Tag: life-saving equipment

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Lifeboat damaged by ruptured air cylinders

No crew member was injured An oil tanker's totally enclosed fibreglass lifeboats were equipped with high-pressure air cylinders stowed beside the keel. One day at sea - shortly after the lifeboats had undergone a 5-yearly inspection by an accredited contractor - one of the compressed air cylinders suddenly and spontaneously burst, resulting in extensive damage to the lifeboat's keel and hull.Fortunately, no-one was injured. Once the vessel arrived in port, a local lifeboat service company was contracted to investigate the incident and assess the damage with a view to carrying out repairs. In the absence of supporting documents (certificates/ work reports etc.) and from the dates punched on the cylinders, it appeared that it was more than six years since the last hydraulic test of the air cylinders. (IACS Recommendation No.88: Air bottles for air supply in totally enclosed lifeboats should be hydraulic pressure tested by a competent service station recognised by a Recognised Organisation at intervals not exceeding 5 years and the hydrostatic test date must be permanently marked on the bottles.)The substantial corrosion of the cylinders' exteriors suggested that routine inspections and maintenance had also been seriously neglected. After the air cylinders were removed and closely examined, it ...

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Schat-Harding Develops IMO-Compliant Safety System

SeaCure lifeboat release and retrieval systems Leading lifeboat manufacturer and service provider Schat-Harding has completed all tests required by IMO to ensure that its SeaCure lifeboat release and retrieval systems (the new name for hooks) meet the new IMO guidelines for existing and new lifeboats.Reacting to industry requests Schat-Harding has also developed a Secondary Safety System (SSS) for the SeaCure hook. Although not required by IMO guidelines or SOLAS regulations, the SSS is recommended by many shipping industry groups, Birger Grathen, CEO, Schat-Harding Service, says, "IMO has issued mandatory guidelines for lifeboat release and retrieval systems under MSC.1/Circ.1392.These are unusual because they are retrospective and require owners to test and in some cases replace existing equipment. Manufacturers have also had to apply rigid new tests to all their equipment. The rules apply to new boats from 1 July 2014, but there are also tests to be applied to existing hooks, and these will have to be upgraded at the first dry-dock after 1 July 2014 if they do not meet the set standards."However, IMO's guidelines do not call for a Secondary Safety System. We are happy to announce that our SeaCure lifeboat release and retrieval systems meet or exceed all ...

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Quick-release evacuation system launched

y Viking Life-Saving Equipment is launching a 153-person liferaft and mini slide system Marine safety equipment company Viking Life-Saving Equipment is launching a 153-person liferaft and mini slide system, packed in a single aluminum stowage box and launched by a single push-button actuator.Named the VAS (Viking automatic slide), the system is designed and certified for vessels on domestic voyages such as ferries sailing in protected waters. The VAS is designed for evacuation heights of 1.5m to 3.65m, with inflation started automatically by pushing a button on the stowage box or on the bridge. Automatic bowsing keeps the slide and raft close alongside the ship to assist ease of disembarking, and the system requires no external power supply for deploymentThe VAS is contained in a box that is placed flush with the ship side, and bolted to the deck, so can be easily installed or retrofitted. The system is then ready to go, with no bowsing lines or welded connection points on the side of the ship's side being necessary.The system gained approval on sea trial with significant wave height of 1.5m with DNV as notified body. The liferaft is EC type-approved (EC Directive 96/98/EC with DNV as the notified body) ...

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Maintenance and Inspection of Life Saving Appliances

The Cayman Registry issues Notice 10/2011 The Cayman Registry issues Notice 10/2011 regarding Maintenance and Inspection of Life Saving Appliances as follows:1. BACKGROUND1.1 This notice offers general guidelines for the maintenance inspection and testing of life saving appliances on Cayman Flag vessel and it is not intended to replace the requirements of the appropriate International Conventions in force.1.2 This information was previously available in Shipping Notice 03/2004, however changes in Convention requirements have superseded the information in SN 03/2004.1.3 Shipping Notice 03/2004 is now withdrawn and replaced by this Notice.2. OPERATIONAL READINESS2.1 Before the ship leaves port and at all times during the voyage, all life-saving appliances shall be in working order and ready for immediate use. If life saving appliances are under repair, then suitable alternative arrangements approved by the Cayman Islands Shipping Registry should be made to ensure an equivalent level of safety is maintained3. WEEKLY TESTING AND INSPECTION3.1 All survival craft, rescue boats and launching appliances inspected to ensure that they are ready for immediate use.3.2 Lifeboat and rescue boat engines run ahead and astern.3.3 General Alarm and Public Address Systems tested.3.4 Lifeboats (other than free fall lifeboats) moved from their stowed position to demonstrate satisfactory operation ...

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Servicing of Life-Saving Equipment

Hong Kong Merchant Shipping Information Note The Hong Kong Marine Department issues Merchant Shipping Information Note regarding Servicing of Life- Saving Equipment as follows:The purpose of this Note is to inform shipowners, ship managers, ship masters, shipping agents and classification societies, of service stations in Hong Kong which have been approved by the Director of Marine for the servicing of life-saving equipment.1. This Note supersedes Hong Kong Merchant Shipping Information Note No. 62/2006.2. Various cases have been drawn to Marine Department's attention in the past which have identified the unapproved servicing of inflatable liferafts at certain overseas service stations.In some instances, the servicing was so poor that the liferaft would not have functioned properly when launched and would have been ineffective as a life-saving appliance.3. It is imperative for the safety of life at sea that all inflatable liferafts are regularly serviced at stations which have been approved by both the Administration of the State concerned and by the manufacturer of the equipment to be serviced. Shipowners are also advised to ensure wide availability of authorised servicing agents before purchasing inflatable liferafts. The above advice also applies to inflatable lifejackets, inflated rescue boats, marine evacuation systems, hydrostatic release units (HRUs) ...

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Lifeboat aids cargo ship in gale-force conditions

The cargo ship suffered engine problems Thurso lifeboat crew was called outon Sundaymorning in gale-force conditions to go to the aid of a cargo vessel which had lost power to the west of the Pentland Firth and began drifting towards the north coast of Caithness.The RNLI lifeboat, The Taylors, launched at the request of Aberdeen coastguard at 4.20am in very poor weather conditions after the cargo vessel, Norholm, suffered engine problems four to five miles north west of Ushat Head.The 94-metre cargo vessel with seven people on board managed to regain 20 per cent power just after the lifeboats launch so set a course for Scrabster harbour while the lifeboat continued on its way towards the casualty in gale-force nine to storm-force 10 north-westerly winds, heavy rain and a five-metre swell.Having endured terrible weather and sea conditions, both vessels arrived in Thurso Bay around 6am where they still had to contend with a very heavy swell.Nearly an hour later the cargo vessel managed to make it safely alongside the pier at Scrabster.Source: John O'Groat Journal

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Liferaft rental catching on in Eastern Mediterranean

Ship owners embrace the benefits of renting rather than buying liferafts Wilhelmsen Ships Service's liferaft rental concept is thriving in the Eastern Mediterranean (including Greece, Cyprus and Lebanon) as ship owners and operators embrace the concept and the benefits of renting rather than buying liferafts.When the concept was introduced, WSS's sales, customer service and supply teams found the Eastern Mediterranean market to be extremely positive and in the last two years, 122 local shipping companies have placed rented liferafts on more than 1 000 vessels.Nicos Shiakallis, WSS Area Director Eastern Mediterranean comments, "The growth in liferaft rental is an example of the snowball effect. After the initial companies changed to liferaft rental, their enthusiasm for the concept spread to other companies in the region. ""In addition, once these vessel operators saw how effectively the global network managed the exchanges, they started looking at other ways in which we could work together. Many of these customers have now signed fleet agreements to enable WSS to provide other products and safety services to their vessels worldwide."Wilhelmsen Ships Service's liferaft rental scheme enables vessels to rent newly-serviced Unitor liferafts on an annual basis, thus avoiding the difficulties associated with arranging and carrying out ...

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Wilhelmsen Ships Service has opened eight new liferaft servicing stations

The liferaft rental and exchange concept has been a great success Wilhelmsen Ships Service has opened eight new liferaft servicing stations since January. These stations are a vital component of the LRE offer, providing ready-serviced liferafts to vessels that have signed up to the scheme.The liferaft rental and exchange concept (LRE) has been a great success since its launch with over 12,000 liferafts now operating but it has not been without its challenges. To enable the scheme to work effectively, WSS has strategically placed 42 service stations covering 900 ports across the globe, equipped with service and liferaft exchange stocks to meet customer demands.It is essential that all the participating service stations have the right approvals from the manufacturers and local authorities as well as enough liferafts of the right sizes. The stock of such liferafts is managed by due-date monitoring systems in order to meet the individual needs of customers.Over the last six months, Wilhelmsen Ships Service has added the ports of Antwerp (Belgium), Gothenburg (Sweden), Istanbul (Turkey), Kaohsiung (Taiwan), Valparaiso (Chile), Bintulu (Malaysia), Darwin (Australia), Singapore and New York to the network. In most cases, the liferaft stations involved in the programme can service vessels in a number ...

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IMO issues Circular regarding Lifeboat hooks guidance

MSC1/ Circular 1392 Circular 1392 regarding lifeboat hooks recently issued by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) including circulars emanating from the 89th Session of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC)MSC 89 approved the Guidelines for evaluation and replacement of lifeboat release and retrieval systems as per SOLAS regulation III/1.5, following the recommendations made by the Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Equipment, at its fifty-fifth session, and the Ad Hoc Working Group on Lifeboat Release Hooks Member Governments are invited to use the annexed Guidelines when applying SOLAS regulation III/1.5, as adopted by resolution MSC.317(89), and to bring them to the attention of all parties concerned Member Governments, shipowners and manufacturers of lifeboat release and retrievalsystems are also strongly urged, pending the entry into force of SOLAS regulation III/1.5, to use the annexed Guidelines to evaluate existing lifeboat release and retrieval systems at the earliest available opportunity Member Governments are strongly urged to ensure that all ships fitted with on-loadrelease systems for lifeboats, are equipped with fall preventer devices as per paragraph 6 of these Guidelines at the earliest available opportunityYou can view the MSC1/Circular 1392 by clicking here.Source: IMO

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Lifeboats and Liferafts pharmacies for vessels flying the Greek Flag

First Aid Medical Kits of Lifeboats and Liferafts Greek Government has notified of lifeboat and liferaft pharmacies for vessels flying the Greek flag by "First Aid Medical Kits of Lifeboats and Liferafts" (4339.27/03/10) as follows.This ClassNK Technical Information supersedes existing Technical Information No. TEC-0672 dated 28 September 2006.(1) The medical and sanitary materials that are contained in the pharmacies of the lifeboats and liferafts of the ships, have to be approved by the National Medical Organization according to Document from National Medical Organization 34311/02-06-2005 and YEN/DEEP/DEPT. EY letter with ref. no. 1426/98/23/-09/1998.(2) In case the vessel is outside Greece during the expiry date of the medicines of the lifeboats or liferafts and the supply of new medical material from Greece, is not possible, so that they can comply with Paragraph 1, or the vessel has new liferafts from abroad. It is accepted that the medical material is approved by their country. That medical material has to be replaced immediately as soon as possible with others that comply with Paragraph 1.Source: ClassNK

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