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» Cruise Talk   » Alternative Cruising   » Freefall Lifeboats

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Author Topic: Freefall Lifeboats
PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 09-08-2003 03:51 PM      Profile for PamM   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
We've has some discussion before re freefall lifeboats. This is the first time I've seen one close-up on Whitchallenger, giving bunkers to QE2.

Alternative cruising? Well we couldn't cruise very far without such ships. More pics here.
Pam

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001  |  IP: Logged
PHILPKH923
First Class Passenger
Member # 4064

posted 09-08-2003 09:42 PM      Profile for PHILPKH923   Email PHILPKH923   Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Most fascinating!

How and when are people loaded into the boats?


...KenH


Posts: 259 | From: Shannondell | Registered: Aug 2003  |  IP: Logged
Deck 9 001
First Class Passenger
Member # 1716

posted 09-08-2003 10:55 PM      Profile for Deck 9 001     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Great shot Pam.

But where are the balconies?


Posts: 939 | From: Taipei, Taiwan (originally New York) | Registered: Dec 2000  |  IP: Logged
PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 09-09-2003 04:34 AM      Profile for PamM   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
You climb in the stern, sit down and buckle up, let go and off you 'fly'. Must be a bit bone shaking initially.
Don't know about balconies, but perhaps a few of these would look better than some of the current cruise ships sterns. It would even free up space along the sides for more balconies. Or have a few in both places. Just for fun...


Pam

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001  |  IP: Logged
Barryboat
First Class Passenger
Member # 33

posted 09-16-2003 05:19 PM      Profile for Barryboat   Author's Homepage   Email Barryboat   Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
PamM

You are so good! That is a hilarious photo! I doubt we'll see freefall lifeboats on a cruise ship....might scare the passengers. But what about an adventure thrill seeking-themed cruise line with those type of free-fall tenders? I'd do it in a heart beat!


Posts: 1851 | From: Bloomington, Minnesota (Home to the Mall of America) | Registered: Mar 99  |  IP: Logged
eroller
First Class Passenger
Member # 1649

posted 09-16-2003 08:35 PM      Profile for eroller     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by Barryboat:
PamM

You are so good! That is a hilarious photo! I doubt we'll see freefall lifeboats on a cruise ship....might scare the passengers.



Scare the passengers? Who cares! Bottom line, people are going to be scared anyway if the ship has to be evacuated. The bottom line is what is the safest, fastest, and most effective way to evacuate the ship? If free-fall lifeboats are the answer, then we will see them.

Ernie


Posts: 7046 | From: Miami, Florida USA | Registered: Oct 2000  |  IP: Logged
Onno
First Class Passenger
Member # 3071

posted 09-17-2003 06:07 PM      Profile for Onno   Author's Homepage   Email Onno   Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Funny renditions Pam!

Though much better then going down with the ship, these freefall lifeboats are no fun tour.
I once saw a TV program about these things and people could participate in a free fall from a tower into a basin. One older lady broke both her collarbones by the impact! Imagine the majority of older people onboard equals a lot of possibilities of broken bones. Also think of the lawsuits filed against the cruise company.

Anyway you proved that they could do very well as pure decoration!

Best, Onno


Posts: 3583 | From: the Netherlands (Berenbotje ging uit varen...) | Registered: May 2002  |  IP: Logged
Barryboat
First Class Passenger
Member # 33

posted 09-18-2003 11:09 AM      Profile for Barryboat   Author's Homepage   Email Barryboat   Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
We will never see these freefall lifeboats on cruise ships....they are designed for oil rigs (or Industrial vessels) in case there is a fire or other accident. Each person that boards these freefall lifeboats must strap in like they are going on a ride at an amusement park...it's not practical for a cruise ship.
Posts: 1851 | From: Bloomington, Minnesota (Home to the Mall of America) | Registered: Mar 99  |  IP: Logged
eroller
First Class Passenger
Member # 1649

posted 09-18-2003 11:31 AM      Profile for eroller     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by Barryboat:
We will never see these freefall lifeboats on cruise ships....they are designed for oil rigs (or Industrial vessels) in case there is a fire or other accident. Each person that boards these freefall lifeboats must strap in like they are going on a ride at an amusement park...it's not practical for a cruise ship.


You are probably right, although the reason is not because the passengers would be "scared". As I stated earlier, the passengers are going to be scared anyway. Onno hit the nail on the head in his previous post regarding injuries and lawsuits.

Even so, cruise lines are always looking at better and safer evacuation procedures. Currently lifeboats have a maximum capacity of 150 persons, which really limits innovation and the building of even larger cruise ships. Once this restriction is changed, you can expect to see many limits on cruise ship design and size lifted, and some pretty radical evacuation devices.

Ernie


Posts: 7046 | From: Miami, Florida USA | Registered: Oct 2000  |  IP: Logged
Matts
First Class Passenger
Member # 4120

posted 09-19-2003 05:53 AM      Profile for Matts     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
There is the alternative rapid evacuation system used on alot of ferries. The so called Marine Evacuation System. Basically a big tube through which you slide town to a raft and then climb on to an enclosed liferadt. Very quick but can also be big drops and dark.
Posts: 829 | From: London, United Kingdom | Registered: Sep 2003  |  IP: Logged
eroller
First Class Passenger
Member # 1649

posted 09-19-2003 08:10 AM      Profile for eroller     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by Matts:
There is the alternative rapid evacuation system used on alot of ferries. The so called Marine Evacuation System. Basically a big tube through which you slide town to a raft and then climb on to an enclosed liferadt. Very quick but can also be big drops and dark.

Yes,
A few cruise ships also have this, mainly the Radiance Class ships, ISLAND/CORAL PRINCESS, and the latter in the Millennium Class series. For the most part on cruise ships, I think it is meant for the crew.

If you happen to see a large looking white box sitting on the Promenade Deck, that is it's purpose.

Ernie


Posts: 7046 | From: Miami, Florida USA | Registered: Oct 2000  |  IP: Logged
PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 09-19-2003 08:28 AM      Profile for PamM   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Back in Dec I posted some photos of the Viking Evacuation Chute instructions off the ones on Norwegian Dawn.. see here. I can understand them being maybe for crew only, likewise maybe a couple of Freefalls could be for crew only.. but if the Capt & officers were last to leave, perhaps there may not be much of a 'fall', in which case neither of these systems would be much good, an old fashioned lifeboat/raft may be better.
We know the MES is not just for crew on ferries. But there is also on the same link above Gohaze's story of the seniors who kept wanting to repeat the exercise for fun on these
Pam

[ 09-19-2003: Message edited by: PamM ]


Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001  |  IP: Logged

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