Question 1318 Deck Safety

The correct answer is C) They may be adjusted by a turnbuckle. Lifeboat gripes are the securing devices used to hold a lifeboat in place on the davits when not in use. The gripes can be adjusted using a turnbuckle to tighten or loosen the line as needed. This allows the lifeboat to be properly secured and also easily released when it needs to be launched. The other options are incorrect: A) Lifeboat gripes are used with various types of davits, not just radial davits. B) The gripes are released by loosening the turnbuckle, not by freeing a safety shackle. D) The gripes should be released before the boat is lowered, not while it is in the lowering position.