The present application provides a launching arrangement for a lifeboat from an offshore installation. The launching arrangement may include a garage for the lifeboat, a gate of the garage that can be opened by gravity, wherein the lifeboat can be launched either as a free fall lifeboat or by a fall of a lifeboat winch in case of an emergency situation and while a power supply is off, and wherein the garage is equipped with the gate with a wire rope winch, a lower hydraulic cylinder, and an upper hydraulic cylinder; and the gate of the garage opens by gravity by simultaneous operation of a wire rope winch of the gate and the lower hydraulic cylinder and the upper hydraulic cylinder, both hydraulic cylinders working as a closed hydraulic system; and the lower hydraulic cylinder and the upper hydraulic cylinder including piston rods.

An unmanned lifeboat has a hull with a transom opening, a focsle closed by a rounded top deck, providing accommodation for survivors. The aft deck as such is generally U-shaped with a cut-out open at the transom, which is vestigial with two small port and starboard parts. Within the cut-out is a boarding assistance ramp. This is level with the aft deck at its forward end and slopes down to the transom. It extends aft of this by a few of feetsay about lmto enable survivors to swim and crawl onto it. For guidance to reach the vicinity of the survivors, the lifeboat is equipped with a communication apparatus including a receiver for receiving survivor location data. In addition, the navigation apparatus with which the lifeboat is equipped includes a GPS system, a compass.