Tag: lifeboats

Japan’s Transportation Safety Board (JTSB) issued an investigation report on the fatality of a crew member onboard the cargo ship ORANGE PHOENIX, after falling from a lifeboat to the deck during an abandon ship drill in November 2019.

IMCA in its monthly Safety Flahes, focused on a case where during a load test of a lifeboat the forward fall wire failed, causing the lifeboat to flip upside down.

Lifeboats save lives. Titanic had a limited number of lifeboats onboard because its construction was considered a technological miracle of safety and luxury. And this is why 1,500 out of the 2,200 people onboard perished in what is considered as the world’s most famous maritime disaster.

Mr Iasonas Lalizas, Marketing Communication Manager, Lalizas Hellas highlights that periodical trainings of the crew, onboard visual product inspections and maintenance are key practices for the proper operation of lifesaving equipment on board and refers to safety challenges that lifesaving equipment manufacturers face.

NTSB issued an investigation report on the overturn of lifeboat Kristin Faye while working alongside a platform in the Gulf of Mexico, in September 2019. The report identified the company’s inadequate preload procedure as key cause of the incident. 

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) shared recommendations after a fatal incident during a drill on a floating offshore facility, when a lifeboat and personnel fell about 75 feet (23 meters) to the water.

As Transport Malta informs in its report on MV Leopold Staff, while the vessel was underwa to Durban, South Africa, the crew members decided to carry out maintenance and test the free-fall lifeboat launching arrangement. However, as the lifeboat was off the ramp, the hoisting slings started to slide out from their ferrules, until the lifting block recoiled and the lifeboat slid to the water.

The US Coast Guard (USCG) issued a circular concerning the requirements for launching a lifeboat and guidance for ensuring compliance regarding emergency evacuation drills.

RMI was recently notified of an incident involving the failure of a freefall lifeboat sling during lowering of the lifeboat to the water. The wire failed at a crimp while under load, causing the lifeboat to fall uncontrolled to the water.

Abandon ship is the top challenging situation a mariner could face in his or her career. The risky task is, not only to launch the lifeboat and complete safe embarkation, but also to safely navigate this lifeboat in the high seas until rescued.