Lifting boats safely
Henriksen Hooks of Norway has introduced two new systems to improve the safety of single-point boat launching and recovery. The new LiftView system has been developed so boat crews can know the weight of their boat and ensure that it is within the limits of their lifting system, while the Awarelight provides a simple visual indication of whether the hook is connected or not.
LiftView uses a load cell that can be fitted into any of the hooks in the Henriksen range. This is linked to a clear wheelhouse display that graphically shows the boat’s coxswain the exact weight on the hook. This is important as the boat’s weight can increase significantly when cargo and equipment is being delivered, if passengers have joined it or if large voulmes of water have been shipped in rough sea conditions.
Before the arrival of LiftView a coxswain would need to calculate mathematically the weight of any additional load items taken on board. Because the dynamic motion of the boat in the water also adds to the stresses on the hook and davit, LiftView also measures the additional loading due to pitch and roll. These are difficult calculations for the boat’s crew so the new system can provide reassurance by showing that they will be within the system’s safety limits when they are high above the water.
VISUAL INDICATOR
The Awarelight has also been introduced by Henriksen to provide a visual indicator that improves communications between the boat and the davit operator. These can be difficult if a boat is being launched or recovered from a substantial height, especially in bad weather.
The Awarelight can be used with or independently of a LiftView installation if desired and uses a bright LED light positioned where it will be clearly visible to the crane operator, even in bright sunlight. When the hook is closed around the lifting ring and the boat is secure, the coxswain will press the indicator button located beside his helm position. The AwareLight will then show a continuous light to indicate that the boat is ready for launching and may be lifted off its cradle. As the boat nears the water and the hook is activated and made ready for its automatic off-load release, the light begins to flash slowly. When the boat is on the water and the hook has been opened the flashing becomes rapid. During boat recovery the sequence is reversed.
With the entire weight of the boat, its passengers, crew and its cargo being dependent upon a single, relatively small piece of metal, Henriksen engineers believe that the importance of safety data should not be underestimated.
By Jake Frith
