MSC Circ. 1206 lifeboat accidents(4)

2.2 Guidance to the shipowner

2.2.1 The shipowner should ensure that new safety equipment on board the company’s ships has been approved and installed in accordance with the provisions of the 1974 SOLAS Convention and the International Life-Saving Appliances (LSA) Code.

2.2.2 Procedures for holding safe drills should be included in the Safety Management System (SMS) of the shipping companies. Detailed procedures for elements of drills that involve a special risk should be evident from workplace assessments adjusted to the relevant life-saving appliance. * Refer to SOLAS regulation III/19.3.1.

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2.2.3 Personnel carrying out maintenance and repair work on lifeboats should be qualified accordingly.*

2.3 Lifeboats lowered by means of falls

2.3.1 During drills, those responsible should be alert for potentially dangerous conditions and situations and should bring them to the attention of the responsible person for appropriate action. Feedback and improvement recommendations to the shipowner, the Administration and the system manufacturer are important elements of the marine safety system.

2.3.2 Before placing persons onboard a lifeboat, it is recommended that the boat first be lowered and recovered without persons on board to ascertain that the arrangement functions correctly. The boat should then be lowered into the water with only the number of persons on board necessary to operate the boat.

2.3.3 To prevent lashings or gripes from getting entangled, proper release should be checked before swinging out the davit.

2.4 Free-fall lifeboats

2.4.1 The monthly drills with free-fall lifeboats should be carried out according to the manufacturer’s instructions, so that the persons who are to enter the boat in an emergency are trained to embark the boat, to take their seats in a correct way and to use the safety belts; and also are instructed on how to act during launching into the sea.

2.4.2 When the lifeboat is free-fall launched as part of a drill, this should be carried out with the minimum personnel required to manoeuvre the boat in the water and to recover it. The recovery operation should be carried out with special attention, bearing in mind the high risk level of this operation. Where permitted by SOLAS, simulated launching should be carried out in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, taking due note of the Guidelines for simulated launching of free-fall lifeboats at appendix.

* * * * Refer to the Guidelines for periodic servicing and maintenance of lifeboats, launching appliances and on-load release gear (see annex 1).

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APPENDIX

GUIDELINES FOR SIMULATED LAUNCHING OF FREE-FALL LIFEBOATS

1 Definition

Simulated launching is a means of training the crew in the free-fall release procedure of free-fall lifeboats and in verifying the satisfactory function of the free-fall release system without allowing the lifeboat to fall into the sea.

2 Purpose and scope

The purpose of these Guidelines is to provide a basic outline of essential steps to safely carry out simulated launching. These Guidelines are general; the lifeboat manufacturer’s instruction manual should always be consulted before conducting simulated launching. Simulated launching should only be carried out with lifeboats and launching appliances designed to accommodate it, and for which the manufacturer has provided instructions. Simulated launching should be carried out under the supervision of a responsible person who should be an officer experienced in such procedures.

3 Typical simulated launching sequence

3.1 Check equipment and documentation to ensure that all components of the lifeboat and launching appliance are in good operational condition.

3.2 Ensure that the restraining device(s) provided by the manufacturer for simulated launching are installed and secure and that the free-fall release mechanism is fully and correctly engaged.

3.3 Establish and maintain good communication between the assigned operating crew and the responsible person.

3.4 Disengage lashings, gripes, etc. installed to secure the lifeboat for sea or for maintenance, except those required for simulated free-fall.

3.5 Participating crew board the lifeboat and fasten their seatbelts under the supervision of the responsible person.

3.6 All crew, except the assigned operating crew, disembark the lifeboat. The assigned operating crew fully prepares the lifeboat for free-fall launch and secures themselves in their seats for the release operation.

3.7 The assigned operating crew activates the release mechanism when instructed by the responsible person. Ensure that the release mechanism operates satisfactorily and, if applicable, the lifeboat travels down the ramp to the distance specified in the manufacturer’s instructions.

3.8 Resecure the lifeboat to its stowed position, using the means provided by the manufacturer and ensure that the free-fall release mechanism is fully and correctly engaged.

3.9 Repeat procedures from 3.7 above, using the back-up release mechanism when applicable.

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3.10 The assigned operating crew disembarks the lifeboat.

3.11 Ensure that the lifeboat is returned to its normal stowed condition. Remove any restraining and/or recovery devices used only for the simulated launch procedure.

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