MV BLUEFIN QUALITY MANUAL - Australian Maritime College

Australian Maritime College
APPENDIX 3.2
DECK OPERATION - TENDER LAUNCH AND RECOVERY
OBJECTIVE AND DESCRIPTION
To safely launch and recover the ship’s 5m tender using the derrick. This boat is equipped
with twin 50hp outboard motors, navigation lights, searchlight and marine VHF Radio
telephone.
The vessel is used for:
1. Carrying out various fishing operations
2. Ship to shore personnel transfer
3. Transfer of stores and equipment and
4. As a vessel in attendance to life-raft drill training exercises.
This vessel is NOT a designated Rescue Boat as defined in Marine orders.
DANGERS
1. This boat may only be operated by qualified member(s) of the ship’s crew. If a
student coxwains the boat, it may only be done so under the closest supervision of a
ship’s crewmember.
2. The boat may only be launched in sheltered waters or in open water where an
absolute minimum of vessel rolling occurs. Sea conditions MUST be carefully
observed prior to launch or recovery of this boat. In moderate to rough conditions, the
boat may be launched whilst the ship maintains steerage speed and describing a
tight circle to port. The smooth water created on the inside of the turning circle is
ideal for emergency deployment. Coincide launch with swell pattern and period.
Experiment.
3. Using the derrick to launch the boat, the effect of a suspended load will be
immediately transferred to the derrick head, making the ship a little “tender” with the
derrick “topped”. This induces a pendulum motion for the boat with rapidly
deteriorating consequences if the boat is not controlled by taglines fore and aft and if
the derrick is not operated by an experienced member of the ship’s crew.
4. Due to the difficulty of launch and recovery and the erratic, sometimes violent
movement of the boat once hoisted clear of the cradle, or water, NO-ONE should be
aboard once the lifting strops have been attached.
5. Although the ship is equipped with bulwark doors on both sides for getting into or out
of the tender, the boat is to be launched and recovered by derrick on the port side
only when out at sea.
6. Only the ‘Standby’ hydraulic pump is to be used. (The main hydraulics are too fast for
this operation).
Append 3.2 - Tender.docx 1 of 3
Revised: November 2010