Safety Flash
Lifeboat falls after equipment failure
Lifeboat falls after equipment failure
- IMCA
- Safety Flash
- IMCA SF 14/11
- CorrosionEvacuation, Escape and RescueInspection and MaintenanceMachinery and Equipment
- CorrosionDropped objectsMechanical failure
- Inspection and maintenanceLifting operations
- LifeboatWire rope
- Functional testingPreventive maintenance
- Marine industry
- Vessel
Summary
A lifeboat fell during recovery in periodic function testing when a rerouting sheave buckled and detached. Nobody was aboard and no injuries occurred. Investigation identified out-of-plane loading, wear and corrosion, alongside missing component-level preventive maintenance. Remedial work included replacements, cleaning and non-destructive testing, with a maintenance schedule recommended.
Classifications: Corrosion; corrosion damage.
Classifications: Dropped objects; falling objects; DROPS.
Classifications: Mechanical failure; equipment failure.
Classifications: Inspection and maintenance; asset inspection; equipment maintenance.
Classifications: Lifting operations; load lifting; hoisting.
Classifications: Lifeboat; survival craft.
Classifications: Wire rope; steel wire rope.
Classifications: Functional testing; function test.
Classifications: Preventive maintenance; preventative maintenance; planned maintenance.
Classifications: Marine industry; shipping industry; maritime sector.
Classifications: Vessel; aboard ship; onboard vessel.
Summary
A Member has reported an incident in which equipment failure allowed a lifeboat to fall free from one side of a vessel.
IMCA SF 14/11. Themes: corrosion, evacuation, escape and rescue, inspection and maintenance, machinery and equipment.