Embarkation Equipment News

This alert raises awareness as to the importance of not modifying equipment or components from their intended design or operation. Recently, a State Pilot suffered a concussion as he was boarding a vessel via its pilot ladder. The primary cause of the accident was an improperly modified embarkation ladder hull magnet that disconnected from the ship's hull and struck the Pilot on the head. Unfortunately, this was not an isolated incident. Additional incidents with injuries have occurred on other vessels at several different ports.

The Naval Surface Warfare Center uses Adams software to simulate USN ship hull and deck equipment. The technology is used for conceptualization and design-for-manufacturability simulations. As a result, design cycles have been slashed by 50 percent. Hull and deck machinery equipment - such as watertight closures, cargo/weapons elevators, embarkation equipment, cranes, boat handling equipment, and habitability - is an integral part of a U.S. Navy ship mission. Whether moving ammunition or providing helicopter access, these systems must be fully operational when called upon. In addition, they must be safe to operate, maintainable by the ship crew, and affordable to the Navy throughout the equipment lifecycle.