Failure of rescue boat release mechanism
The Marine Safety Forum has published Safety Flash 11-36 regarding the failure of a rescue boat release mechanism. During a routine launch of the rescue boat whilst at sea, the painter released early causing the towing forces normally absorbed by the painter to shift onto the fall wire once the boat was waterborne. This resulted in the rescue boat capsizing. It is possible that the early release of the painter was due to a failure in the painter release mechanism.
Further investigation is ongoing.
Further information can be found from marinesafetyforum.org/upload-files//safetyalerts/msf-safety-flash-11.36.pdf
Safety Event
Published: 25 November 2011
Download: 
IMCA SF 13/11
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