Safelaunch lifeboat release hooks go titanium

By using the specialised lightweight high strength metal, a 40% weight saving has beb bben achieved over stainless steel. This now makes Safelaunch release hooks suitable for use on tenders, lifeboats and other craft where weight is crucial.

Safelaunch is recognised as a safe and reliable alternative to conventional lifeboat release hook mechanisms, which has led to its first installation on board new British built superyacht lifeboats. Although the use of titanium adds to the cost, Safelaunch can now be installed as a retrofit to improve safety on large yachts without affecting the structural integrity of the existing lifeboats.

Safelaunch was introduced in 2004 when it was the first of the new breed of fail-safe, off load/on load lifeboat release hook mechanisms. It was developed as an initiative of the directors of Survival Craft Inspectorate, who had become alarmed by the deaths among seafarers and the industry’s failure to address the problem of poorly designed release hook mechanisms.

Each Safelaunch release hook consequently features a colour coded indicator visible from outside the boat that shows the status of the release cam. If the indicator points to green, the boat is safe to enter whilst stowed in the davits. The cam release mechanism itself is also improved by providing superior contact between engaged components. Safelaunch also eliminates the use of any materials that could be vulnerable to corrosion and is more robust and less vulnerable to critical tolerances, misuse or neglect.

Survival Craft Inspectorate designers have also introduced a through-hook locking pin that guarantees positive safety during maintenance and boarding drills. The safety pins are typically kept in the care of the vessel’s central control room and are issued to crew or maintenance personnel in accordance with their permit to work process. Once the locking pin has been inserted the hook cannot be released regardless of what happens to the mechanism. The locking pin carries a high visibility pennant to ensure that it is removed when work is finished and the lifeboat is ready for emergency use.