We have obtained information regarding a Marine Safety Alert issued by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) concerning the material condition of aging fiberglass lifeboats.

Following a marine casualty involving a fiberglass failure on an older lifeboat, the USCG highlights the importance of verifying the material condition of lifeboat fiberglass structures, metal components, and the hook release systems that secure lifeboats to ship davits. This failure occurred despite regular, manufacturer-recommended inspections. For full details, please refer to the USCG Marine Safety Alert 12-26.

Members are encouraged to ensure that inspections based on this alert are not treated as a one-off exercise, but are integrated into their daily safety management to maintain practical effectiveness.

• Incorporation into the PMS and continuous execution:
  It is recommended that specific inspection items for lifeboat fiberglass structures and hook release systems be explicitly incorporated into the Planned Maintenance System (PMS) under the Safety Management System (SMS) to eusure a continuous maintenance and inspection cycle.


• Creating user-friendly procedures (Preventing mere formalities):
  Where inspection checklists and procedures are overly complex, there is a risk that on-site verification may become purely administrative. Management companies are encouraged to review and streamline these procedures and mechanisms, ensuring they are practical and intuitive for crew members to execute reliably on site.


• Sharing at Shipboard Safety and Health Committee meetings and fostering a safety culture:
  We suggest sharing the contents of this Safety Alert at upcoming Shipboard Safety and Health Committee meetings. Using this opportunity for the crew to discuss the risks associated with aging lifeboats can help further foster a strong safety culture and a shared sense of ownership across the vessel.

We will continue to provide the latest information and technical insights to assist our Members in preventing accidents.