Safety Alert - Technical No. 3

LOOSENING OF CRITICAL FASTENERS

This Safety Alert is applicable to Pacific 22 NKlll RHIB's manufactured by Osborne Rescue Boat Company, Havant, Hampshire, UK and all other craft with similar hoisting arrangements.

A recent incident has been brought to our attention where a vessel was hoisting a rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) on an inverted U-shaped lifting frame. The frame detached from the brackets inside the RHIB, causing it to drop to the water, at which point a person was ejected resulting in injury.

For further information on this specific incident, please see www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/moa/casualty.htm

It is suspected that the overriding reason for such a failure is Loose Fasteners

  • INSPECT - All bolted connections should be examined periodically to confirm their integrity and the tightness of individual bolts and nuts.
  • PREVENT - Critical bolted connections should be provided with means to prevent unintended loosening of the bolts. Examples of such means could include split pins, additional lock nuts, proprietary fasteners, "wiring" of bolt groups etc.
  • REPLACE - Critical bolted connections should be provided with means to prevent unintended loosening of the bolts. Examples of such means could include split pins, additional lock nuts, proprietary fasteners, "wiring" of bolt groups etc.

CHECK LIST

  • Regular maintenance procedure includes all critical fasteners
  • All critical fastenings of equipment are securely tightened
  • Means to prevent loosening of critical bolted connections is provided
  • All other key components are maintained regularly

For further information please contact
Shipping Safety Branch,
Maritime & Coastguard Agency Tel: +44 (023) 8032 9120
Issued: March 2005