Release hook guidelines raise questions

摘要

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has finally made a move in setting out a framework of guidelines governing the design and maintenance of on-load lifeboat release hooks. At the 89th meeting of the body's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) in May, a clear set of guidelines were unveiled under MSC.l./Circ.l392. Remarkably, MSC 89 marked the first time that guidelines for on-load release hooks -now dubbed 'lifeboat release and retrieval systems' - have been approved, although these product types have been available for 25 years. The guidelines are now set to become mandatory under Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and will apply to new boats from 1 July 2014. Vessels carrying existing lifeboat release and retrieval systems will have to test their hooks and, should they fail to meet the set standards, will have to upgrade these hooks at their first drydock after the deadline.