Tag: life-saving equipment

This tradition begun when the HMS Birkenhead sank in 1852 Anybody who has seen James Cameron's Titanic, about the 1912 sinking of the eponymous ocean liner knows that when a ship is sinking, women and children have first dibs on the lifeboats. The recent capsizing of a cruise ship off the coast of Italy, which killed at least 11 passengers, has inspired many to ask if "women and children first" is an official rule or just a popular convention. Here's the scoop.During an evacuation, men may choose to give up their seats on lifeboats to women and children, but there is no official maritime rule that mandates they must do so. An article from the BBC helps explain the process that crews follow when a ship is in danger of sinking.Upon boarding, all passengers are assigned a lifeboat based on the location of their cabins. If an accident should occur, it is the captain's decision whether or not to evacuate the vessel. The BBC quotes Rob Ashdown, operations director at the European Cruise Council, who says men on a sinking ship have no legal obligation to step aside.The tradition, as an explainer from Slate speculates, may have begun when the ...

"Women and children first!" It's been suggested women and children were not given priority for lifeboats when the Costa Concordia capsized. But are there rules governing who leaves a sinking ship first?It's a famous moment in the Titanic story. "Women and children first!" went the cry.It's too early to know exactly what happened in the final hours of the Costa Concordia. The captain has already had to deny allegations he left the ship before everyone had been evacuated.And it has been reported that some male passengers ignored informal injunctions to wait until women and children had made it into the lifeboats.How did the priority rule begin? This protocol started when HMS Birkenhead sank in 1852 "Women and children first" phrase coined in 1860 RMS Titanic disaster in 1912 popularised the rule Only 20% of men on board Titanic were saved It is not a part of international maritime lawEdwin Gurd, a retired police chief, told the Times. "We were keen for women and children to go first, and men if they had babies or families. A lot of men regardless of that were trying to save themselves."But is the traditional maxim of women and children going first really part of ...

The survivors from the Costa Concordia came from many different countries including Britain, France, South Africa and the USA.

Preventing accidents caused by the failure of on-load release hooks during lifeboat drills In recent years there have been a number of accidents caused by the failure of on-load release hooks during lifeboat drills, which have resulted in seafarers being seriously injured and even killed. IMO has therefore been developing measures to prevent accidents with lifeboats.The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has been following the IMO discussions through the Industry Lifeboat Group (ILG), which is made up of a wide range of shipping industry organisations and is co-ordinated by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), and IMCA has now published an information note (IMCA M 20/11) on the subject, which is available to members on the 'members-only' website.The information note explains that earlier in 2011, after lengthy deliberations, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted new design requirements for on-load release hooks for lifeboats. On-load release mechanisms must be evaluated against the new requirements by 1 July 2013, and any non-compliant hooks must be replaced no later than the first scheduled dry docking of the ship after 1 July 2014 but, in any case, not later than 1 July 2019.The requirements will apply to new and existing on-load release hook designs ...

The Republic of the Marshall Islands issues Marine Notice The Republic of the Marshall Islands issues Marine Notice regarding Life Boat Equipment Requirements, Maintenance, and Servicing as follows:Due to the extent of issues and recent regulatory developments relating to lifeboats and on-load release hooks, this Notice has been developed to specifically address these issues and requests presented to the Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator (the "Administrator") for interpretation and clarification of policy. Sections of Marshall Islands Marine Notice 2-011-5 (reference (c) above) related to lifeboat servicing, lifeboat damage, falls and equipment dispensations have been relocated to this Notice accordinglyFor more information, click hereSource: The Republic of the Marshall Islands

Fatal accidents have occurred as a result of lifeboat on-load release mechanisms Ireland adopts SOLAS amendments to replace non-compliant lifeboat on-load release mechanisms and has issued a Marine Notice no 54 of 2011.This is a useful reminder of the numerous fatal accidents that have occurred as a result of lifeboat on-load release mechanisms and that the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), at its eighty-ninth session held May 2011, adopted, by resolution MSC.317(89), the new SOLAS regulation III/1.5 and, by resolution MSC.320(89), related amendments to chapter IV of the International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code, both of which are expected to enter into force on 1st January 2013The SOLAS amendment requires lifeboat on-load release mechanisms, not complying with the new LSA Code requirements, to be replaced no later than the first scheduled dry-docking of the ship after 1st July 2014 but, in any case, not later than 1st July 2019.The amendment is intended to establish new, stricter, safety standards for lifeboat release and retrieval systems, aimed at preventing accidents during lifeboat launching, and will require the assessment and possible replacement of a large number of lifeboat release hooks.The MSC also approved associated "Guidelines for Evaluation and Replacement ...

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 ...

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 ...

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) ...

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 ...