Free-Fall Lifeboat - Launching & Recovery Of Free Fall Lifeboats

The free-fall lifeboat concept first came to light in 1897 when Swedish designer A.E. Falk patented a blueprint of an enclosed lifeboat capable of sliding off a ship stern. Thirty years later, the Bay and River Navigation Company’ s Capt White proposed a “unsinkable submarine lifeboat”. It wasn’ t until 1977 that the maritime world witnessed the first manned-launch of free-fall lifeboat from the stern of the m/s TARCOOLA at Oresundsavarvet Shipyard. The benefits of free-fall lifeboat are clear: during rapid evacuation in emergencies, the boat slides out from a ramp onboard the ship/installation and hits the water well away from the ship or installation with a high positive forward motion. Passengers are safe and secure in an enclosed cabin, safely strapped to anatomically-shaped seats. The lifeboat system is robust and can withstand high winds, powerful waves and extreme weather conditions. Makers state that testing boats in free fall do not affect the structural condition and claim that some boats have been