1.1 Automatic release mechanism
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee - MSC/Circular.811 – Identification of Float-Free Arrangements For Liferafts – (Adopted on 8 July 1997) - Annex – Three Systems used in Float Free Arrangements - 1 Internal weak links system - 1.1 Automatic release mechanism

1.1 Automatic release mechanism

 When the ship sinks, the hydrostatic release unit actuates at a depth of 2 to 4 m and disconnects the lashing wire from the cradle, and the container floats to the surface of the water.

At this time, the operating line fastened to the cradle is pulled and inflation of liferaft is started. And, at the same time, supplementary painters come loose from the cradle because the end of the painter is attached to the cradle with a fine thread and detached easily by being pulled. Finally, a safety belt (same concepts as weak link but has a breaking strength of 70 to 100 kgf) breaks, so the liferaft is released from the sinking ship and floats to the surface.

Parent topic: 1 Internal weak links system
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