Release Mechanism News

Equipment issues are behind nearly a quarter of all lifeboat accidents, according to  new safety report from classification society Lloyd’s Register (LR) and ship management trade association InterManager.Concerned about lifeboat safety and fatalities caused by lifeboat accidents, InterManager began gathering statistics several years ago, aiming to identify key risk factors. Having collated figures which date back to 1980, InterManager now has the largest maritime industry database of lifeboat accidents.LR’s SafetyScanner…

Norway-based Henriksen Hooks said its new Liferaft Release Hook into full production following completion of a prolonged testing program.Now available globally, the new crane hook has been especially developed for launching inflated liferafts. It is permanently attached to the fall wire of a crane and clips into a steel lifting ring on the liferaft. It holds the liferaft safely while it is being hoisted out and lowered and releases automatically when the raft reaches the water and the load has come off the hook."First shown in 2017…

An improved and upgraded version of the Miko Marine ShipArrestor system has been delivered to the Norwegian Coastal Administration (NCA). The system has been developed to give nations the ability to protect their coastlines from the danger of ships that have lost engine power and from the pollution that can result when they run aground. The ShipArrestor system uses a specially designed parachute-shaped sea anchor that is connected to a drifting ship by helicopter and secured without any need for crew involvement.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Maritime Administrator has introduced a new requirement that all on-load release mechanisms used to launch dedicated rescue boats must comply with paragraph 4.4.7.6 of the Life-Saving Appliances (LSA) Code and evaluated in accordance with IMO circular MSC.1/Circ.1392, Lloyd's Register has advised. This is over and above the normal SOLAS requirements, which do not stipulate that boats used solely for rescue purposes fitted with on-load release mechanisms be re-evaluated against the latest LSA Code. All rescue boat on-load release mechanisms not complying with LSA Code paragraphs 4.4.7.6.4 to 4.4.7.6.6 must either be replaced with compliant equipment or modified to comply.

Low-friction, self-lubricating coatings use patented technology to deliver reduced fuel consumption and improved tolerance to idle time. PPG Protective and Marine Coatings announced the launch of SIGMA SAILADVANCE, a new range of antifoulings suitable for a variety of operating conditions. The range currently comprises four coatings, including SIGMA SAILADVANCE RX and GX, two completely new formulations based on PPG’s own patented technologies. These antifoulings are based on…

Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) specialist Ramora UK (www.ramorauk.com) reports that it has safely disposed of an unexploded World War II mine onsite at one of the world’s largest offshore windfarm. The four-man Ramora UK team used a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) to place a countermining charge next to the 1,500lb (680kg) mine which had been assessed as high-risk due to damage previously sustained to it. Throughout the procedure a 1,500m safety zone was maintained to protect other vessels in the area.

Swedish commuter ferry operator Stirsöbolage has become the first Scandinavian company to benefit from the new Zodiac MES ESS automatic escape slide. This follows the installation of three 3.4 meter slides aboard the Älvsnabben 4 during a routine refit at the Swede Ship yard in Gőteborg. The Zodiac slides and accompanying reversible 100 person life rafts were designed to be launched from the boat’s bridge at the touch of a button, without any crew input. This feature is particularly valuable for vessels with small crews.

StatoilHydro announced that production on the Kristin field in the Norwegian Sea has now been shut down and the platform staff is being temporarily reduced until the lifeboat systems have been tested and found to be functional. “A defect has been discovered in the release mechanisms of the new lifeboat type installed on the Kristin platform,” said Eileen Buan, head of operations on the Kristin field. Kristin is producing around 10 million cubic metres of gas per day and around 10,000 cubic metres of condensate per day.

Techcrane Global Corporation is a Covington, La.-based marine crane manufacturer/distributor who recently installed Techcrane Model F250-100 onboard Torch Offshore L.L.C.'s Midnight Wrangler. This was a crane custom-designed for Torch with a maximum capacity of 125 tons at 30-ft. reach. Time lapse between design conceptions to fabrication in Covington, La., was less than six months. The bid was awarded to Techcrane in December of 2002 for delivery in mid 2003 and is a part of the project to convert the Midnight Wrangler into a deepwater pipelaying vessel. In order to accommodate these deepwater arenas, a winch was specially designed by Lantec on behalf of Techcrane for the F250 to handle 8,000 ft. of two-in. wire rope.

Jotun Paints confirmed the October 10, 2001 announcement on phasing out of antifouling paints containing organotin compounds. The move comes in preparation for the IMO’s ban on the application of paints containing organotin biocides, which will go into effect January 1, 2003. From that date, the complete Jotun Paints antifouling range will comply with IMO’s requirements. According to Jotun, their antifouling technology will maintain performance equal to existing TBT products and will continue to meet expectations. Jotun Paints is gearing manufacture and supply of antifouling paints over the rest of this year to make the transition to the TBT free era as smooth and hassle free as possible, while avoiding the problem of surplus TBT products in 2003.

Litton Marine Systems recently completed the first installation of a complete Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) with IMO-compliant protective memory capsule. The Litton VoyageMaster VDR system was installed on the new Royal Caribbean International cruise ship Radiance of the Seas at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. Thomas A. The VDR is designed to perform a similar function to an aircraft's "black box," recording vital information from the ship's sensors and voice recorders in a hardened data capsule for analysis by safety investigators following an incident at sea. International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations require that all new ships over 3,000 grt, constructed after July 1, 2002, be fitted with an approved VDR.