MV BLUEFIN QUALITY MANUAL - Australian Maritime College

Australian Maritime College
16.0 LAUNCHING AND RECOVERY OF TOWED EQUIPMENT
Injuries have occurred in the past when heavy loads are lifted off the deck prior to swinging
over the side or stern. Steadying lines should always be used, even in calm weather, so
as to minimise unwanted movement of the load.
Launching
Site survey equipment is launched in compliance with manufacturers’ operation manuals.
Prior to deployment a visual inspection is made, and tests are performed of all systems.
Before equipment is deployed the weather conditions are assessed for operating
tolerances. The conditions are likely to be out of tolerance when the weather or sea state
causes any of the following:
(i) When vessel motion is such that there is a risk to personnel or equipment during
potential launch or recovery operations.
(ii) Line keeping by the vessel is out of specification.
(iii) The recorded data is of a poor quality and thus no longer meets the specifications.
Once the weather conditions are suitable for site survey operations, overside equipment is
deployed in a pre-determined sequence to minimise entanglement, and the risk of injury to
personnel. Apart from the seismic streamer that is deployed directly from the streamer
winch, all sensor and source tow cables are deployed through blocks either suspended
from the 'A' frame type gantry, or from davits provided for the purpose. All lifting points
have been load tested. Only essential personnel are on the back deck at this time.
Personnel working on deck should wear the specified clothing, e.g. overalls, correct safety
boots with non-slip soles, good working gloves, if appropriate, flotation devices in the
areas marked, and hard hats.
Before any equipment is launched or recovered, the officer of the watch is informed. If in
his opinion, or in his absence that of his nominated deputy, it is not safe due to weather
conditions to launch or recover equipment, the action must not be allowed to take place.
Immediately prior to deployment of any equipment, the bridge, engine room and duty
personnel are informed through the intercom system or hand held radios.
The speed of the vessel during launching will be kept as low as possible for the equipment
being launched.
Recovery
Future expected weather conditions should be considered so that overside equipment may
be recovered before deteriorating weather conditions get too bad to allow safe recovery.
Site survey equipment is recovered in compliance with manufacturers’ operation manuals,
in a pre-determined sequence to minimise entanglement, and the risk of injury to
personnel. Only essential personnel are on the back deck at this time.
Chapter 1: MV BLUEFIN Safety Management Plan Page 32 of 46
Revised: November 2010