TM 55-1930-209-14&P-19
17-3.
Workboat, Lifesaving and Firefighting Equipment System Description. This system provides water
transportation for crewmembers and visitors, small cargo, transporting the messenger line for shore discharge hose
and similar work-related tasks associated with operating the ROWPU barge in a safe manner.
17-3.1 Workboat (see Figure 17-1) is a 23-foot, reinforced aluminum-hulled, triple-V-bottomed craft with a forward
cabin for six passengers plus the operator and a flush after-deck for small cargo and messenger line reel unit. Closed
cell flotation foam has been used to fill the forward compartment, under the cabin floor, and small compartments on
both sides of the engine compartment. Workboat has two push knees on the bow, an aluminum tubular protective
frame around the outboard drive, and two bow-and two stern mooring bitts. Workboat has a diving ladder that fits into
sockets on either port or starboard just aft of cabin and forward of aft guard rail. Lifesaving equipment includes eight
lifevests stowed under cabin benchseats and a ring lifebuoy with floating marker light and line.
17-3.2 Power is supplied by a six cylinder inline turbocharged diesel engine, inboard/outboard configuration, driving
a single propeller. Engine revolutions per minute (rpms) and engagement are controlled by one lever at the operator's
station. Steering is by hydraulically operated controls at the operator's station. Complete instrumentation, including a
4-inch compass and engine hour meter, is included at the operator's station. Workboat has two automatic bilge
pumps, and a 50-gallon diesel fuel tank in the engine compartment.
17-3.3 Workboat, when not in daily use, is stowed in its cradle on deckhouse top. It is held in place by three strap
winches on each side. These straps are hooked into three eyes on each side of boat just under the rubber bumper. The
boat is launched from storage using a three-point suspension harness attached to specially constructed points on the
hull and lifted overboard by a hydraulic bow crane and lowered into the water. The boat is lifted from the water and
stored on the cradle in the same manner.
17-3.4 Lifesaving Equipment, shown in Figure 17-2, consists of 2 liferafts, 15 type 11, and 24 type V lifevests and 4
lifesaving ring buoys. These liferafts are designed primarily to protect personnel until rescue vessels arrive. They are
equipped with two small paddles for maneuvering only. Life buoys and lifevests are designed to sustain a conscious
person in the water while awaiting immediate rescue, not for moving any distance while in the water.
17-3.5 Barge firefighting equipment consists of Halon 1301 system, 2 CO2 hose reel units, a smoke detector
system, 17 portable C02 fire extinguishers, 5 dry chemical fire extinguishers, 5 self-contained breathing apparatuses,
and a portable, engine-driven firefighting pump. Location of this equipment onboard is shown in Figure 17-3. In
addition, there is a 10-pound, portable, dry chemical fire extinguisher on the workboat.
17-7
