Your 150 GT near-coastal fishing support vessel is sinking rapidly following a collision. The master gives the abandon ship order. You are in charge of deploying the liferaft on the starboard side. Describe the procedure.

A. LIFERAFT DEPLOYMENT procedure: (1) MUSTER: all crew at the abandon ship muster station — don lifejackets and immersion suits before approaching the liferaft; (2) REMOVE SECURING STRAPS: the liferaft is held on its cradle by securing straps and a hydrostatic release unit (HRU); manually release the securing straps (do NOT rely on the HRU deploying automatically — the HRU activates at 1-4m depth if the vessel sinks, but if you are abandoning while the vessel is still afloat you must release manually); (3) THROW OVER THE SIDE: throw the liferaft container over the side — it is designed to hit the water and the painter is still attached to the vessel; (4) INFLATE: the liferaft does not inflate automatically on the deck — it inflates when the painter is pulled. Once over the side, pay out the painter until taut, then give a sharp tug to activate the CO2 inflation system; (5) BOARD: if possible, board the liferaft WITHOUT going into the water (step across from the vessel's side deck or ladder); if you must jump — feet together, one hand covering nose/mouth, other hand holding lifejacket; (6) CUT PAINTER: once all persons have boarded (or if the vessel is about to drag the raft under), cut the painter with the knife stowed inside the canopy (SOLAS requirement: knife must be stowed at the entrance); (7) PADDLE: paddle away from the sinking vessel to avoid being dragged down.

B. Inflate the liferaft on deck first, then carry it to the side and lower it into the water with crew aboard. Inflating in the water makes boarding difficult.

C. The HRU will automatically deploy and inflate the liferaft as the vessel sinks — no manual action is required. Stand clear of the liferaft mounting area and wait for automatic deployment.

D. Throw the liferaft into the water container first, then jump in after it. The liferaft inflates when immersed in water due to the hydrostatic pressure activating the CO2 cylinder.

A. ANGLE OF LOLL: this is the classic presentation of negative GM (unstable equilibrium). Cause: the vessel's metacentric height (GM) has become negative — the metacentre (M) is now BELOW the centre of gravity (G). At 0° upright, the vessel has no restoring moment — but as she heels, the waterplane area shifts, moving B outward until a point of neutral equilibrium is found: this is the angle of loll (typically 5°-20°). The vessel "rests" here rather than returning upright. Common causes on a small coastal vessel: (1) Free surface effect from flooded compartments, slack tanks, or water in bilges; (2) Topside icing (raised G); (3) Cargo shift or absorption of water by deck cargo (timber); (4) Consumption of fuel and water from the bottom of tanks without compensating. IDENTIFICATION test: if you push the vessel toward the loll (to starboard) she returns to the loll angle; if you force her past the loll, the GZ curve at higher angles may generate restoring force — she "snaps" back to the loll. EMERGENCY ACTIONS: (1) DO NOT immediately ballast the high side (port) — if she rolls through the loll onto the other side, she may capsize; (2) Check and pump out bilges; (3) Fill double bottom ballast tanks SLOWLY starting with those on the LOW side (starboard) to raise M; (4) Reduce topweight; (5) Call master (if OOW); (6) Alert crew and consider reducing speed.

B. An 8° list to starboard means a weight has shifted to starboard — immediately correct by ballasting the port side to bring her upright, then investigate the cause.

C. A list that stays fixed at 8° is a permanent heel caused by off-centre loading. Correct it by shifting cargo from the starboard side to port before continuing.

D. A vessel that doesn't return from a list has insufficient GM. Calculate a righting lever at 8° using the GZ curve and if positive, the vessel is stable enough to continue.

A. IS CODE 2008 (International Code on Intact Stability) — criteria for cargo ships: the IS Code provides mandatory stability criteria for vessels under the 2008 International Code on Intact Stability (made mandatory under SOLAS II-1 and Load Lines). Minimum criteria: (1) AREA under GZ curve from 0° to 30° must be not less than 0.055 metre-radians; (2) Area from 0° to 40° (or flooding angle, whichever is less) not less than 0.09 metre-radians; (3) Area between 30° and 40° (or flooding angle) not less than 0.03 metre-radians; (4) GZ at 30° or greater must be not less than 0.20m; (5) Maximum GZ must occur at an angle of heel not less than 25°; (6) Initial GM (GM_0) must not be less than 0.15m. In this scenario: GM of 0.22m exceeds the minimum 0.15m — it satisfies this criterion. HOWEVER: GM alone does not determine acceptability — you must check ALL the criteria listed above (particularly the GZ curve at 30° and the area criteria). A vessel can have a positive GM but still fail the area criteria if the GZ curve drops too early. The stability booklet must be consulted to verify the full GZ curve for the proposed loading condition.

B. A GM of 0.22m is inadequate — the minimum for any vessel is 0.30m. Loading in this condition is not permitted under MCA regulations.

C. GM is the only stability criterion — a positive GM of any magnitude above zero is sufficient for a vessel to be considered stable and safe to sail.

D. The 0.22m GM is acceptable for a near-coastal voyage but would not meet the standards for an ocean passage. Near-coastal vessels have lower stability requirements.