Overview

Accidents involving survival craft are a leading cause of injuries and fatalities at sea, accounting for 16% of all fatalities onboard merchant ships between 2001-2011. This guide to the safe operation of survival craft release and retrieval systems is, therefore, a timely and important publication.

As well as summarising the major international and national regulatory requirements for survival craft release and retrieval systems, this publication includes comprehensive incident case studies and up-to-date information on lifeboat safety. Topics covered include crew welfare measures, explanations of how to operate and launch lifeboats, and instructions around best practice in the maintenance and repair of lifeboats and related appliances.

A handy lifeboat launch and recovery checklist, which can be used on board in conjunction with company procedures, is also included as an appendix.

Content

Chapter 1 Introduction 1

Chapter 2 Lifeboat Accidents 3

1. 1. ‘Hoegh Duke’ – 20 August 1992 3

   2. ‘Kayax’ – 9 August 1994 4

   3. ‘Iolcos Grave’ – 9 November 1998 5

   4. ‘European Highway’ – 1 December 2000 5

   5. ‘Gulser Ana’ – 17 October 2001 6

   6. ‘Galateia’ – 26 January 2002 7

   7. ‘Lowlands Grace’ – 7 October 2004 8

   8. ‘Sea Urchin’ – 22 May 2006 9

   9. ‘Valparaiso Star’ – 28 August 2007 9

   10. ‘Louise Russ’ – 3 January 2011 10

   11. ‘CMA CGM Christophe Colomb’ – 15 April 2011 10

   12. ‘Anna Maersk’ – 27 March 2012 11

   13. ‘Thomson Majesty’ – 10 February 2013 11

   14. ‘Aquarosa’ – 1 March 2014 12

   15. ‘Nagato Reefer’ – 9 April 2014 12

   16. ‘Westport’ – 21 November 2014 12

   17. ‘Thomson Celebration’ – 10 June 2015 13

   18. ‘Dorikos’ – 27 August 2015 13

   19. IMCA Safety Flash – October 2015 14

   20. MV ‘Amazon’ – 12 April 2016 14

   21. ‘Harmony of the Seas’ – September 2016 15

Chapter 3 Regulations 17

1. 1. Origins of Lifeboat Release Regulations 17

   2. 1980 – On-Load Release Hooks 18

   3. 2001 – Investigation into Accidents involving Lifeboats

and their Launching Systems 19

1. 4. 2002 – High Number of Accidents with Lifeboats

Discussed at MSC 21

1. 5. 2006 – Improvement to Manuals Required to

Address Lifeboat Release Gear Concerns 21

1. 6. 2008 – ‘Survival Craft’ Booklet 22

   7. 2009 – Use of Fall Preventer Devices (FPDs) 23

   8. 2009 – Port State Control (PSC) 23

   9. 2010 – Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Equipment (DE) Agrees Guidelines to Replace Unsafe Lifeboat Release

Mechanisms 24

1. 10. 2011 – Amendments to SOLAS, LSA Code and

New Guidance 24

1. 11. 2013 to 2016 – IMO Regulations as Now Applicable 30

Chapter 4 Guidance 33

1. 1. Common Problems with Hook Systems 34

   2. Measures to Prevent Accidents with Lifeboats

(MSC.1/Circ.1206) 37

1. 3. Guidelines for the Fitting and Use of Fall Preventer

Devices (FPDs) (MSC.1/Circ.1327) 51

1. 4. Requirements for Maintenance, Thorough Examination, Operational Testing, Overhaul and Repair of Lifeboats and Rescue Boats, Launching Appliances and Release Gear

(Resolution MSC.402(96)) 56

1. 5. Summary of the Guidance 66

Details

Title: UK P&I Club Survival Craft Release and Retrieval Systems 
Product Code: WS1547K
ISBN: ISBN 13: 978-1-85609-742-0 (9781856097420), ISBN 10: 1-85609-742-0 (1856097420)
Published Date: August 2017
Weight: 0.20 kg