Badly timed tackle results in lifeboat accident
Lessons from UK MAIB's Marine Accident Reports The UK MAIB has recently issued the firstSafety Digest for this year which includes lessons learnt from maritime accidents.One case refers to a lifeboat accident due to badly timed tackle.The master of a cargo vessel had instructed the chief officer to complete the 3-monthly routines on the ship's lifeboats and fast rescue craft. The routines included lowering the boats to the water and releasing them from the davit falls. A team of two officers and two seamen was assigned the task of launching the boats. The lifeboats were of the fully enclosed type and required a minimum of three people on the boat: the officer in charge (OIC) and the two seamen to conduct the drill.To launch the boat, the bowsing tackle needed to be released, which allowed the boat to hang free in the davit prior to being lowered. This particular boat had band type bowsing tackles; it was important that these were released simultaneously in order that the boat swung smoothly into the lowering position. The OIC confirmed that both seamen were confident in operating the bowsing tackles before ordering the tackles to be eased off. The after tackle began to ...
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