English: гидрокостюм для погружения, открытая шлюпка, надеть спасательный жилет, спустить шлюпку, клапан поддува, опрокидываться, шлюпбалка, отвечать требованиям, спасательный леер, приводить в движение, камера плавучести, быть рассчитанным, спасательный надувной плот, обслуживание, предохранительный клапан, зависеть от, малые суда, сбросить на воду, быть оснащенным.

Exercise 5. Match the answer with the question. Get ready to speak about life-saving appliances.

Question	Answer
	What advantages have totally enclosed lifeboats?	a	Approved ones are life rafts thrown overboard type, life rafts davit launched type and life rafts without any protection.
	Why should a lifeboat leave the damaged ship as quickly as possible?	b	The weight of a life raft lies between 100 kg and 185 kg, it withstands all weather conditions at sea for 30 days, and it is operable over an air temperature range – 30 and +60 degrees of Celsius.
	What kinds of life rafts are approved?	c	Instructions for putting them on are on the inside of the door on display cards on alleyway bulkheads and/or to the wardrobe
	Where life rafts usually stowed?	d	Totally enclosed boats are self-righting.
	How are life rafts packed?	e	The biggest danger to the boat and its occupant comes from the damaged and sinking ship itself by its capsizing and by explosions etc.
	What are the main characteristics of life rafts?	f	Life rafts are packed tightly folded (сложенный) in plastic containers.
	Where can instructions for putting on lifejackets be found out?	g	Life rafts are almost always stowed on swinging-out storage frames, inclined ramps or equipment appliances.

Exercise 6. Read an abstract of the conversation between Port Inspector and Watch officer and then make up your own dialogue.

A: I am authorized to inspect your ship’s safety equipment. Show me your ship’s International Certificate issued to you under SOLAS Convention.

B: Here you are. I think everything is all right, as we were surveyed only a year ago.

A: Let me have a look. Well, all certificates are valid. And now if you don’t mind I’d like to make survey of your ship’s safety equipment. Will you show me to the boat-deck?

B: This way, please. We are on the boat-deck.

A: I see all boats are available here and provided with proper supplies and equipment. You’ve got only 7 life buoys, but under SOLAS Convention you are to have 8 ones. You should get the missing life buoy within 1-2 days through your agent.

B: So it will not delay our departure, won’t it?

A: Certainly, it won’t. I’ll visit you before the ship’s departure and check the availability of all lifesaving appliances once more.

B: Good. Settled.

Exercise 7. Choose the right variant.

1. Replace the life raft ___ the next port. a) within b) in c) through d) from

2. Jump ___ the water and board the life raft. a) near b) off c) into d) above

3. The life buoys are ____ the deck railing. a) through b) on c) from d) in

4. ___ each other when entering lifeboat.

a) Are not pushing b) Have not pushed c) Do not push d) Does not push

5. ____ the new crew members instructed on occupational safety?

a) Has b) Had c) Are d) Is

6. You ___ your immersion suit.

a) brings b) is bringing c) must bring d) to bring

7. ____ to your lifeboat stations. a) To go b) Go c) Goes d) Going

8. Lifejackets _____ in your cabins.

a) storing b) to store c) are stored d) is stored

9. Only twelve people ____ in the lifeboat.

a) is fitting b) can be fitting c) fits d) can fit

10. The safety manuals ____ last month.

a) issued b) has been issued c) was issued d) were issued

COMPREHENSIVE READING

Exercise 8. Look through the text and complete the following sentences.

1. Nowadays most of lifeboats are of …

2. Partially enclosed lifeboats are not suitable for …

3. Rescue boats can in calm water reach speeds of …

4. For launching life rafts they may be …

5. The main characteristics of the life rafts …

6. In case of flooding or abandoning a ship the seamen should …

7. … can be of different shapes, for example, … to keep a man afloat.

8. An Inflatable PFD is …

9. Modern ships are equipped with…

Types of Lifeboats

There are several types of lifeboats that are used on large and small ships. The material of this safety equipment can be wood, steel or aluminum, plastics and even rubber. Wooden or metal lifeboats require significant maintenance. Metal boats tend to corrode quickly if neglected, wooden ones can dry out and then become leaky. Glass-fiber carbon reinforced plastic lifeboats on the other hand have a high corrosion resistance and a low maintenance requirement.

Let’s speak about other classification of lifeboats. Totally enclosed lifeboats are self-regulating if all openings are closed watertight and the persons on board are belted into their seats. That is the normal condition even at launch. If a totally enclosed boat capsizes with the across or ventilation openings open it still possible to leave it above water. In open lifeboats everyone holds onto the lifelines. Before climbing into free-fall boats (спасательная шлюпка свободного падения), lifejackets are taken off and stowed in the boat.

Partially enclosed lifeboats are also used, particularly on passenger vessels. They are not suitable for free-fall launching.

Free-fall boats are totally enclosed lifeboats stowed on specially designed launching appliance at the stern.

Rescue boats may be of rigid or inflatable construction or of combination of both. Rescue boats have either an inboard or an outboard motor. That enables them to achieve a speed of at least 6 knots running and 2 knots towing.

Life Rafts

Each ship no matter its size is equipped with approved life rafts. Regulations and some additional requirements determine the number, type and carrying capacity of such a safety equipment.

There are different life rafts, they are thrown overboard type, davit launched type and large life rafts without any protective canopy and usable either way up.

Life rafts are automatically inflammable. For launching they may be thrown overboard or designed and positioned near launching appliances for launching fully manned.

All life rafts are so installed that they can be launched quickly, securely and safely – if possible by one man – even with 20° list, over the high side. For that reason life rafts are nowadays almost always stowed on swinging-out storage frames, inclined ramps or equivalent appliances.

Depending on the size of the raft the weight of a life raft including its packing and full distress equipment lies between 100 kg and 185 kg.

Every inflatable life raft afloat withstands all weather conditions at sea for 30 days. It can be thrown into water in its container and it has adequate stability in a seaway when inflated, the floor is waterproof and can be inflated for installation against cold. Life raft has a light on the top, inside and outside, an arrangement for collecting rainwater and a fitting for the radar responder or the aerial of the portable radio apparatus.

* the translation of the words in italics can be found in the exercise 1.

Exercise 9. Translate the sentences into Russian.

1. Life raft has a light on the top, inside and outside, an arrangement for collecting rainwater and a fitting for the radar responder or the aerial of the portable radio apparatus.

2. Some modern life buoys are fitted with a seawater-activated light, or lights, to aid rescue at night.

3. The material of the lifeboats safety equipment can be wood, steel or aluminum, plastics and even rubber.

4. Standard lifejackets must be orange, yellow or red, and have a whistle attached.

5. Life rafts are automatically inflatable and can be launched either automatically thrown overboard or by manually.

6. Most inflatable PFDs use a carbon dioxide cartridge to inflate.

7. Lifejackets use air or gas to keep the water afloat and must be inflated before they provide buoyancy.

8. Instructions for putting a lifejacket on are on the inside of the door to the wardrobe and/or on display cards on alleyway bulkheads.

9. Among the collective life-saving appliances the main ones are lifeboats, life rafts and lifebuoys.

10. Glass-fiber reinforced plastic lifeboats on the other hand have a high corrosion resistance and a low maintenance requirement.

Exercise 10. Translate the sentences into English

1. Спасательная шлюпка должна отвечать всем требованиям Морского Регистра.

2. Открытые шлюпки приводятся в движение с помощью двигателя и вдоль бортов шлюпки есть спасательные леера с деревянными или пластмассовыми ручками, за которые может ухватиться человек, находящийся в воде.

3. При опрокидывании полностью закрытая шлюпка самостоятельно возвращается в нормальное положение.

4. Плоты рассчитаны на 6 или 10 человек, они с наружной и внутренней сторон окрашены в оранжевый цвет.

5. Спасательные шлюпки изготавливаются из металла или стеклопластика.

6. Современные суда оснащены только полностью закрытыми шлюпками.

7. Спасательные плоты - очень эффективное спасательное средство, а на малых судах - основное.

8. Количество спасательных кругов зависит от длины судна.

9. Применение надувных жилетов на танкерах и пассажирских судах запрещено.

10. * Спасательный надувной плот состоит из основной камеры плавучести овальной формы, разделенной посредине на две равные по объему автономные секции.

11. * На внутренней стороне тента помещены: инструкция по первоочередному обслуживанию плота, схема расположения клапанов (предохранительных, поддува и сдува) и знаки азбуки Морзе.

12. * В случае аварии плот сбрасывается на воду, где с помощью механизма газонаполнения в течение нескольких минут приводится в рабочее состояние.