Lifeboat reinvention needed to stop accidents during launches
The Container Ship Safety Forum (CSSF) has called for a reinvention of lifeboats on cargo vessels after too many seafarers have been injured during the launch of lifeboats.
CSSF chairman, Aslak Ross, said that instead of focusing on compliance and training, the industry should shift its focus towards creating a safer environment for seafarers. “For way too long, we have seen able seafarers being injured when launching lifeboats even though crews have been trained and the lifeboat is modern and fully compliant,” Ross says.
The CSSF is encouraging the industry, classification societies, flag states, and suppliers to launch innovation to replace current lifeboats with a safer technology. Ross believes that alternative designs, such as Marine Evacuation Systems (MES), are already available for offshore installations and passenger evacuation on PAX vessels and should also be made available to cargo vessels without delay. “It is long overdue to change the current environment and innovate to eliminate the risk of lifeboat accidents. We need approved systems that can be fitted to newbuildings – we need to safeguard our seafarers,” Ross says.
Too many incidents
The call for a reinvention of lifeboats comes after the UK Chamber of Shipping identified 60 fatalities during lifeboat testing over a 10-year period. In 2017, the UK Chamber issued an article urging the industry to “save lives, not lose them” and suggested that simulation training could improve safety. While Ross supports the use of simulation and new technology to reduce the risk of accidents, he believes that launching a lifeboat is too dangerous and that a safer alternative needs to be found.
“Simulation and use of new technology is one way to conduct drills in a safer environment, and we support the intent to reduce the risk of accidents; however, it does not solve the core of the problem: launching a lifeboat is too dangerous. And even though simulation has its advantages, it should only be used as a supplement to well-conducted on board abandon ship drills where crews are familiarised with the ship-specific equipment,” Ross says.
Accidents involving lifeboats are one of the most common causes of injuries and fatalities among seafarers in the shipping industry, according to the UK’s National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT). IMO SOLAS regulation III/19.3.3.3 requires each lifeboat to be launched at least once every three months during an abandon ship drill, and manoeuvred in the water by its assigned operating crew. However, the regulation, while requiring each lifeboat to be manoeuvred in the water by its assigned operating crew, does not actually require that crew to be on board when the lifeboat is launched.
According to insurer Gard, there are a number of causes of lifeboat accidents. Some of the more frequently occurring ones are:
- failure of the on-load release mechanism
- inadvertent or accidental operation of the on-load release mechanism
- inadequate maintenance of the lifeboat and its launching equipment. Sometimes the item to be maintained might not be readily accessible due to its location
- lack of familiarity with lifeboats and the on-load release mechanism
- unclear operating instructions for the on-load release/resetting mechanism
- faulty design.
The CSSF is calling for the industry to take action and innovate to eliminate the risk of lifeboat accidents. Seafarers’ safety should be the top priority, and a safer alternative to lifeboats should be made available to cargo vessels without delay. “We need to safeguard our seafarers,” Ross concludes.
