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With around 2,500 crew and passengers reported killed or missing in 2005-2007, Lloyd's Register and the UK P&I Club have launched an initiative to highlight the vital importance of life saving appliances working properly and lifeboat drills being conducted safely.
The two organisations have today (Tuesday, March 11th) published their Life-Saving Appliances Pocket Checklist, which lists and explains critical areas to be checked, monitored and maintained. This should reduce the risk of Port State Control detentions.
Tony Muncer, Chief Surveyor, Lloyd's Register, explained: "All lifeboat equipment should be ready for operation, well maintained and inspected regularly. It is the responsibility of owners and their crews to ensure this is the case. It is, therefore, essential that ship personnel are appropriately trained in the tasks concerned. This checklist will act as a practical, on the spot device to help ensure that life saving appliances are fully up to the required standards and comply with all regulations."
Karl Lumbers, the UK P&I Club's Loss Prevention Director, added: "We should be unremitting in doing what we can to reduce loss of life at sea. In particular, the deaths and injuries resulting from lifeboat incidents have become a major problem for all parties involved in shipping. If people follow the advice in the checklist meticulously, they should avoid the wrath of Port State Control and, far more important, help to prevent tragedies."
Printed on polypropylene, the checklist is for practical use and re-use on board.
During 2005-07, one third of all life saving appliance deficiencies reported to Lloyd's Register concerned lifeboats - three times as many as launching arrangements for survival craft and lifebuoys. Deficiencies were also observed in lifeboat inventories, inflatable liferafts, lifejackets, operational readiness maintenance and inspections, on board training and instructions, embarkation arrangements for survival craft, rescue boats and liferaft stowage.
The UK P&I Club's loss prevention team has long been concerned about lifeboat incidents and has issued a steady flow of advice over the years to help seafarers avoid and prevent them.
In the 20 years ending in 2006, the UK Club dealt with 31 serious lifeboat incidents involving its Members and costing at least $100,000 each. There were six deaths and ten multiple, four back and two head injuries. Even though there was contributory negligence in 14 cases, the UK Club still paid out $8.5 million. Although loss of balance, boat maintenance and rope ladder deficiencies accounted for a quarter of incidents, the unintentional release of lifeboats was responsible for three quarters.
Life-Saving Appliances Pocket Checklist warns that if equipment is broken or missing or the ship suffers damage en route, the master has to notify the port authorities prior to entry and of any permanent or temporary remedies agreed with the flag state. If notice is not given, PSC has clear grounds for inspection which may lead to detention.
The publication lists nine certificates, 15 documents and other records which need to be kept up to date and readily available on board merchant vessels.
Certificates relate to safety equipment, cargo ship radios, lifeboats, rescue boats, liferafts, launching appliances, air supply bottles (if fitted), search and rescue transponders (SARTs) and Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs).
The documents and records concern maintenance programmes, SOLAS training manuals and on board training aids, muster lists, radio licences and drills. Inspection and testing documentation should encompass life saving and launching appliances, communications equipment, lifeboat and rescue boat engines, emergency lighting, EPIRB shore-based maintenance, liferafts, fire extinguishers and air supply bottles (if fitted). Launching and stowage arrangements focus on davits and falls, bowsing tackles and embarkation arrangements.
The checklist relates to lifeboats of all types. On the structural front, the hull must be in good condition, with no deterioration affecting bearing surfaces, no cracks in hull and buoyancy tanks and with bilge keels and grab lines effectively attached. Lifeboats must be properly connected to the ‘parent' boat with hanging hooks, keel plate connections and pins in good condition. Engines must start readily, battery chargers must be connected, maintained and tested and exhausts insulated - and there must be sufficient fuel.
Other features which must be kept in good condition, working order and well maintained include rudder and stock, hook release mechanisms, brake release arrangements, bilge pumps, plugs, lifeboat painters, markings, grab rails and lanyards, onboard air and water spray systems, VHF radio-telephones and the display of operational instructions. Lifeboat inventories should cover up to date distress flares, stores, including water and rations, buoyant oars and rowlocks where required, protecting cover, sails and sea anchors.
Freefall lifeboats must be correctly secured and stowed and seat belts and head restraints should be in good order and hook release charged with hydrostatic oil. With inflatable liferafts, the focus is on hydrostatic positioning, number and capacity, fall wires, manufacturer's launching instructions, markings and unobstructed access to water. With rescue boats, the key considerations are stowage, position, launching and recovery arrangements, lighting and signs, pressurised inflatable compartments, propeller guard, personnel familiarisation and engine servicing.
There are other requirements for lifebuoys, lifejackets, immersion suits, radio life-saving appliances, radio-telephone apparatus for survival craft, emergency alarms and line throwing appliances. Drills, including abandon ship and man overboard, should be carried out according to SOLAS instructions, involving training and checks and accessible manuals.
Note to editors: Life-Saving Appliances Pocket Checklist will be distributed by Lloyd's Register, mainly to owners and operators, and by the UK P&I Club to its Members. The text will be available for viewing on www.lr.org and www.ukpandi.com. Life-Saving Appliances Pocket Checklist is the third in a series aimed at helping owners, operators and crew comply with international convention requirements, thereby reducing the risk of Port State Control detention. The first checklist, Reducing the Risk of Port State Control Detentions, has been revised to include the latest top detaining deficiencies and a new section on PSC targeting criteria. The second is Marine Pollution Prevention Pocket Checklist. All three can be ordered on www.lr.org or through any of Lloyd's Register's 175 marine offices worldwide.
For further information:
Nick Brown
Lloyd’s Register
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7423 1706
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7423 2213
e-mail: NicholasAK.Brown@lr.org
Website : http://www.lr.org
Karl Lumbers/Nick Whitear
Thomas Miller P&I Ltd
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7283 4646
e-mail: karl.lumbers@thomasmiller.com
nick.whitear@thomasmiller.com
Issued by:
Martin Rowland
Dunelm Public Relations Ltd
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7480 0600
Fax: +44 (0) 20 6480 0606
e-mail: info@dunelmpr.co.uk
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