An equivalent, alternative arrangement to the safety pin had not been provided to prevent inadvertent tripping of the freefall lifeboat’s on-load release during routine operations, such as inspections and maintenance.
All new freefall lifeboats will be supplied with a maintenance pin and instruction plate, which will be mounted on the outside of the lifeboat near the on-load release.
While the maintenance pin reduces the risk of an inadvertent launch during maintenance, leaving the pin in can prevent lifeboat launch in an emergency. The control for this introduced risk is procedural instead of an engineering control.
An additional pin was fabricated by Aquarosa’s crew so that it could be fitted before entering the lifeboat for any purpose other than launching it.
Shipboard procedures have been implemented which require tool box meetings to be held before entry into the lifeboat to carry out maintenance. These procedures include details of the checks to be made prior to any lifeboat maintenance being carried out. The master’s permission is now required before the lifeboat release system hand pumps are operated and warning signs have been placed at the pump locations stating this requirement.
Aquarosa’s managers have shared the details of the accident within their group and with industry colleagues through safety forums.
While the maintenance pin reduces the risk of an inadvertent launch during maintenance, leaving the pin in can prevent lifeboat launch in an emergency. The control for this introduced risk is procedural instead of an engineering control.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau advises that all manufacturers of freefall lifeboats and operators of ships fitted with freefall lifeboats should review their on-load release and associated instructions manuals to ensure that crew entering the lifeboat for inspection and maintenance are not exposed to an increased risk due to the removal of the safety pin from the on-load release.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau recommends that Jiangsu Jiaoyan Marine Equipment Company takes safety action to fully address the issue by providing controls that ensure the freefall lifeboat maintenance pin is replaced by the safety pin after its use.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau recommends that V.Ships takes safety action to fully address the issue by providing controls that ensure the freefall lifeboat maintenance pin is replaced by the safety pin after its use.
