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18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
1Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
Ships’ LifeboatsExploring a New Approach
Simon Pollard
Gard Academy, Thursday 18 October 2007
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
2Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
MCA Research Project 555Development of Lifeboat Design
• www.mcga.gov.uk• Guidance and Regulations / Research Reports /
2006 – 2010 / Research Project 555• Guidance and Regulations / M Notices / MINs
/ MIN 254 M
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
3Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
MCA Research Project 555Development of Lifeboat Design
• Information gathering• Risk assessment• Design consequences• Anthropometric considerations
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
4Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
Ship’s LifeboatsExploring a New Approach
Acknowledgements
Jim PeacheyBurness Corlett – Three Quays Ltd
Maritime & Coastguard AgencyDisclaimer
The views expressed here are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of my previous employers.
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
5Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
6Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
MCA Research Project 555
• Lifeboat drills kill / injure seafarers• Due mainly to unintended release of hook• Maintenance / servicing / operational issues
addressed by IMO Circulars• MCA’s research focused on lifeboat design,
with aim of preventing accidents• Scope confined to conventional,
davit-mounted, side-launched lifeboats
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
7Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
Recommendations:
Relate solely to “on-load” release hooks
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
8Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
Recommendations:• On-load release hooks should be stable (self-closing
when supporting the lifeboat).• A safety case regime, specifically (and only) for
hooks.• New SOLAS requirements covering both functional
and safety performance of launching equipment.• As interim measure, consider by-passing hooks
during drills, eg by using training pennants.• Consider adopting single fall capsules for ships
carrying a small number of persons.
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
9Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
Why these Recommendations?
• Analysis of the data• Stakeholder perspectives• On-load hook design• Safety performance• Managing change
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
10Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
Analysis of the data
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
11Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
Analysis of the dataMAIB (1991 to 2001)
Category IncidentsHooks 11Tricing & bowsing 10Falls, sheaves & blocks 12Engines & starting 18Gripes 12Winches 32Davits 7Weather 2
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
12Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
Analysis of the dataMAIB (1991 to 2001)
Category Incidents FatalitiesHooks 11 7Tricing & bowsing 10 2Falls, sheaves & blocks 12 2Engines & starting 18 0Gripes 12 0Winches 32 0Davits 7 0Weather 2 0
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
13Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
Analysis of the data
• OCIMF survey report, 1994• SIGTTO / OCIMF / Intertanko survey, 2000• Australian & Canadian TSB reports• Nautical Institute MARS, UK Maritime CHIRP• Major tanker operator internal report, 2001• UK Offshore Oil Installations
Serious accidents usually related to unintended release of on-load hooks
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
14Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
Stakeholder perspectives• Seafarers’ organisations• Ship owners• Manufacturing organisations• Training organisations• Type-approval authority• Servicing organisations• Regulators• Accident investigators
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
15Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
On-load hook design• IMO introduced a requirement for on-load
release hooks in 1986• Previous off-load designs had led to problems
launching into rough seas• Operating gear for on-load hooks is typically
fitted with hydrostatic interlock and safety pin• But accident data shows on-load hooks prone
to unintended or premature release• Leads to injuries / fatalities as boat drops
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
16Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
On-load hook design
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
17Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
On-load hook designExample arrangement
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
18Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
On-load hook design
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
19Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
20Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
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RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
21Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
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RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
22Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
Weight of boat
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
23Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
Tension in falls
Weight of boat
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
24Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
Tension in falls
Weight of boat
Opening moment
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
25Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
Tension in falls
Weight of boat
Opening moment
Opposing force
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
26Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
27Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
28Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
29Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
30Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
31Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
32Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
33Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
34Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
35Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
36Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
Resetting
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
37Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
38Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
39Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
Incomplete resetting ……
…… unintended release
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
40Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
On-load hook design
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
41Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
On-load hook design
Hook tail force
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
42Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
On-load hook design
Opening moment
Hook tail force
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
43Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
On-load hook design
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
44Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
On-load hook design
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
45Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
On-load hook design
• Such designs of hook are inherently unstable• Various failures can cause the hook to open:
– Incorrect re-setting– Corrosion, wear, etc – Inadvertent operation
• The requirement for on-load release means that there is no contingency defence
• Such hooks therefore not ‘fit-for-purpose’
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
46Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
On-load hook design
• In principle, hook geometry should be so that the hook “fails-shut” rather than “fails-open”
• The release mechanism then forces the hook open, rather than holding it shut
• This system is inherently more robust against inadvertent operation or mechanical failure
• Such alternative designs are entirely feasible ...• We have seen examples ……
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
47Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
On-load hook design
• Example used in single-fall applications on offshore installations
• With stable, self-closing characteristics
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
48Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
On-load hook design
• Canadian development
Reported in 50/INF.4(January 2006)
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
49Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
Safety performance
• Suggested specification includes:– Routine operation during drills a primary function– All foreseeable faults / errors leave hook closed (safe)– Safety performance an explicit design objective,
reflecting published risk tolerability criteria– No single failure should lead to catastrophic
consequences (loss of control or injury to persons)– Design for in-service degradation (corrosion, wear, etc)
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
50Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
Managing change
• New hook design would greatly reduce risk• Regulatory action needed to effect change:
– Due to nature and level of risk, and– Prevailing shipping industry culture
• A Safety Case regime is proposed:– To secure acceptable level of safety– Would contribute to cultural change
• But interim measures are necessary
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
51Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
Managing change
• As interim measure:by-pass the hook!
• Suggested by a serving Master• Uses maintenance pennants• See MARS report 200603• Contrary to current guidance!• But we fully support use of
“training pennants”
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
52Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
Managing change
• IMO should require:– Replacement hooks for existing ships, with
schedule of implementation dates, with …– Interim safety measures, given unacceptable risk
associated with mandatory drills• In the longer term:
– Radical “safe habitat” designs for larger ships– Single-fall capsules for small crew numbers
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
53Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
Summary• Study starting point:
– Lifeboat drills kill seafarers– Plenty of encouragement to train and maintain well
• Research reveals: Design philosophy of many on-load release hooks is inherently unsafe
• Study recommendations:– Develop “stable” hook designs; justify with a
safety case; implement retrospectively; adopt interim risk reduction measures
18 October 2007
RP555 Development of Lifeboat Design
54Gard Academy Conference on Lifeboat Hooks
Ships’ LifeboatsExploring a New Approach
Simon Pollard Gard Academy, Thursday 18 October 2007
DiscussionPicture creditsAustralian Transport Safety Board; Capt D Barber, Marico Marine;Dean Pelley, Mad Rock Marine Solutions Inc; Google images; IMO; IMO News; MAIB; Maritime & Coastguard Agency; Mr J H Peachey
