See rescue with Markusnet.

It adds value to other lifesaving means on board!

Are these man overboard tragedies necessary!

Once again we are reminded of the dangers related to man overboard incidents. Now in a harbour at the quay side, close to a quay ladder and involving a traditional fishing boat, with no shelter over deck midship in front of the wheelhouse and from where there should not have been any difficulties to retrieve a person from the water. The other involving sail yacht. References: MAIB Safety Digest 2/2003 cases 20 and 26. This could be a story related to any type of vessel.

Still in the 21st century we experience all the same symptoms: A cold shock, a crew member jumps into the water to help and the rest of the crew have to pick up the pieces, one crew member dead and one nearly because of hypothermia in harbour and helmsman dead in the other.

How similar is this to the Milford Haven accidents which happened some years ago? How similar is this to the yachting accident which happened last spring. Why does this happen again and again? What was done then concerning this matter? What was the result? Why was an extra liferaft required for these purposes on fishing vessel, not something more effective which was available approved in UK at that time? Where there affordable solutions that could have prevented such incidents becoming tragedies?

I design and manufacture man overboard recovery systems, which are designed to be used in such situations at sea and in harbours, to prevent this tragedies happen. I have made considerable effort to have it available and MCA approved in UK since 1986. The recovery system has proven to do what is expected of it in a very harsh weather and sea conditions and it sometimes surprises myself how those seafarers who train the use of it and know the advantages and limitations of the system, have been able to use it successfully.

Why is it then that this technique that we base our solution on is not defined in national and international regulations?

If there are neither definitions nor requirements in regulations concerning man overboard safety and rescue and no requirements for teaching and training this subject, there will be no progress. That is what has happened. There are only requirements to train use of certain equipment, which are defined in regulations, such as liferaft, lifeboats, man overboard boat, immersion suit and lifejackets. When will there be a requirement for man overboard safety and rescue procedure and education, where these equipment are not the key issue or an additional means or know-how is needed? Will the marine safety and survival training centre take this subject up without requirements in regulation? Why haven't they done it already?

Who is responsible of holding this progress down?

Is it the regulation body, such as the local inspector, the national marine authority, the EC marine authority or the International Maritime Organisation?

Is it the Notifying bodies, the insurance companies or the Standardisation Institutes like the BSI and ISO.

Is it the marine industry media?

Is it the marine safety and survival training centres?

Is it the marine safety and rescue product manufacturers, distributors, dealers and services?

Is it the organisations of ship owners / operators, organisations of seafarers or is it the individual vessel and harbour operators and their staff.

Has it something to do with how rescue organisations and charity organisations work?

This contemplation is hopefully just a start of a fruitful discussion about the subject. I hope to have chances later to provide you with my answers to these questions and with valuable comments from others who response to my questions. Meanwhile you can visit our Internet web, www.markuslifenet.com where you find detailed information about the subject, a Q& A section and a discussion forum dedicated to man overboard safety and rescue issues. Please do not hesitate to send me your questions or comments regarding this matter.

Petur Th. Petursson is the designer and manufacturer of the Markus Lifenet man overboard recovery products. He is a former seaman, teacher, sailing instructor and has last 20 years dedicated his resources to the subject "man overboard safety and rescue" where ever it occurs.

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