Although they performed double - duty as lifeboats , their primary purpose was to serve the crew in the event of an emergency , such as a man overboard .
Although they were therefore already swung out from the rail to be launched quickly .
Although they performed double - duty as lifeboats , their primary purpose was to serve the crew in the event of an emergency , such as a man overboard , and were therefore already swung out from the rail to be launched quickly .