SAFETY ALERT TECHNICAL No.23

AVON 6m SEARIDER OVERLOAD

A safety concern has arisen with the Avon 6m Searider Fast Rescue Craft (FRC)

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The SOLAS version of the Avon 6m Searider was designed for 9 persons and the prototype craft was load tested in accordance with IMO requirements (Resolution MSC.81(70) section 7) to ensure that it could be safely lifted out of the water when fully laden.  These tests have not been carried out for the 15 man craft.  The craft is rated to carry 15 persons when waterborne.

There is concern that in craft fitted with forward lifting eye plates rated at 1 tonne SWL, these eye plates are overloaded if the craft is lifted out of the water when fully loaded with 15 persons.  They can also be overloaded when lifted out of the water with 9 persons if the four leg lifting sling is not to the manufacturer's design geometry (this situation has been found on a number of boats in service).  We would advise you to contact Avon to ensure that the correct sling geometry is being used.

The MCA strongly advises operators that these fast rescue craft should not be lifted with 15 persons onboard until the design is verified for that number and a prototype test has been carried out.  Users are asked to advise their ships' Masters that until this matter is resolved, FRCs carrying 15 persons should reduce that number to 9 before the craft is lifted onboard.