Life saving system for marine structure

A free fall rescue system for use on a marine structure having a height of up to more than 20 meters, said system comprising:

• an enclosed life boat having a bow, a stern, a center of gravity, a single fulcrum located above and aft of said center of gravity and a longitudinal axis;
• means for suspending said life boat at said single fulcrum from the marine structure at a height of up to more than 20 meters over free water in an inclined position with said bow directed outwardly from the marine structure and downwardly and with said longitudinal axis extending with respect to the water surface at a first angle of approximately 40.degree.-60.degree. corresponding to a preferred angle of impact of said life boat therewith upon free fall vertically downwardly of said life boat from said inclined position;
• said single fulcrum being located at a position on a line extending through said center of gravity and extending with respect to said longitudinal axis in said inclined position at a second angle substantially equal to an angle complementary to said first angle;
• said suspending means supporting at said single fulcrum the entire weight of said life boat in said inclined position;
• and
• said suspending means being selectively releasable to allow said life boat to fall freely vertically downwardly from said inclined position and to impact bow-first with the free water at said first angle.