The countdown has begun What’s the problem? For more than a decade, on-load release hooks have been the cause of numerous accidents, some involving fatalities. Lack of maintenance, design faults and poor training at the center of the problem, as well as concerns about the failure of these hooks has often held crews back from performing necessary drills, and tarnished the reputation of lifeboats as a safety device. Mandatory changes Now officially termed “Lifeboat Release and Retrieval Systems” (LRRS), they are the focus of the International Maritime Organization’s MSC.1/Circ.1392. The circular, calls for major and mandatory improvements to safeguard lives both during lifeboat drills and in genuine evacuation emergencies at sea. Time is short The IMO regulations, issued in May 2011, state that all LRRS must be evaluated and verified against the new requirements no later than 1st July 2013. Systems found to be non-compliant must be replaced or modified. 2
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