On 22 May 2006, while at anchor in the Bay of Sept Iles, Canada, lifeboat drill was carried out on board the bulk carrier. During the recovery of lifeboat, the lifeboat fell in the accident. At present, Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) are investigating the lifeboat accident and has released a Marine Safety Advisory letter concerning the release gear mechanism, type SRS-37. Moreover the manufacturer of the lifeboat, Shigi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. published the safety guidance for the release gear mechanism as attached.

Object types of lifeboats manufactured by Shigi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. are as follows. And a part of following lifeboats manufactured from 2000 to 2004 are equipped with the release gear mechanism, type SRS-37.

Type of lifeboats :SZ-49BR, SZ-53BR, SZ-53TR, SZ-65BRS, SZ-65TRS, SZ-73TRS, SZ-80TRS

For the persons concerned of vessels which are carrying the above types of lifeboat, please carry out drill and maintenance of a lifeboat according to the attached guidance. In addition, according to the guidance, the main notes are as follows.

1. To be confirmed that no buckling of release cable and no damage of fixed metal fittings of a release cable.
2. To set a hook in a right procedure without giving excessive power to release handle.
3. To be confirmed that an indicator (a green mark) shown in the hook body agrees.

At present, some lifeboats manufactured by Japanese maker except Shigi Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. are equipped with the similar construction of hooks as type SRS-37. However, no similar damage is reported for those lifeboats as an attached case, because of different connection way of release cable and different operation.

For any questions about the above, please contact:

NIPPON KAIJI KYOKAI (ClassNK)
Material and Equipment Department, Administration Center, Head Office
Address: 4-7 Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8567, Japan
Tel.: +81-3-5226-2020
Fax: +81-3-5226-2057
E-mail: eqd@classnk.or.jp

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