Captain Steve Beuth is shown aboard the RV Cape Hatteras. The LifeRing is in the top right of the photo. StarNews photo by Ken Blevins
Q. On page 1A and 4A of the Oct. 27 StarNews was a story about an individual retiring. Pictures of the RV Cape Hatteras showed life savers heavily encased outside the bridge and well out of reach of anyone on deck. Can you explain how they can be easily accessible?
A. Capt. Steve Beuth, who is retiring after 38 years with the marine tech program at Cape Fear Community College, said he believes your inquiry is in reference to LifeRings on the navigation bridge.
“They are housed in a bracket and attached to an emergency orange smoke canister,” Beuth said. “At the top edge of the bracket is a lever designed, with the flip of a finger, to enable both the LifeRing and the smoke canister to drop over the side. This would be done upon first hearing or seeing that a person has fallen overboard.”
Thankfully, Beuth said the LifeRings have never been needed on any of the community college’s trips at sea.
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Date posted: October 29, 2014
User-contributed question by:
martyn hawkins
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