A Locked-Position Monitor for Improving Safety of Release Hooks in Enclosed Lifeboats

Abstract

Repeated casualties caused by inadvertent release of lifeboat release hooks during drills and inspections have attracted the attention of the International Maritime Organization, which correspondingly amends the Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code in the international convention for the Safety of Life at Sea. This study proposes novel installations of locked-position monitors on release hooks for monitoring and safety checks. With the installation of locked-position monitors near unsealed pull rod, upon lifting the lifeboat from the water, the sensors can initiatively detect whether the release hooks are in a locked position. If the release hooks are not in the locked position for any reason, audible alarms are activated, warning lifeboat operators to cease operations and wait for further inspection. The example provided in this research indicates that locked-position monitors can be implemented on lifeboats to reduce accidents resulting from malfunctioning lifeboat release hooks, thereby promoting a safer working environment for all seamen at sea.