Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority has decided to “prudent” and “precautionary” and has written ship owners and oil companies for “answers” on how prepared they are to use free-fall lifeboats in storm conditions.
Some lifeboats that free-fall from offshore installations in Norway “did not start” during evacuation, and “cracks” were found in others after falling from the lesser heights of test facilities.
Companies were given until 14 September 2007 to describe what they were doing in lieu of ideal lifeboat-escape solutions for the worst weather.
The PSA said its enquiries were made because “questions have again been raised regarding the suitability of lifeboats as a means of evacuation in bad weather”.
The industry has worked to improve free-fall lifeboats off Norway since “the summer of 2005”.
ws@scandoil.com
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