MSF: Fast Rescue Craft (FRC) Maintenance - High Potential Near Miss

Description of Incident

A vessel was conducting a change out of lifting slings on one of their Fast Rescue craft (FRC), they had just completed this job on the Starboard FRC and had now moved to the Port FRC. This was a job that had been conducted many times at sea before, and it all appeared to be going well. It was during the change out of the Port side lifting slings that the FRC slipped from the davit cradle with two crew members onboard. The FRC craft went into an uncontrolled decent to sea with both crew members having to jump into the water clear of the falling FRC.

During the subsequent investigation it was found that the FRC was only secured by the aft bowsing line. As the FRC came clear of the davit and started to fall the stainless-steel carabiner on the after bowsing line failed.

This was considered a routine task, however there was no procedure. The task should have been fully Risk Assessed, identifying all risks and hazards. A Toolbox talk was undertaken but this did not fully cover all the aspects of the work to be undertaken.

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