Question 24Safety & Environmental - QMED

The correct answer is B) applied by dropping the counterweighted lever. The hand brake of a lifeboat winch is a counterweighted lever that, when dropped, applies the brake to the winch drum. This allows the crew to control the lowering speed of the lifeboat and prevent an uncontrolled descent. Option B correctly describes how the hand brake is engaged on a lifeboat winch. The other options are incorrect: A) The hand brake is not manually disengaged when hoisting the boat, as it is applied to control the lowering speed, not the hoisting. C) The centrifugal brake mechanism is a separate system that automatically controls the lowering speed, not the hand brake. D) The hand brake is not automatically engaged if the lowering speed is excessive, as the crew must manually apply it by dropping the counterweighted lever.