Launching the orange pill

This afternoon, the decks came alive with rescue drills. This is a procedure that has to be repeated every three months. First, the lifeboat was swung out from the stern of Deck B and lowered into the water, the crane groaning slightly like my knees in the morning. Then the crew moved to Deck A, where the life rafts and rescue boat are kept, and launched the rescue boat for a short spin across the calm sea.

It was fascinating to watch. The lifeboat looked like a giant orange pill, its smooth surface gleaming against the blue. Inside, it was all function, with tight rows of seats and belts for 28 people to sit shoulder to shoulder. Each seat has a place in the plan: the captain, second officer, chief officer, every role marked out in order on the deck outside in the Assembly Area. Once launched, the lifeboat can steer on its own, a self-contained escape capsule ready for the worst.

Watching the crew work, I wondered how it would feel in a real abandon-ship situation. Today there were plenty of hands to check ropes, test winches, and manage the lowering. Would there be a way to do all that if the ship was truly in trouble? Perhaps there is a remote system I have yet to see.

The rescue boat was next, a smaller open craft for retrieving people or objects from the water. Its launch was smooth, the kind of well-practised sequence where everyone knows exactly when to move and when to wait. The rescue boat and the lifeboat also have to do some manoeuvring, replicating real-life situations.

When this was done, the rescue boat circled around the ship. They did look as if they were having fun.

I wondered if they spotted anything that needed repair. I will ask the Chief Officer later.

By the time the boats were back alongside, ready to be winched into place, I had my fill of excitement. The crew kept working, but I slipped away, filled the kettle, and waited for the comforting click of the water cooker’s switch before making myself a cup of tea. Out here, preparation feels like its own kind of safety.

(Written 11.08.25)