All Schat-Harding cruise tenders and lifeboats are already fitted with this new generation hook, complementing the second generation hook designs fitted into the KISS and Freefall boat ranges. From next month, all remaining types of boats will leave the factory fitted with the new hooks. The second generation of hooks has also been retrofitted for some cruise liner owners.

‘Current hooks all work to a design which has small safety tolerances, making them sensitive to lack of maintenance and hard to see if they are locked or not, said David Bradley, group after sales and service manager for Schat Harding. ‘Schat Harding’s second generation hooks solve those problems. The new design concepts have eliminated the need for strict tolerances and have used corrosion resistant material on critical components, simplifying maintenance routines and improving reliability. The hook lock is either clearly visible or is fitted with a clear external indicator to show that the hook is closed correctly. There is no substitute for good maintenance by skilled personnel but these hooks are as safe as it is possible to make an on-load release hook.’

Schat-Harding Freefall boats and KISS boats both have new hook designs based on the locked pipe system. In this system the tail of the hook is held in the locked position within a 3 to 5 cm deep steel pipe. It is clearly visible and can only be released by a 110(DEGREE) turn on the operating lever.

Conventional davit launched boats are now fitted with variants of Schat-Harding’s LHR hook range, based on a wearless cam system. The tail of the hook engages with the cam in the locking shaft when the shaft is in the locked position and has 3 cm of contact area. When the on-load release is activated by rotating the locking shaft a roller in the tail of the hook contacts with the cam area ensuring no need for tolerances and no wear on the assembly. This hook does not depend on close tolerances either during manufacture or use and is also visibly safe because the open close indicator is external and integral to the locking shaft.