MSF: Fast Rescue craft (FRC) washed overboard and lost at sea

A vessel was proceeding from port to an offshore location when the port side Fast Rescue Craft (FRC) was washed overboard. An unexpected (rogue) wave impacted the port side FRC stowage compartment, which was swamped from abeam. The boat was immediately seen by the bridge watch to be in the water floating in a capsized condition. Video footage shows that the rogue wave reached up to and beneath the port side bridge wing. The boat could not be recovered at that time. 

A large, unexpected wave hit the vessel from abeam. The wave forced the FRC upwards, impacting the davit with such a force that it severely damaged the hook release mechanism. The lashing straps for the FRC (2.5t) were under-dimensioned and worn out (5 years old). 

 
During the onboard investigation it was confirmed that the davit hook and wire were still intact/undamaged, but the fibre lashing straps had been torn apart, and several davit components were damaged. The FRC was subsequently recovered and an equipment manufacturer report on the Henriksen type hook show that the arrangement had suffered plastic deformation of the hook body, hook element, and release mechanism consistent with an abnormal high energy impact, resulting in structural deformation. No evidence has been identified to suggest malfunction, wear-related failure, or spontaneous release under normal operating conditions