EXPERT COMMENT ON THE ARTICLE…
Report: Fatal Lifeboat Accident Caused by Damaged Release Cable
…MADE BY “AN OLD SHELL E&P ENGINEERING SEA DOG”
RELATED CHILLING STORIES ALSO INVOLVING SHELL
FROM 2019: Shell confirms two fatalities in a routine lifeboat drill
FROM 2017: Shell North Sea Lifeboats Dangerous Farce No. 3
FROM 2008: Lifeboats trouble at Brent field
23 Dec 2021
Following the Alexander Kielland disaster in 1981 and the subsequent enquiry of the many recommendations made lifeboats launching arrangements were to be changed to on load release. This recommendation was endorsed by the Norwegian Government despite objections regarding this system requiring specialist attention due to complexity and sequence of use.
These recommendations were universally adopted by SOLAS and became a requirement for all Drilling Rigs and permanent offshore fixed installations. Bearing in mind that in the event of a lifeboat evacuation of a fixed installation either floating or otherwise the situation prevailing would be dire and extreme. Just the right time for errors to occur during launch. However, the vast majority of lifeboat on load release incidents have taken place during mandatory maintenance including a full launch and recovery exercises resulting in around 500 reported incidents and very serious injuries and deaths
The Norwegians have installed Free Fall designs on all new offshore installations and upgrades where ever possible, this system is also in use on many of Merchant fleets worldwide. From my own personal experience, the free-fall system is less prone to incidents during launch but the recovery during a periodic test launch is a nightmare requiring a container pack full of special equipment and the assistance of the Stand By vessel to aid the process.
Practice launches can only be considered when the significant wave height is at or below 1.5 meters and at least stable for a couple of hours. In other words, once a year if you are lucky. Note that the SOLAS guidance asks for a launch test on a three-monthly interval. This is impossible to achieve in the North Sea and in areas where a. “messy sea” can be experienced due to wind, swell and tidal influences.
The extract below is from a Norwegian web site gard.no and was published on 1 August 2006, yes 2006 a 35 year tragedy, that illustrates vividly that the authorities in most countries appear to sitting on their hands and content to accept the facts that on load release systems designs are not fit for purpose resulting in more deaths, permeant disabling injuries, and other serious injuries to prevail far exceeding lives saved by lifeboats when required to be used for the purpose intended.
Perhaps time for a rethink.
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Twenty years of warnings and accidents Due to the many on-load release accidents, there has been no lack of attention to the problem, no lack of in-depth investigations by good flag state administrations and no lack of coverage in the press. But still the accidents have continued to happen and seafarers’ lack of confidence in lifeboats has grown. Following is a far-from-complete list of papers that have been issued on the subject over the years, unfortunately without success in stopping the accidents. |
From Gard News 183, August/October 2006
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