USCG: Unexpected Dangers: Lifeboat Remote Control Wires

During a recent vessel inspection, a vessel’s crew was lowering the lifeboat when the remote control wire arrangement caused two separate failures:

• The remote control wire parted as the lifeboat was being lowered with crew on board. Causal factors included poor winch spooling potentially hidden under the outer spools, which led to a wire kink and winding on itself, creating enough force to part the wire.
• The second failure occurred a day later after the replacement remote control wire was hand spooled from extra wire found on board. During testing with crew on board the boat using the remote control wire to lift the brake, an unexpected pay out of wire led to the winch brake prematurely engaging, which made the lifeboat stop lowering and swing erratically above the embarkation deck. Seconds later, the movement caused the wire to regain tension, which lifted the winch brake arm and caused the lifeboat to lower again. While lowering in a swinging motion, the skeg of the lifeboat caught on the knife-edge of the ship’s deck, causing the lifeboat to list more than 90 degrees.

An internal company investigation of these incidents identified the crew did not follow existing company policy which required a test lowering without crew prior to embarking crew. The company’s policy is based on recommendations within MSC.1-Circ.1578, Guidelines on Safety During Abandon Ship Drills Using Lifeboats.

Quick action of a crewmember who activated the winch brake lever from the deck – otherwise the lifeboat could have inverted further and led to catastrophic outcomes.