Over the past 27 years there have been a
significant number of accidents and
fatalities related to lifeboats. Numerous
studies have looked into the cause of these
accidents. It has become clear that the
primary cause of fatalities has been related
to the release mechanisms (hook systems).
The most recent study commissioned by the UK
MCA (MCA 555 Report) specifically looked at
the relationship between lifeboat hooks and
lifeboat accidents.
MCA 555 Report Findings
The central finding of the MCA 555 report
was that there were three key elements for a
successful lifeboat hook. These three elements are:
Design
Training
Maintenance
All three of these elements are important
as shown in the pie chart on the left below.
The report found that the design of
conventional twin-fall lifeboat hooks was
inadequate. This inadequate design created a
greater reliance on both training and
maintenance as shown below in the chart.
Triple5 – A Design Centered Approach: In the development of a hook system for
twin-fall lifeboats the developers of the Triple5
hook took a design-centered approach. As shown
in the pie chart a significant emphasis was
placed on design. While training and maintenance
remain important, the emphasis on design reduces the
emphasis on both training and maintenance when
compared to conventional hook systems.
The
Triple5 Hook Mechanism Provides the Following:
An Inherently Stable hook using a Load Over
Center design.
A design that uses the weight of the boat to
hold the hook closed and not to open the hook.
A design based on SSI’s current hook that
has a 25 year accident free history.
Off-load safety with on-load functionality.
Triple5 – A design Centered Approach
to Lifeboat Hooks
