An answer to lifeboat drill accidents

The problem is that as the recent death of a crewman onboard Harmony of the Seas underscores, lifeboats can be death traps. And the onboard personnel are aware of it, which means “there’s a horrible circle… crew have begun to get more hesitant about doing it… and so they avoid the drills, which means they are even less familiar with the equipment – so it goes round and round in a spin”.

His colleague, Captain Anuj Velankar, P&I executive and Loss Prevention Advisor, said that a 2014 study showed “incidents involving lifeboats and their launching systems had caused nearly 16% of the total lives lost by merchant mariners” over a 10 year period, a figure that doesn’t include the injuries. Worryingly he also said: “All of these accidents occurred during training exercises or drills, supervised by qualified, experienced seafarers.”

However Mr Devereese pointed out the problem: “Experienced sailors, yes – but on that particular system, perhaps not.”

He explained that “when owners look to cut costs, they tend to cut crew and transfer them between vessels, so while the crew might be familiar with one setup, they might not be on another”. Further, it’s being reflected in the maintenance, which is likewise suffering.

In his view, this is one area that simulations can’t help, as although it might be useful for other training, he doubts it’s applicable to lifeboat drills: “You can’t replicate the roll of the deck, slippery conditions, sleepless crew…”

But the presence of an auditor from the company should help calm the tensions. After all, he will quite literally be putting his life on the line along with the crew.

Of course, some could take the view that if one of the directors or owners of the company was mandated to join them the necessary reform would take place even faster.

By Stevie Knight