With reference to rescue boat and fast rescue boats, discuss:

• A rescue boat is a boat designed to rescue persons in distress and to marshal survival craft; it may be a rigid or inflated boat, or a combination, and is required on cargo ships (one rescue boat) and passenger ships (as required).
• It must be capable of being launched and recovered quickly, be seaworthy, and be able to operate in the conditions; it must be fitted with an engine (inboard or outboard) capable of a minimum speed (e.g. at least 6 knots for a rescue boat, and for a fast rescue boat at least 20 knots in calm water).
• Equipment: oars/paddles, a buoyant heaving line, a buoyant rescue quoit/ring, a searchlight, a compass, a first-aid kit, a painter, a sea anchor, a bailer, a whistle, a waterproof torch, and (for the rescue of persons) a means to recover a person from the water (e.g. a ladder, a lifting sling, a rescue net); the boat must be able to be righted if capsized (self-righting or with a righting arrangement).
• It must be stowed ready for use, with the launching gear (davits) capable of launching and recovering it with the crew on board.

• Inflated rescue boats: must be of an approved inflatable type, with the buoyancy chambers (at least two) and a self-inflating arrangement; they must be capable of being inflated quickly, be fitted with a means to maintain pressure, and be provided with the required equipment; they must be able to be righted if inverted and be fitted with a painter and a towing arrangement.
• Fast rescue boats (FRB): must be capable of a speed of at least 20 knots in calm water with a full complement, be self-righting or capable of being righted, be fitted with a suitable engine and a steering arrangement, and be able to be launched and recovered at speed; they are used for rapid rescue (e.g. man overboard) and must be provided with the equipment for the rescue (a lifting sling, a rescue net, a searchlight, a first-aid kit, and a means to recover a casualty); they must be stowed and launched so they can be deployed quickly.

• Weekly: inspect the rescue boat and its launching gear visually; start and run the engine (ahead and astern); check the boat is ready for use and the equipment is complete.
• Monthly: inspect the rescue boat covering the equipment and the engine; test the launching gear (lower the boat to the embarkation level or into the water as practicable); check the general emergency alarm.
• Annually: have the rescue boat and its launching gear serviced by an approved service station; test the engine and the launching/recovery; renew the falls (wire falls) at the prescribed interval (e.g. every 5 years) and carry out the load test of the davits at the interval set by the Administration.
• The rescue boat engine is to be run and tested; the launching gear (davits, winch, falls, hooks) is to be inspected and load-tested at the prescribed intervals (e.g. the 5-yearly thorough examination and load test).
• All maintenance and tests are recorded in the log/record of inspections and maintenance, per SOLAS Reg. III/36.