Quantifying lifeboat safety using DropXMF and DavitXMF
Conference/JournalMARIN Report 141
Date31 Oct 2024
Lifeboat certification requirements (DNV SE 0059) dictate that operators must demonstrate that each installed lifeboat can be used safely for a specific platform and site. To demonstrate the safe use of lifeboats, MARIN has developed DropXMF (for free-fall lifeboats) and DavitXMF (for davit launched lifeboats).
One important safety criterion for certification is the safe sail, which takes two factors into account. Firstly, the lifeboat must not collide with the platform (or exceed a certain threshold velocity during the collision), and secondly, the lifeboat must be able to sail sufficiently far away from the platform within a one-minute timeframe.
One important safety criterion for certification is the safe sail, which takes two factors into account. Firstly, the lifeboat must not collide with the platform (or exceed a certain threshold velocity during the collision), and secondly, the lifeboat must be able to sail sufficiently far away from the platform within a one-minute timeframe.
Contact
Patrick Schrijvers
Senior Project Manager/Teamleider • Offshore
Maarten van der Leij
Projectmanager
Wim Kleermaker
Project Engineer/Specialist
Full-scale trials were carried out
MARIN continually works on improving the safety of lifeboats and more than a decade ago, we joined Statoil (now Equinor) and Norsafe (now Viking Norsafe) to develop DropXMF and DavitXMF. The development entailed model tests for multiple lifeboat types in calm water and waves, for various drop heights, skid angles, wave phasing relative to the point of impact of the lifeboat and wave heights.
Example of a polar plot that summarises the results of a DropXMF project
Lifeboat launch in DavitXMF. The lifeboat is lowered with hoisting wires. When the lines are slack, the hoisting wires are disconnected and the lifeboat sails away.