Fall of lifeboat during launch

In advance of a statutory survey, the master of a tanker alongside a terminal ordered the chief mate and safety officer to lower vessel's port side (offshore) lifeboat and confirm its proper operation. This was successfully carried out and the lifeboat was secured. Later that morning, in the presence of the class surveyor, the same lifeboat was lowered, when the forward fall wire parted and the empty lifeboat fell into the water.

Root cause/contributory factors

Inadequate maintenance: faulty/inadequate condition assessment, lubrication, maintenance, adjusting, assembly, cleaning and resurfacing.

Lesson learnt

1. Clear standing orders from master and chief engineer must be given for lowering of lifeboats in port and acknowledged by all officers;

2. All the officers and ratings must read and acknowledge IMO circular MSC1/Circular 1206 'Measures to prevent accident with lifeboats'.

Corrective/preventative actions

3. The details of the situation will be circulated to the fleet together with the preventative actions which need to be taken for avoiding recurrence;

4. Risk assessment procedure to be created by the company's safety department to ensure that all activities which may involve hazards are identified and appropriate actions to mitigate the risks are prescribed.

1.Answer the questions

1. What is “statutory survey”?

2. What is the function of class surveyor?

3. What procedures were not carried out before launching?

4. How must officers and ratings be guided in the course of such procedures?

5. Why is it necessary to deal with risk assessment procedures before undertaking any actions on board?

2.Decide whether these statements are true or false:

1.In advance of a loadline survey, the master of a tanker alongside a terminal ordered the second mate and safety officer to lower vessel's port side (offshore) lifeboat and confirm its proper operation.

2.Later that morning, in the presence of the class surveyor, another lifeboat was lowered, when the forward fall wire parted and the empty lifeboat fell into the water.

3.Maintenance of all life-saving appliances had been carried out before launching.

4.Risk assessment procedures were ignored by the master and chief officer.

3. Define the following expressions:

1. Staturory survey-

2. Risk assessment-

3. Class surveyor -

4. Inadequate condition assessment-

4.Read a near miss report (see a sample in annex).Complete a near miss report covering the following items:

1. Description of the situation;

2. Possible cause of situation (root cause) and possible consequences;

3. Which preventive measures have been taken;

4. Master's decision (plan for further handling of above incident)

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Improper securing of hatch covers

On one of our vessels with single wire pull-type hatch covers, the securing arrangements had become defective at some locations. Temporary securing arrangements using wire strops, senhouse slip hooks and turnbuckles were being used to secure the hatch covers in the open position. The senhouse slips were used so that if the hatch covers had to be closed in a hurry, the “lashings” could be quickly released by knocking these open. During cargo operation, one of the senhouse slips unexpectedly opened under local vibrations, causing the hatch cover to slide rapidly and close. Fortunately no person was present in the vicinity.

Corrective / preventative actions

1. All company ships advised of incident;

2. Fleet instructed to ensure that all hatch cover securing arrangements are maintained in good condition at all times. Senhouse slips are not to be used to lash hatch covers in open position.

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