Fall Preventing Devices (FPD) are systems that prevent a lifeboat from being lost early and accidentally before touching the water surface.
HistoryIn 1986, the IMO complied with on-load release hooks on all lifeboats of all ships in the SOLAS Convention. On-load release hooks are hooks that can be unloaded early before the lifeboat floats in the water.
This measure has been introduced as a result of the Alexander Kielland drilling rig in the Ekofisk oil field.
The drill platform then captured a pier, and 186 people left it alive. The cause of the high number of victims was due to the fact that three of the four lifeboats continued to hang halfway through the drainage. The four lifeboats were equipped with off-load release hooks, these are hooks that can only be unloaded if the boat is fully worn by the water.
After the disaster, an on-load system was introduced, which also enabled a lifeboat to be unloaded if it is not completely in the water. Notwithstanding the fact that this is very efficient for watering a lifeboat, there have been a number of accidents since its introduction during drills and maintenance work. In these accidents, the on-load release system suddenly dropped the lifeboat undesirably and hit the sea.
To avoid this in the future, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) approved FPDs on June 11, 2009. They are made in accordance with MSC 1327 guidelines of the Maritime Safety Committee. Types of FPDs Locking pins
These are pins that are included in the on-load release hooks as additional protection. It is important that these pins be removed before running the on-load release system. Strops of Slings
These are made of synthetic fibers, cables or chains. In addition to the supporting cable, this is an additional connection between the davit and the lifeboat. For each strap or sling there must be a certificate on board that guarantees safety and every 6 months the straps or slings must undergo a thorough visual inspection. It is important that these straps or slings be removed before starting the on-load release system.
The material from which the strokes or slings are made must be resistant to:
On board oil and chemical tankers, it must be possible to disconnect the FPD from within the lifeboat. Also see
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