What is a "lanza", besides a lance?

Question

Estoy leyendo un artículo sobre el naufragio de una barca. El portavoz de la guardia costera dijo, "Desde nuestros barcos y helicópteros lanzamos todo tipo de boyas y lanzas para permitir que los pasajeros se agarren."

I am reading an article about the sinking of a boat. The coast guard spokesman said, "We have thrown all sorts of floats and lanzas from our ships and helicopters to allow the passengers to grab hold."

Answer 1

There is a device designed for safety at sea which is only deployed at a time when someone (or many) are in the water. It is called an "Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon" (EPIRB) in English. It is often (not always) affixed to a pole which will float upright with a light beacon on the pole. I suppose it could be deployed as part of a buoy or life raft and perhaps it would be referred to as "boya y lanza" or "buoy and beacon" as a combined unit. Maybe. Maybe not.

I knew about EPIRB's. This is a possibility. - KevinB, Apr 6, 2011

clever analysis, no matter what - 0074b507, Apr 6, 2011

But the shipwrecked would deploy their EPIRB(s) to advise of their peril and position, there would be little point in the rescuers lobbing beacons about when they are already there... - afowen, Apr 6, 2011

An EPIRB tossed from a helicopter would help to mark location for rescue boats not yet on the scene but still underway. - Moe, Apr 6, 2011

Is that SOP, I wouldn't have the foggiest? Or would they rather relate the position of the boat via radio, DTM, you'd not deploy more than one EPIRB would you? - afowen, Apr 8, 2011

Answer 2

¿No será lanchas?

El artículo dice "lanzas" - http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/helicoptero/ha/avistado/decenas/cadaveres/zona/naufragio/sur/Lampedusa/elpepuint/20110406elpepuint_9/Tes - KevinB, Apr 6, 2011

I believe it is a typo and they do mean "lanchas". "Lanzas" plain doesn't make sense. - Gekkosan, Apr 6, 2011

Answer 3

As you know, Lanza is Spear, so they are most likely referring a pole or anything long enough for the passengers to reach and grab.

Answer 4

I haven't come across that term before, and I don't see a suitable definition on the DRAE, but from context I'd think it means some sort of pole, so that people can grab them and not sink.

From a helicopter? Must be a long pole. - KevinB, Apr 6, 2011

From a boat, not so long. - lorenzo9, Apr 6, 2011