Best Knowledge Sharing presententation on the SPE's HSE Conferanse 2010. During a full scale test of a freefall lifeboat on a permanent production installation offshore Norway in June 2005, weaknesses in the superstructure was experienced. The lifeboat had been type approved by Norwegian authorities, based on design and testing requirements in international codes. As a result of the discovery, The Norwegian Oil Industry Association - OLF, on behalf of its member companies, initiated a full investigation of all 16 freefall lifeboat types on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS). During a four year programme of investigations, tests and analysis, several weaknesses have been disclosed. The outcome of the Norwegian Lifeboat project (LBP) has lead to proposed remedial actions for existing lifeboats and the development of a new standard for future freefall lifeboats. The project has been carried out in co-operation with unions, lifeboat manufacturers and authorities. It has been a unique life boat review project, and has reduced the risk of a potential evacuation situation offshore.

1. The Norwegian Lifeboat Project
Per Otto Selnes
Manager Operations
the Norwegian Oil Industry Association www.olf.no

2. The Norwegian Lifeboat Project
Where the skeletons kept falling out of the closet
Contents
1. Background
2. Deflections of hatches and superstructure
3. Acceleration – safety for passengers
4. Outward movement
5. New standard for free fall life boats

3. 1.Background
where it all started
Full scale test offshore
Installation test in summer 2005 with a skid boat gave
major deflections of hatches and superstructure

4. 1. Background
Industry cooperation
The Norwegian Oil Industry Association - OLF, on
behalf of its member companies, initiated a full
investigation of all 16 freefall lifeboat types on the
Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS).

5. 1. Background
Comprehensive testing
During a four year programme of
investigations, tests and analysis, several
weaknesses have been disclosed.

6. 1. Background
Shortcomings
Major shortcomings identified in existing
regulations, and in the lifeboats:
Structural weaknesses
Acceleration challenges - safety for passengers
Outward movement from the installations

7. 1. Background
Results
The outcome of the Norwegian Lifeboat
project (LBP) has lead to proposed remedial
actions for existing lifeboats and the
development of a new standard for future
freefall lifeboats.

8. 1. Background
Functional requirements
The Norwegian authorities amended their regulations
in the autumn of 2006, and requested the lifeboat
owners to ensure that it is possible…
“…to evacuate all personnel on an installation
quickly and effectively to a safe area during all
weather conditions”

9. 2. Deflection of hatches and superstructure
Unacceptable structural degree of deflection
Offshore installation tests in close to calm
water carried out in 2005 revealed an
unacceptable structural degree of
deflection of the roof in one of the 16 types
of free-fall lifeboats.

11. 2. Structure
Hatch after drop

12. 2. Structure
Deflection of superstructure and
support elements after drop

13. 2. Deflection of hatches and superstructure
The findings revealed that the design and
testing requirements to free fall lifeboats
issued by UN’s International Maritime
Organisation (IMO) are inadequate.

14. 2. Deflection of hatches and superstructure
• Realistic tests have been carried out
• All 16 different freefall lifeboat types have
been analysed and examined against a set
of structural criteria, including suitable load
cases and structural safety levels.

16. 2. Deflections of hatches and superstructure
Model tank test
The testing program included up to over 20.000 model
tests of freefall lifeboats in a wave tank

17. 2. Deflections of hatches and superstructure
Model drop

18. 2. Deflections of hatches and superstructure
Shortcomings with respect to hull accelerations
Calm water
50 Hs 15m
45
40
35
30
Max acc
25
20
15
10
5
0
Boat 1 Boat 2 Boat 3

19. 2. Deflections of hatches and superstructure
Reinforcements
It has been necessary to reinforce the
superstructure of 140 lifeboats,
representing 11 of the 16 types.

20. 2. Deflections of hatches and superstructure
Reinforcements
The reinforcements required have been
made by installing additional beams in
order to strengthen the superstructure
(canopy), and strengthening the frames of
the access hatches and doors.

21. 2. Deflections of hatches and superstructure
Reinforcements shown in animation

22. 3. Accelerations
Safety for lifeboat passengers
The overall purpose has been to provide
a comprehensive assessment of
occupant injury risk during drop
conditions in an effort to improve
occupant safety.

24. 3. Acceleration
Safety for lifeboat passengers
The entire research scope has included
• injury biomechanics
• occupant assessment criteria
• boat hydrodynamics
• full-scale testing
• model-scale testing
• numerical modelling
• sensitivity analysis and optimization
• sled testing.

25. 3. Acceleration
Safety for lifeboat passengers
It has been necessary to develop specific
acceptance injury criteria and limits.

26. 3. Acceleration
Applying criteria in start-to-finish evaluations
Full-scale testing Numerical modeling Sled testing
Injury measurements
• Head
• Abdomen and thorax
• Neck

27. 3. Acceleration
Injury criteria
• Level 1 No, or only minor, injuries
• Level 2 Serious injuries may occur
• Level 3 Injuries with very long recovery time,
permanent injuries which
significantly can reduce future ability
to work, or injuries which may cause
death, may occur

28. 3. Acceleration
Variations in impact
The impact on the human body from high
accelerations varies not only with drop
height, but more importantly with wave
height and direction, and also the loading
(weight) of the boat.

29. 3. Acceleration
Passenger seating matters
Persons seated in seats at the extreme ends
of a boat are generally subject to higher
impact than if seated in the middle.

30. 3. Acceleration
Results
• New acceleration criteria have
been developed
• Recommendations
– Temporary seating restriction
– Permanent improvements of
belts
– Modification of the FF1000D type

31. 4. Outward movement

32. 4. Outward movement
The boat has to leave the installation
• Forward distance/speed immediately after water
entry, thrust and steering capacity have been
evaluated up to a 100-year weather condition.
• Final results are given as contour plots for four sea
states representing the Norwegian Sea

33. 4. Outward movement
Launch directions
Results are given for two launch directions (head seas
and bow oblique seas) and two values of time for start
propeller after water entry (5s and 10s).

34. 4. Outward movement
Life boat placement and structure
Engine start 10 sec.
after water impact
Lifeboat
closest to
the structure
+
Structure Structure

35. 5. New standard for free fall lifeboats
The new standard is for future
freefall lifeboats on the NCS OFFSHORE STANDARD
Reinforcement an restrictions
make exciting lifeboats safe

36. 5. New standard for free fall lifeboats
Content
Safety philosophy and construction
principals
OFFSHORE STANDARD
Loads and load effects
Materials – choices and qualification
Structure/construction
Operational specifications
Safety and comfort for passengers
Model and full scale testing

37. 6. Summary
Weaknesses on the superstructure was
discovered in one of the 16 types of freefall
lifeboats on the NCS in June 2005, a joint
industry project was established in the
Norwegian Oil Industry Association

38. 6. Summary
• In addition to the initial discovery, the project scope
include:
– investigation of the freefall lifeboats wrt. to hull
strength, G-forces impact on personnel on board,
outward movement from the installation;
– investigation of conventional lifeboats and
launching arrangements
– a specification for freefall lifeboats being built whilst
the project is underway
– A new standard for future freefall lifeboats on the
NCS

39. 6. Summary
The project delivery has been to carry out
extensive model testing and computer
simulations in wind and waves, full scale tests in
water, strength analysis and to issue
recommendations to the lifeboat owners on
actions required to comply with the Norwegian
regulations
Unions have made important contributions
throughout the project