Chichester Yacht Club Magazine September 2018 | Page 28

Safety warning about defective throw bag rescue lines The MAIB has issued urgent safety warnings after the failure of a throw bag Following the discovery of a defective throw bag rescue line by a rowing club in Warrington, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has issued an important safety It is likely that many of these throw bags will lie warning. dormant in a cupboard or locker until they are required to be deployed in an emergency. Throw bags will lie dormant in a cupboard or locker until they are required to be deployed in To ensure that throw bag rescue lines are fit an emergency. for purpose they should be opened and checked. In particular: As a result, the MIAB is urging all mariners ► The entire length of the rescue line should that may have any throw bag rescue lines in their possession to undertake urgent checks to be examined for joins or other discontinuities. ensure these are safe to use. This can best be done by feeling along the length of the line with bare hands to identify Many commercial craft and recreational rough patches or lumps vessels carry throw bag rescue lines as part of ► Any knots, splices or other methods of their safety equipment, and it is estimated that securing the ends of the line to handles, quoits there are tens of thousands in circulation in or other parts of the equipment should also be the UK alone. checked for integrity ► The throw bag should be inspected and tried at regular intervals and repacked according to the manufacturer’s instructions, as otherwise the line may not deploy freely from the bag when required ► Any throw bag rescue lines found to have joins or discontinuities should be removed from service and the original manufacturer /supplier informed To assist with this ongoing investigation, the MAIB is asking for full details of any defective throw bag rescue lines discovered to be reported via [email protected]. 28