Question 25 LB01 - Lifeboat Operator

The Correct Answer is B **Explanation for Option B (Correct):** Option B is correct because the certified lifeboat operator (or person in charge/master of the lifeboat) has the primary responsibility for the safety and accountability of the persons assigned to that specific survival craft. International regulations, particularly those established by the IMO (International Maritime Organization) under SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea), mandate that muster lists clearly assign every person aboard the ship to a specific lifeboat or liferaft, and the person commanding that craft must be aware of and accountable for those individuals. This list is essential for ensuring everyone has boarded and for subsequent headcounts. **Explanation of Incorrect Options:** * **A) Must drain the hydraulic pressure before lowering the craft:** This is incorrect. Draining hydraulic pressure is a necessary step *after* the boat is secured in the cradle/stowed position to prevent accidental release. When preparing to launch, the boat must be ready to release immediately upon reaching the water, which requires the quick release mechanism (often hydrostatic or mechanical/manual) to be fully pressurized or ready to operate. The operator's duty is generally to ensure the pressure is *available* for the release mechanism, not to drain it beforehand. * **C) They should be the first individual to board the craft:** This is generally incorrect. The operator (or coxswain) is typically one of the last persons to board the lifeboat. Their duty is to supervise the safe, orderly, and rapid boarding of all assigned personnel and to ensure necessary equipment is secured. Being the first to board would impede their ability to manage the boarding process. * **D) Must be the brakeperson actually lowering the boat:** This is incorrect. While the operator is in command of the lowering procedure, the task of physically operating the winch brake handle (brakeperson) is often assigned to a specific, trained crew member (sometimes the chief mate or an officer) who is positioned near the davit controls on the ship's deck. The lifeboat operator is typically inside the boat, commanding the lowering process from that perspective, ready to release the falls upon hitting the water.