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Study Focus on Fast Rescue Boats Recovery
01 Jul 2005
Bristol based Dag Pike Associate s (DPA) has completed a study for the Health and Safety Executive in the UK designed to improve the performance of the Fast Rescue Boats (FRCs) used on stand-by and multi-role vessels used in the North Sea offshore oil operations. The study looked at both the health and safety aspects of the crews operating the FRCs as well as improving their performance so that they could operate in more severe conditions.
In addition to the operation of the FRCs the study also looked at their launch and recovery systems. A wide variety of davit and crane systems are currently in use and it is the operation of the davit or crane that largely dictates the conditions in which the FRC can operate, particularly the recovery capability. This in turn is often dictated by the hook-on and release systems used. The study produced ways to improve the performance of davit and crane systems in a variety of areas and also looked at alternative systems such as stern ramp launch.
'We have a huge amount of experience with the design and development of rescue boats and their launch and recovery systems on a range of different ships, commented Dag Pike, the senior partner of DPA. 'We were aware that many things had not changed in the stand-by vessel operations for many years and this study has allowed us to identify a variety of ways in which systems can be improved without replacement. Although aimed specifically at the offshore sector, much of the work we have done would be equally applicable to the passenger ship sector'.
In addition to looking at the boats and their launch and recovery systems, the study also looked at the training of crews and operators. Here the report has proposed significant changes to the current systems in order to provide crews with a more realistic approach to training.
'This could apply to the wider maritime sector where IMO has expressed concern about the inadequacy of current training following a series of accidents with launching and recovery of FRCs. Many of the techniques we have proposed for the offshore oil industry could also be applicable to the passenger ships', said Dag Pike.
MJInformation No: 20824
