Preventing accidents during lifeboat drills
In February a typical lifeboat drill ended in tragedy again when five crew members died and three others were injured as the lifeboat they were slowly lowering suddenly fell into the ocean. The Danish company Cralog is offering a valuable tool in the fight against lifeboat accidents.
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In recent years the maritime industry has suffered an unacceptably high number of accidents with lifeboats in which crew were fatally injured while participating in lifeboat drills. According to the Marine Accident Investigations Branch database 13 people were killed and 138 injured in 125 lifeboat accidents over a 13-year period.
However, these figures reflect only a small proportion of total accidents that have occured worldwide. Numbers indicate that more than 100 seamen were killed operating lifeboats during the 1990’s.
The recent lifeboat accident in Spain in February that claimed five victims once again brings attention to the dangers of lifeboat drills and calls for action against the unsafe working conditons of seamen worldwide. The Danish company Cralog is addressing the problem and is offering a valuable tool in the fight against lifeboat accidents.
The tool is an online database – the Cralog – compiling and registering information on cranes, davits and lifeboats as well as on the vessels on which the equipment is installed. The database e.g. includes information concerning the type and make of the lifesaving equipment onboard and especially information on when and how to inspect the appliances.
The database also includes a worldwide directory of certified service suppliers making it easier for ship owners to find the best supplier for a specific job. Every single service supplier in the Cralog directory is rated regularly and is of course trained and qualified to inspect, maintain and repair all types of life saving equpiment in compliance with all international requirements.
In addition, Cralog also offers an extensive training program upgrading the skills of service suppliers qualifying them to inspect lifesaving equipment according to the flag state regulations.
By offering information on how and when to inspect the appliances, by gathering data on repair and maintenance, by giving easy access to highly qualified servcie suppliers and by upgrading the skills of the service suppliers, Cralog makes it easier for ship owners to conduct mandatory inspections and conform to international safety requirements.
According to Mr. Tom Samson, Managing Director of Cralog A/S, the overall aim of Cralog is to make it as easy as possible for ship owners to prioritize safety, avoid accidents and to create a safe working environment for all employees.
