Liferaft Deployment

Following a number of fishing vessel losses where liferafts did not deploy successfully, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch recommended a study of the problems. This work comprised capsizing and sinking tests on two model trawlers, equipped with fishing gear, to determine how liferaft canisters and painters can become snagged and affect deployment. The work has important implications for many types of vessel in addition to fishing vessels, in particular those with masts, gantries and complex superstructure arrangements, where siting the liferaft stowage will be critical. Sailing vessels are an obvious type on which automatic liferaft deployment is likely to be hindered.

The Deployment of Liferafts Carried on UK Registered Fishing Vessels (Phase I).(PDF, 6.8MB)