200239 Freefall Launch Failure

Freefall Launch Failure
Report No. 200239

It was the first time I had been in command of a vessel with a freefall lifeboat. The boat weighed over 12 tonnes and accommodated forty persons. Stowed with the bow 20 meters, and the davit head 35 meters, above the load waterline, it was an impressive structure. Anecdotal evidence suggested that the boat had not been freefall launched for about two years, although it had been davit launched six months previously in dry dock, where repairs to the fenders and sprinkler system had been carried out.

The crew advised that, on that occasion, it had taken the dry dock staff almost a whole day to recover and stow the boat. A period at anchor in calm waters whilst in ballast afforded the opportunity to learn, and teach, how the system should work.

The first problem encountered was that the wire fall from the davit head did not plumb over the lifting hook. An arrangement of slings and chain blocks was required to run the boat out sufficiently to a position where the falls would take the weight. The boat was then lowered to the water level, recovered and re-stowed without difficulty, using the reverse of the slinging procedure adopted for lowering. Next, the whole procedure was repeated with about half the ships compliment aboard. All the systems were tested satisfactorily, but I found manoeuvring the boat very difficult due to the extremely poor range of visibility from the conning position.

Finally, an attempt was made to launch the boat by freefall but without any crew aboard (they did not trust me that much ..!). The rescue boat was standing-by to film the launch and to place the recovery crew aboard. The securing lock was disengaged using the external ratchet mechanism and ....NOTHING!!

Whilst all components had been proved well greased and free moving with no load on, it seemed that the launch mechanism did not work on load. Six heavy blows with a 7kg sledge hammer were required to start the weighted release hook moving before the laws of gravity took over as designed. Upon recovery it was found that all the forward fendering and several of the forward sprinkler pipes had been ripped from the hull. Temporary repairs were made but I guess it is back to dry dock for the same permanent repairs as last time.