I liked the
Waterline picture of passengers on board
Kungsholm about 1967 taking part in Lifeboat Drill. That certainly brought back some memories for me. Union-Castle ships' staff always had to take part in the Drill, whether the snow was lying around our feet, or we were being baked by the tropical sun, and of course it was very reassuring to know that all the equipment was working properly.
[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"219551","attributes":{"class":"media-image","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"498","height":"500","alt":"A group of passengers with lifejackets aboard "}}]]A group of passengers with lifejackets aboard 'Kungsholm', undergoing life boat drill (P88247)
I remember an occasion in Cape Town when I was on the 1962-built
Transvaal Castle (32,697 tons, to carry 729 passengers). I was on duty that morning in December 1965 and had to go in one of the lifeboats down into the harbour. My diary records that I was in full uniform and clutching a passenger list, a crew list, my little tricorne hat and a small towel (to sit on). One empty lifeboat was then sent round to collect in all 147 people, the absolute total one lifeboat could take. We had to clamber from one boat to the other, but of course we did it and then chugged round the harbour just to prove the point. The boats were uncovered, with very basic provisions, but could be a lifesaver if required.
I remember on a 2004 visit to the 1914-built
Doulos that the printed lifeboat instructions included a first instruction to 'insert plug'.
On some Japanese-built little ships I've looked down into lifeboats and noticed rows of horseshoe-shaped painted lines on the seating, to signify where to sit. I suspect these sizes would be totally inadequate in some other countries where there is said to be a growing obesity problem.
In complete contrast, the 2009-built
Oasis of the Seas at 220,000 tons, and carrying up to 5,400 passengers (and up to 6,296 when 3rd and 4th berths are used), has lifeboats designed differently, giving direct access from the promenade deck, and hung underneath a cantilevered upper deck when not in use. Lifeboat Drill is still held but life belts are no longer stored in cabins/staterooms but at the various assembly points. Each lifeboat can carry 370 people and even includes a bathroom. The whole purpose is that any large ship can be evacuated within the 30 minutes that the law stipulates.