On 29 and 30 September the Marine Working Group held a risk assessment workshop at the Perth Convention Centre to examine the launch and recovery of lifeboats and FRCs to determine if the risk to personnel could be eliminated. The use of videoconference technology enabled subject matter experts from around the globe to join participants in the room.

Lifeboats and Fast Rescue Craft (FRCs) are essential equipment on offshore oil and gas facilities.  In order to maintain and exercise the use of these small vessels at offshore locations in changeable conditions, some safety risk is introduced that can (and has) result in significant consequences. A recent incident which resulted in two fatalities in the Gulf of Mexico confirms that lifeboat testing and recovery is a high risk operation at offshore facilities.   SOLAS requirements for lifeboat testing were designed for trading vessels.

The Marine Working Group has taken on the task to examine these activities in detail with the purpose of determining if the safety risk to personnel can be eliminated. The Project Team has engaged with relevant stakeholders (e.g. Offshore Platforms; Rig Operators; FPSOs; FSOs; FLNG; Shore-Based Maintenance Teams; Lifeboat and FRC OEMs; Class Societies; and Regulators) to: 

  • map the testing regime of launching/recovery to regulatory requirements
  • review the latest equipment innovations
  • seek to understand different facility operators’ issues and processes
  • examine previous incidents and lessons learnt
  • perform a literature review to identify practices employed in other parts of the world.

Delivery of the risk workshop was a success, with useful discussions held within the room and with remote participants throughout both days.  All of the information and analysis collected in the session is now being processed.  Recommendations that can be implemented to achieve the purpose of eliminating the risk to personnel will be presented to the Marine Working Group.

Members can access recording of the webinar here

Learn more about Launch and Recovery of Lifeboats and FRCs initiative here.

Contact: [email protected]