Merchant Shipping Notice Xo.

: _ 91995
73 z& 73 Ab 23 $5
HONG KONG MERCHANT SHIPPING NOTICE
LIFEBOAT SAFETY
Oil companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) recently carried out a survey
into disturbingly frequent occurrence of incidents relating to davit launched fire protected
totally enclosed lifeboats. The findings have been published in a booklet titled Results of a
Survey into Lifeboat Safety (July 1994). The survey found that most of the failures resulted
from
(i) equipment failure;
(ii) design fault; and
(ii) lack of proper training and poor seamanship of crew members.
2. The survey further found that equipment failure resulted mainly from inadequate
maintenance of brakes, lifting hooks and quick release mechanisms.
3. OCIMF has made many recommendations to improve the situation. Those
applicable to ship operators and ship staffare the following:
(a) Review training programs to ensure that all members of the ship staff understand
lifeboat launching and recovery procedures.
(b) Regularly inspect and carry out recommended maintenance of the following critical
components:
(i) Brakes - inspect for wear and contamination with lubricant. Confim the
ability to raise a loaded boat without the need to pin the brake closed.
(ii) Hooks and Release Mechanisms - inspect to see that components are within
tolerance and adjusted properly. Ensure that any manufacturers
recommended modifications have been properly carried out.
(iii) Boat Lowering Control Wires - inspect to confirm they do not make contact
with the boat canopy during lowering, thereby making them ineffective.
(iv) Falls - inspect regularly and turn end for erid or renew at prescribed intervals.
(c) Consider installing a manually operated wire spanning the hooks to prevent the boat
from falling if the hook releases inadvertently. This wire should be used only during
drills and be capable of being released under load.
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(d) Confirm that the lifeboats can be safely lifted from the water to the disembarkation
position with a full complement. This test should be carried out using appropraite
weights properly distributed in the boat. The boat must not be manned by any one
during this test.
4. You are recommended to obtain a copy of the booklet from OCIMF and disseminate
the information to all superintendents and floating staff in your Company.
Oil Companies International Marine Forum
15/F, 96 Victoria Street,
London SWlE 5IW
England
Tel. No. 0171-828 7696
Fax. 0171-245 2921
Marine Department
Shipping Division
10 April 1995