Basic Safety Subject

Yesterday in our basic safety subject, Sir, Boatswain Gonzales taught us on how to embark a lifeboat and how to use oars. First, he told us to wear our cover all, lifejacket and helmets.

He told us that the group sub-leader is the first one who will embark the lifeboat. The group sub-leader should sit in front of the lifeboat, facing the bow. Persons who will use the oar are the next to embark. The first person will sit to the port side then the next person will sit to the starboard side. The group leader is the last one to embark the lifeboat. He will sit at the aft part of the lifeboat where the tiller is place. The group leader is the one who will command and give the rowing orders.

The group leader will command “up-oars” which mean the oars will be raised vertically with blades facing forward and aft. The second command is “out-oars” which means the oars will be put to the rowlocks. The third command is “give way together” which means the signal to begin pulling. Then when going alongside, the group leader will command “in-oars” which means to pull the oars in and lay it in the boat.