Lifeboat

 While picking up my son (he who can tie a bowline with his feet) at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, I saw some modern lifeboats and took a few pictures.

Modern lifeboats are completely covered and have diesel engines. The propellers are shrouded in Kort nozzles, for the safety of people in the water.

I like this picture. On cargo ships and tankers the lifeboat is often mounted on rails over the stern, and when the lever is pulled the boats flies down the rails and into the sea. That's a boat you don't want to miss.



This lifeboat has a capacity of 76 persons, each strapped into a padded seat. Not comfy, but a lot better than an open boat.

The steering station. The silver tube to the left of the helmsman is the exhaust pipe.