A recent IMCA Safety Flash focuses on an incident in which a life raft was attached/connected incorrectly to the life raft cradle, during an onshore visit to a vessel, to provide lessons learned.
The life raft painter rope was connected to the cradle instead of to the weak link on the Hydrostatic Release Unit.
What went wrong?
It was installed incorrectly and there was no post-installation check carried out. What inspection there had been, had been a visual check of condition with no check of whether the life raft was or was not correctly installed and secured.
Actions taken
Post-installation checks and life-raft weekly inspections added to planned maintenance system.
