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Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks 18 October 2007

IMO’s work on measures to prevent accidents with lifeboats

by Heike Hoppe

Maritime Safety Division, IMO

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MSC 71 (1999)

• Australia raised problem of serious accidents during lifeboat maintenance, inspection and drills (MSC 71/20/7)

• quick release systems can present substantial hazard in the event of accidental release during routine operations where launching is not intended

• number of accidents is growing

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DE 44 (2001) • Majority of accidents: failure or mal-

operation of on-load release gear • Many: poor maintenance or mal-

adjustment of equipment, not complying with existing provisions

• Severity and increasing frequency of accidents: causes to be addressed as a matter of urgency

• Asks MSC 74 for new work programme item “Measures to prevent accidents with lifeboats”

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SOLAS provisions

• International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code, mandatory under SOLAS

(regulation III/3.10) • Chapter IV – Survival craft • 4.4 – General requirements for

lifeboats • 4.4.7 – Lifeboat fittings

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LSA Code provisions (entry into force : 1 July 2008)

Paragraph 4.4.7.6 – release mechanisms:

1. all hooks released simultaneously 2. off-load and on-load release 3. resetting of hook 4. visibility from inside the lifeboat

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LSA Code provisions

Paragraph 4.4.7.6 continued:

5. operating instructions, colour coding 6. release control marked in colour 7. means for hanging-off 8. structural connections: safety factor 6 9. single fall and hook system

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MSC/Circ.1049 (2002) Categories of accidents: • Failure of on-load gear • Inadvertent operation of on-load gear • Inadequate maintenance • Communication failures • Lack of familiarity • Unsafe practices • Design faults other than on-load

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MSC/Circ.1049

Invites IMO members to: • Bring circular to attention of interested

parties • Take action to prevent further

accidents • Ensure compliance with existing

requirements • Ensure personnel is qualified

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MSC/Circ.1093 (2003)

• Guidelines on periodic servicing and maintenance of lifeboats, launching appliances and on-load release gear

• Responsibility, authorization, qualification levels, reports and records

• Appendix: specific procedures for maintenance and servicing of lifeboats, release gear, davits and winches

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Amendments to SOLAS regulation III/19

(entry into force : 1 July 2006)

III/19 – Emergency training and drills 3.3 – Abandon ship drill

Lifeboat to be launched without operating crew on board

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Amendments to SOLAS regulation III/20

(entry into force : 1 July 2006)

III/20 – Operational readiness, maintenance and inspections

– Maintenance according to Circ.1093 – Weekly inspections – Periodic servicing of launching

appliances and on-load release gear

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MSC/Circ.1115 (2004)

FF lifeboats launched from heights greater than 20 m (SOLAS reg III/19.3.3.4):

Administrations may accept launching by falls in lieu of free-fall launching, provided that a simulated free-fall launch is conducted at least every six months.

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MSC/Circ.1136 (2004)

Guidance on safety during abandon ship drills using lifeboats

– Drill frequency – Safety of drills – Emphasis on learning – Planning and organizing drills – Guidance to the ship owner – Lifeboats lowered by falls – Free-fall lifeboats

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MSC/Circ.1137 (2004) • Guidelines for simulated launching of

free-fall lifeboats • basic outline of essential steps to

safely carry out simulated launching • training crew in FF release procedure

and in verifying satisfactory function of FF release system without allowing the lifeboat to fall into the sea

• typical simulated launch sequence

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Amendments to SOLAS regulation III/19.3.3.4

(entry into force : 1 July 2008)

• free-fall launching at least once every three months during an abandon ship drill without actual release

• FF launch with only operating crew, or lowered into the water by secondary means of launching with or without operating crew

• every six month full or simulated launch in accordance with Circ.1206

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MSC/Circ.1205 (2006)

• Guidelines for developing operation and maintenance manuals for lifeboat systems including launching appliances

• Objective: user-friendly, easy to understand manuals

• Collaboration of manufacturers • Examples, drawings, symbols included

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MSC/Circ.1206 (2006)

• Consolidates previous lifeboat circulars (1049, 1093, 1136, 1137)

• Annex 1: Guidelines for periodic servicing and maintenance of lifeboats, launching appliances and on-load release gear

• Annex 2: Guidelines on safety during abandon ship drills using lifeboats

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MSC/Circ.1206 - Key points

Paragraph 10: Certification of servicing personnel should be issued by the manufacturer in accordance with an established system for training and authorization Paragraph 12: All other inspections, servicing and repair should be conducted by the manufacturer’s representative or a person appropriately trained and certified by the manufacturer

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Making 1206 mandatory

• MSC discussed relevant proposals • MSC 82 noted practical difficulties

related to training and certification of servicing personnel by manufacturers and geographical coverage of manufacturers’ representation

• Asks DE Sub-Committee to further consider

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DE 50 (2007)

Implementation of Circ.1206 – consistent application and global coverage

of lifeboat servicing essential – guidance for qualification and certification of

personnel to be developed – framework of circular to be maintained – annex 1 to become mandatory in 2010 – ILAMA to report to DE 51 on progress in

establishing worldwide servicing coverage

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DE 50 (2007) • LSA Code amendments to address

design flaws of on-load release hooks and phasing-out of existing hooks

• interim solutions (wire cutters, safety strops) to be used with on-load release arrangements during lifeboat drills

• development of international standard hook

• ILAMA project on-load release systems

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LSA Working Group at DE 50

• LSA Code amendments to be further considered by CG (specific sub-chapter for lifeboat release gear)

• phasing-out of existing on-load release hooks not supported, i.e. new requirements for new ships only

• interim solutions (wire cutters, safety strops) not supported

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LSA Correspondence Group

• Amendments to LSA Code and Recommendation on testing of LSA (resolution MSC.81(70))

• Guidance for qualification and certification of personnel or organizations carrying out servicing and maintenance of lifeboats, launching appliances and on-load release gear

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Thank you.