Marine Recommendations - 2005

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Reassessment of the Responses to Marine Safety Recommendation M05-03

Standards for Testing Rigid and Inflatable Liferafts

Background

At about 1700 Atlantic daylight time, on 25 June 2003, the fishing vessel Silent Provider left Canso, Nova Scotia, in fair weather and visibility, and headed for Petit-de-Grat, Nova Scotia. Approximately one hour later, smoke was seen coming from the engine room doorway. The fixed halon fire smothering system in the engine room was discharged, but did not appear to bring the fire under control. The crew broadcast a Mayday and then deployed the rigid liferaft, an Ovatek 4, into the water.

After donning their immersion suits, the two-member crew entered the water and attempted to board the rigid liferaft. When the first crew member entered the liferaft, a significant amount of water was shipped inside, and the liferaft rolled onto its side. Concerned about his safety, the crew member exited the liferaft. After several unsuccessful attempts to board and stabilize the craft, the crew decided to remain in the water and use the rigid liferaft as a flotation device.

Approximately one hour after abandoning the Silent Provider, the two crew members, suffering from mild hypothermia, were rescued by the fishing vessel Cape Ryan. The Silent Provider later burned to the waterline and sank.

Liferafts are often used under environmental conditions that are substantially more challenging than calm water pool testing. Canadian standards (TP 7321, TP 11342), which are derived from IMO standards, for testing liferafts call for critical tests such as swamping, righting, stability, and boarding to be done in isolation one from the other and under calm conditions. The investigation revealed that, although the rigid liferaft passed individual tests related to stability, swamped condition, boarding, and righting, when used under realistic conditions, the liferaft did not function as expected. Although performance-based testing is applied to liferafts in the aviation industry, such a practical demonstration of liferaft capability in actual service conditions is not required for liferafts carried on Canadian vessels.

The Board concluded its investigation and released report M03M0077 on 13 September 2005.

Board Recommendation M05-03 (13 September 2005)

The Board was concerned that liferafts are being certified without full consideration of realistic service conditions such as boarding or stability with water inside the liferaft or boarding while in waves, and that Canadian and international standards for testing and certification of rigid and inflatable liferafts are not sufficiently performance-based, thus placing passengers and crews at undue risk. Therefore, the Board recommended that:

The Department of Transport develop and implement performance-based standards to ensure that all liferafts deployed on Canadian vessels are capable of operating in severe marine conditions and, further, encourage the International Maritime Organization to adopt a parallel approach internationally.

M05-03

Response to M05-03 (28 November 2005)

The Minister of Transport notes the recommendation. Transport Canada (TC) will continue to actively work with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to improve the testing and performance criteria of all survival craft. Currently work at IMO is focused on improving the testing criteria for lifeboats and release mechanisms, as this has been a concern internationally and domestically.

TC is working on improving standards for survival craft in a number of areas:

1. As noted in the report, TC has presented findings at the Design and Equipment Sub-committee at IMO that indicate that the use of 75 kg as the weight used for test subjects in prototype testing of survival craft is not truly representative of today's seamen. In light of this fact Canada proposed that the mass of an average test subject be increased to 90 kg as being more representative of modern anthropometric parameters. TC has subsequently submitted a paper on a related agenda item and will continue to work with other members for changes to the size of test subjects at Fire Protection Sub-Committee in January 2006.
2. TC has recently carried out testing on lifeboat release mechanisms in an effort to identify weaknesses in the testing protocol. TC will continue to work on improving the international standards for release mechanisms.
3. TC is planning to carry out research regarding thermal requirements of liferafts. The current IMO standards specify a need for insulated floors and canopies in liferafts without specifying the value of thermal protection required. This research will assist in improving the performance criteria of liferafts.

Board Assessment to the Response to M05-03 (19 January 2006)

As was noted in the investigation report into this occurrence, survival in emergency situations at sea depends to a large extent on survival equipment performing as intended. Consequently, it is essential that the standards for testing liferafts-rigid or inflatable-measure performance in relation to anticipated use and, ideally, under actual service conditions. Presently, this is not the case. The Board's recommendation therefore called on TC to not only develop and implement performance-based standards to ensure that all liferafts deployed on Canadian vessels are capable of operating in severe marine conditions, but to encourage IMO to adopt a parallel approach.

Other than those actions concerning liferaft standards already noted in the investigation report, the response by TC indicated that the department is planning to carry out research regarding thermal requirements. There is no indication in the response of any other domestic initiative under consideration or being taken regarding liferaft-related testing and performance criteria performance for operating in more severe marine conditions.

Although there is no indication in the response by TC that, internationally, improvements in the liferaft-related testing and performance criteria are being addressed, TC is working at the international level through IMO to further improve the testing and performance criteria of survival equipment. The development of goal or performance-based standards is well underway within IMO in addressing a variety of maritime matters, such as lifejackets, evacuation guidance systems, voyage data recorders and ship construction. Furthermore, a correspondence group of the IMO Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Equipment (48th session, 21-25 February 2006) will be expected to prepare performance requirements for survival craft used on future passenger ships.

The response is considered Satisfactory in Part.

Response to M05-03 (November 2006)

TC's update, dated November 2006, indicated it will continue to work with the IMO to improve the testing and performance criteria of all survival equipment. TC is working on improving standards for survival craft in a number of areas, including: proposed to IMO that the mass of an average test subject be increased to 90 kg; continue to work with other members for changes to the size of test subjects at the Fire Protection Sub-Committee in January 2006; continue to work on improving the international standards for release mechanisms for lifeboats; to carry out research regarding thermal requirements of liferafts. The current IMO standards specify a need for insulated floors and canopies in liferafts without specifying the value of thermal protection required.

Board Reassessment of the Response to M05-03 (November 2006)

TC's update provided no information to indicate that improvements in the liferaft-related testing and performance criteria are being addressed to ensure that liferafts deployed on Canadian vessels are capable of operating in actual service conditions. However, TC is working internationally to further improve performance testing and approval standards of survival equipment: including measures to prevent accidents with lifeboats, compatibility of life-saving appliances and test standards for extended service intervals of inflatable liferafts.

Therefore, the assessment remains at Satisfactory in Part.

Response to M05-03 (June 2008)

TC's update, dated June 2008, indicated that TC is working on improving standards for survival craft in a number of areas, including a proposal to IMO that the mass of an average test subject be increased to 90 kg; work continues with other members for changes to the size of test subjects at the Fire Protection Sub-Committee; work continues to improve the international standards for release mechanisms for lifeboats; to carry out research regarding thermal requirements of liferafts.

The current IMO standards specify a need for insulated floors and canopies in liferafts without specifying the value of thermal protection required.

TC is currently engaged in scientific data collection regarding the thermal performance requirements for life rafts. Following this data collection TC will address current shortcomings in Life Saving Equipment Regulations and at IMO.

Board Reassessment of the Response to M05-03 (September 2008)

No substantial change to address the safety deficiency since the last assessment.

Therefore, the assessment of the response remains as Satisfactory in Part.

Response to M05-03 (March 2010)

TC's update, dated March 2010, indicated that it is working on improving standards for survival craft in a number of areas, including a proposal to the Fire Protection Sub-Committee at the IMO that the mass of an average test subject be increased to 90 kg. Work also continues to improve the international standards for release mechanisms for lifeboats as well as to carry out research and data collection regarding thermal performance requirements of liferafts. Following this data collection, Transport Canada will address current shortcomings in the regulatory regime, as well as at the International Maritime Organization, as the current International Maritime Organization standards specify a need for insulated floors and canopies in liferafts without specifying the value of thermal protection required.

Board Reassessment of the Response to M05-03 (March 2010)

Work continues on improving standards for survival craft in a number of areas, including a proposal to the Fire Protection Sub-Committee at the IMO that the mass of an average test subject be increased to 90 kg. Work also continues to improve the international standards for release mechanisms for lifeboats as well as to carry out research and data collection regarding thermal performance requirements of liferafts. Following this data collection, Transport Canada will address current domestic and international shortcomings regarding standards that do not specify the value of thermal protection for insulated floors and canopies in liferafts.

Therefore, the assessment of the response remains at Satisfactory in Part.

Response to M05-03 (December 2010)

TC's update in December 2010 indicated that it has submitted a proposal to the Fire Protection Sub-Committee at the International Maritime Organization that the mass of an average test subject be increased to 90 kg. Work also continues to improve the international standards for release mechanisms for lifeboats as well as to carry out research and data collection regarding thermal performance requirements of liferafts. Following this data collection, TC will address current shortcomings in the regulatory regime, as well as at the International Maritime Organization, as the current International Maritime Organization standards specify a need for insulated floors and canopies in liferafts without specifying the value of thermal protection required.

Board Reassessment of the Response to M05-03 (March 2011)

As this initiative is ongoing, and there has been no substantial change to address the safety deficiency since the last assessment, the assessment of the response remains as Satisfactory in Part.

Next TSB Action (March 2012)

TSB Marine Branch staff will monitor the proposed actions.

The deficiency file is assigned an Active status.