🔍 Key Concepts

• SOLAS requirements for survival craft fuel and endurance • Difference between lifeboat engines and other emergency equipment (like emergency generators or rescue boats) • Purpose of having a minimum operating time for lifeboat engines after abandonment

💭 Think About

• Think about how long survivors might realistically need powered maneuvering to clear the ship, organize, and possibly reach another vessel or safer waters. • Compare typical endurance requirements for other emergency systems you’ve studied—does SOLAS usually pick very short times, extremely long times, or something in between for survival craft? • Ask yourself whether the required duration is meant for continuous transit over long distances, or mainly for essential maneuvering and readiness.

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify in the SOLAS Chapter III provisions dealing specifically with lifeboats and their mechanical propulsion. • Check whether the endurance requirement is stated as hours of operation at full speed or simply sufficient fuel to run for X hours. • Confirm you are not confusing this with fuel/endurance rules for emergency generators or fast rescue boats, which have different time requirements.