INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION

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IMO DE 48/5/2 15 December 2004 Original: ENGLISH

SUB-COMMITTEE ON SHIP DESIGN AND EQUIPMENT 48th session Agenda item 5

MEASURES TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS WITH LIFEBOATS Inconsistencies regarding test requirements Submitted by Germany

SUMMARY Executive summary: This document draws attention to a number of concerns regarding in particular the practical use of loaded lifeboats for davit brake tests. The present requirements to test this equipment and the current test standards are not clear. This document highlights the potential hazards and several inconsistencies within the regulations and proposes to reconsider the present requirements Paragraph 7 resolution MSC.152(78) (Amendments to SOLAS regulation III/20.11.1.3); MSC/Circ.1093; resolution MSC.81(70)

Action to be taken: Related documents:

Introduction 1 Due to inconsistencies within the regulations the proof loads and possible use of lifeboats for davit winch brake tests are not clear. Related regulations and identified problems 2 Regulation: The amendments to SOLAS regulation III/20.11.1.3 (MSC.152(78)) require every 5 years a dynamic test of the winch brake at maximum lowering speed..with a PROOF LOAD of 1.1. times the MAXIMUM WORKING LOAD OF THE WINCH. Problem: Sometimes the winch is designed and certified to a higher load than the complete launching appliance. A test with 1.1.times the MAXIMUM WORKING LOAD OF THE WINCH might therefore overload the rest of the launching system. 3 Regulation: MSC/Circ.1093, Appendix, section 3 (DYNAMIC WINCH BRAKE TEST) requires:

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For reasons of economy, this document is printed in a limited number. Delegates are kindly asked to bring their copies to meetings and not to request additional copies.

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3.2 Five-yearly operational testing should be done by lowering the boat loaded to a proof load of 1.1 times the MAXIMUM WORKING LOAD OF THE WINCH, OR EQUIVALENT LOAD. Problems: 1 Sometimes the winch is designed and certified to a higher load than the complete launching appliance. A test with 1.1.times the MAXIMUM WORKING LOAD OF THE WINCH might therefore overload the rest of the launching system and the lifeboat, if used in the test. 2 There is an inconsistency between SOLAS regulation III/20.11.1.3 (see 2 above) and MSC/Circ.1093, Appendix, section 3: the SOLAS Amendment requires a PROOF LOAD (i.e. NOT the boat!) for the winch brake test while the MSC Circular allows alternatively the BOAT to be used for this test. 3 According to MSC/Circ.1093, some owners, shipyards, testing companies and authorities might use the lifeboat for this test and load it with ballast weights, water bags or similar until a weight of 1.1 times the MAXIMUM WORKING LOAD OF THE WINCH has been reached. This can for several reasons be higher than the 1.1 times maximum weight of the fully loaded boat or 1.1 times the working load of the davit and therefore may lead to overload of the boat/davit during a winch brake test. 4 Regulation: LSA test resolution MSC.81(70) requires as the only production load test for each new boat (section 2, Production and Installation tests, paragraph 5.3.1) a release test with the boat loaded to 1.1 times its related load while the boat shall be suspended from its release mechanism. Part 2 Production and Installation tests: Loaded lowering test (brake test only) 6.1.5 The survival craft or rescue BOAT LOADED WITH ITS NORMAL EQUIPMENT OR AN EQUIVALENT MASS AND A DISTRIBUTED MASS EQUAL TO THAT OF THE NUMBER OF PERSONS, EACH WEIGHING 75 KG, IT IS PERMITTED TO ACCOMMODATE +10% OF THE WORKING LOAD should be released by the operation of the launching controls on deck. When the craft has reached its maximum lowering speed, the brake should be abruptly applied to demonstrate that the attachments of the davits and winches to the ship's structure are satisfactory. The maximum lowering speed established by the Administration should not be exceeded. Problems: 1 Inconsistency within MSC. 81(70): the hook attachment on a new boat leaving a factory has been tested with max. 10 % static overload of the fully loaded boat before boat installation on board, while the boat during the DAVIT TEST is exposed to far higher loads: a single example ship test with load cells has already shown that peak loads during davit brake test with 10 % overload of the boat resulted in loads up to 223 % of the fully loaded boat which had been tested during the production to max. 110 % load. It must be assumed that these loads might be even higher under other circumstances depending on ship, system, winch condition etc.

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This means that the first test with such high load is AFTER delivery of the lifeboat during a DAVIT test, under uncontrolled conditions and without knowledge of real peak loads, WITHOUT ANY inspection of the LIFEBOAT and the hook attachment after the test! Any possible damage caused by this test might remain undetected and cause dangerous boat or hook attachment failure in later service. 2 Inconsistency between MSC.81(70) paragraph 6.1.5 and MSC/Circ.1093, Appendix section 3 (see 3 above), DYNAMIC WINCH BRAKE TEST and SOLAS regulation III/20.11.1.3 (Resolution MSC.152(78)): Test load in MSC.81(70) paragraph 6.1.5 is the 110 % fully loaded boat weight while test load in MSC/Circ. 1093, Appendix, section 3 is MAXIMUM WORKING LOAD OF THE WINCH. As explained under 3.1 above, this might be far higher and therefore overload the lifeboat.

5 Regulation: Some classification societies require at some manufacturers only in excess of resolution MSC.81(70) an additional release gear bedding test with a static load of 1.6 (GL), respectively 2.0 (LRS) times the certified working load of the hook to check the installation of the release gear in the boat. This test is usually done with a hydraulic test rig which is also used to apply the load for the 10 % overload release test. Problem: This is a good approach to have the release gear attachment of lifeboats tested PRIOR to delivery, however this is done in few cases and different ways. Only one common international safety standard is needed. Proposals 6 The following proposals are made: .1 to revise MSC/Circ.1093, Appendix, section 2, as following: Release gear 2.5 The following should be examined for satisfactory condition and operation AFTER the annual winch brake test with the empty boat as required by paragraph 3.1. . .5 hook fastening (give special consideration for damages which might have occurred during winch brake test). Reasons: - to guarantee safe condition and function of the lifeboat AFTER the davit brake test and to ensure a special control of the release gear attachment - for compliance with the changes proposed in paragraph 6.5 below (to revise the amendments to SOLAS regulation III/20.11.1.3 (resolution MSC.152(78)). .2 to revise MSC/Circ.1093, Appendix, section 3, as following: Dynamic Winch brake test ..

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-43.2 Five-yearly operational testing should be done by lowering the boat loaded to a proof load equal to of 1.1 times the maximum working load of the launching arrangement maximum working load of the winch, or equivalent load. The lifeboat shall NOT be used for this purpose. When the boat proof load has reached its maximum lowering speed and before the proof load boat enters the water, the brake should be abruptly applied. Reasons: - for compliance with amendments to SOLAS regulation III/20.11.1.3 (resolution MSC.152(78)) - to prevent exposure of lifeboat to unknown und uncontrolled loads during davit brake test - to reduce damages to lifeboat interior during test for example by moving ballast weights in boat - to speed up davit testing especially on passenger ships with one test weight only, without loading and unloading procedure of every lifeboat.

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to revise resolution MSC.81(70), section 2, as following: Add a new paragraph to Section 2, Production and Installation tests: 5.3.4 On each new lifeboat and rescue boat a static load test is to be executed to the release gear including its installation in the lifeboat with a load of [2.0] times the weight of the fully equipped boat including all persons ([1.0] times per hook on boats with 2 hooks). There shall be no damages to the release gear and its installation area in the lifeboat. Reason: To provide a uniform and repeatable hook installation test before boat installation on board under controlled conditions of the manufacturers experts (instead of unknown and uncontrolled loads during a davit brake test without any inspection of boat afterwards).

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to revise resolution MSC.81(70), section 2, as following: Loaded lowering test (brake test only) 6.1.5 The proof load equal to the weight of the survival craft or rescue boat loaded with its normal equipment or an equivalent mass and a distributed mass equal to that of the number of persons, each weighing 75 kg, it is permitted to accommodate +10% of the working load should be released by the operation of the launching controls on deck. The lifeboat shall NOT be used for this purpose. When the proof load craft has reached its maximum lowering speed, the brake should be abruptly applied to demonstrate that the attachments of the davits and winches to the ship's structure are satisfactory. The maximum lowering speed established by the Administration should not be exceeded. Reasons: - for compliance with amendments to SOLAS regulation III/20.11.1.3 (resolution MSC.152(78)) - for compliance with proposed revision of MSC/Circ. 1093 (see 6.1 and 6.2 above) - to prevent the possibility of persons being injured if they are in the lifeboat during davit brake test

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to prevent exposure of lifeboat to unknown und uncontrolled loads during davit brake test to reduce damages to lifeboat interior during test for example by moving ballast weights in boat to speed up davit testing especially on passenger ships with one test weight only, without loading and unloading procedure of every lifeboat.

to revise the amendments to SOLAS chapter III (resolution MSC.152(78)) as following: 20.11.1.3 Upon completion of the examination referred to in .2 subjected to a dynamic test of the winch brake at maximum lowering speed. The load to be applied shall be the mass of the lifeboat without persons on board, except that, at intervals not exceeding five years, the test shall be carried out with a proof load equal to of 1.1 times the maximum working load of the winch launching arrangement. 20.11.2 Lifeboat on-load release gear shall be: . .2 subject to a thorough examination and operational test during the annual surveys required by regulations I/7 and I/8 by properly trained personnel familiar with the system. This examination and test shall be done AFTER the annual winch brake test with the empty boat as under 20.11.1.3. ; and . Reasons: - for compliance with resolution MSC.81(70), paragraph 6.1.5 - to prevent overload to launching system by use of possible higher working loads of winches - to guarantee safe condition and function of the lifeboat AFTER the davit brake test

Action requested of the Sub-Committee 7 The Sub-Committee is invited to consider the proposals as outlined in the previous paragraphs and to take action as deemed appropriate. ___________

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