Abandon Ship

"When a drill is held in port, as many as possible of the lifeboats should be cleared and swung out. Each lifeboat should be launched and manoeuvred in the water at least once every three months. Where launching of free-fall lifeboats is impracticable, they may be lowered into the water provided that they are free-fall launched at least once every six months."

Here the ship is moored to it's starboard side which allows the port side boats to be exercised.  At a later port, the ship will moor to the opposite, port side, allowing the starbord boats to be tested.

Here we have the Serenade of the Seas in St. Thomas, USVI, working it's starboard boats.

Capacity of these boats is 150 passangers all with life vests along with one or more ship's crew.  Note the coxswain showing his helmet through the aft hatch.

Passangers assembling at lifeboat stations following the Abandon Ship announcement.

Port side boat station No. 6  

       

         Starboard side boat station No. 5

  Note, the vessel appears at this point to be on an even keel.

Awaiting their turn to disembark

Holding on

Another view

Entering Lifeboat

Lifeboat interior 

Most of the starboard side lifeboats have been launched.  Here the ship is listing to starboard 20° and 4° down by the stern.

It appears in this shot that all starboard side lifeboats have been launched and most have departed the scene.

When the ship keeled over to it's present position is not yet known.

Of the 13 lifeboats to port, three were not able to be deployed before the starboard list became too great.

Also shown are three inflatable life rafts which are normally stored uninflated in metal cannisters.