Life-Saving Wheelhouse

Safety of fishermen on fishing vessels is highly essential, particularly when navigating boats of up to 24 metres in length. This paper describes the concept design of a lifeboat, which is geared towards converting the control room (simply known as the "wheelhouse" in Tamil Nadu coastal regions) of a fishing vessel into a lifeboat capable of detaching in emergency situations. This research examines the concept to create the lifeboat for fishing vessels that are less than 24 m in length. This research begins with calculations, 3D design of the lifeboat, hydrodynamic and impact analysis and ends with choosing ideal material for the lifeboat. For the originally chosen carbon steel, calculations and simulation have been performed. The stability and buoyant force calculations showed that carbon steel, though structurally strong, has certain drawbacks that require new material to be developed. Therefore, a different material was invented to counter these setbacks. The new innovative material invented consisted of the integration of fibreglass, High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) granules and epoxy resin. This material is intended to be a lightweight, affordable solution with the required strength and buoyancy. The material underwent extensive mechanical testing, such as tension, bending and Charpy impact tests, to assess the properties of the material. The paper ends with a comprehensive comparison of the merits and demerits of the new material. This research will ultimately aim to enhance the safety and efficiency of life boat design in small fishing boats, improving the general reliability and survivability of the boat during emergency situations.