Understanding the Onload and Offload Release of Lifeboat

Understanding the onload and offload release of lifeboat systems is critical for maritime safety and SOLAS compliance. Whether you're a ship owner, marine safety officer, or crew member, knowing when and how to use each lifeboat release mechanism can mean the difference between life and death during emergency evacuations.

This comprehensive guide explains the differences between lifeboat onload and offload release systems, their operational requirements, and best practices to help you maintain compliance and ensure crew safety.

Totally Enclosed Lifeboat

What is the Lifeboat Release Mechanism?

A lifeboat release mechanism is the system that disconnects a lifeboat from the davit falls (the wire ropes or cables that lower the boat). These mechanisms release the boat from the davit hooks, allowing the lifeboat to propel away from the vessel independently.

Modern lifeboats employ two primary release capabilities: offload (normal) release and onload (emergency) release, each designed for specific evacuation scenarios. The release system comprises several essential components including fore and aft release hooks, a release handle near the steering console, control cables, and a hydrostatic interlock unit.

Understanding Offload Release Mechanism

What is Offload Release?

Offload release is the standard method for lifeboat deployment that operates only after the boat's weight transfers to the water—releasing automatically when the boat is fully waterborne and bears no load on the hooks.

How Offload Release Works

When the lifeboat touches the water surface, a hydrostatic piston unit at the bottom detects water pressure. This pressure moves the piston upward through a linkage system connected to the operating lever. The piston's continued upward movement pushes the release lever, operating the hook arrangement and releasing the fall wire automatically.

When to Use Offload Release

Offload release is the preferred method when sea conditions are favorable and there's sufficient time for a controlled evacuation. Use this system when:

• The lifeboat is fully waterborne with no load on the release hooks

• Weather conditions are calm to moderate

• There's no immediate threat requiring rapid evacuation

Safety Considerations for Lifeboat Offload Release

SOLAS regulation III/1.5 requires that offload release operates independently without requiring manual separation of the lifting ring from the hook, allowing the crew to remain safely aboard the vessel during release. The automatic hydrostatic detection is designed to be reliable, but most offload mechanisms include manual backup capability for contingencies. However, manual release requires personnel to exit the lifeboat—a dangerous proposition during fires or extreme weather.

The effectiveness of offload release depends on proper maintenance of the hydrostatic piston and control cables, which must be inspected regularly to ensure they function correctly when needed.

Free Fall Lifeboat

Understanding Onload Release Mechanism

What is Onload Release?

Onload release is an emergency capability that allows the lifeboat to detach from davit falls even when suspended above water with full weight on the hooks. This system became mandatory for ships built after June 1, 1986, in response to maritime disasters where crews could not escape vessels in distress.

How Onload Release Works

A lever inside the boat near the helmsman's position operates this mechanism. When activated, control cables simultaneously release both forward and aft hooks, allowing the lifeboat to drop free from the falls. Normally, onload release is operated when the boat is approximately one meter above the water surface to ensure a smooth descent.

When to Use Onload Release

Use onload release in emergency situations when waiting for the boat to become fully waterborne would compromise crew safety:

• Vessel fires requiring immediate crew evacuation

• Rough seas preventing controlled lowering

• Severe vessel listing or rapid sinking scenarios

• Weather conditions making offload release impossible

Critical Safety Considerations

SOLAS regulation III/1.5 requires onload release mechanisms to release the lifeboat under all loading conditions from no load to 1.1 times the fully loaded mass, with a mandatory hydrostatic interlock that mechanically blocks the release handle when the boat is out of water, preventing accidental drops. An emergency override function must be protected by safety covers, locking pins, or break-glass mechanisms to prevent accidental use.

Operating onload release requires deliberate, two-stage action: removing the safety pin or breaking the protective glass, then pulling the release handle firmly and quickly. These systems have caused numerous fatal accidents due to improper operation and inadequate crew training, underscoring the critical importance of proper crew instruction and understanding the system's emergency-only purpose.

Lifeboat Onload and Offload Release: Key Differences Compared

The choice between onload and offload release depends entirely on vessel circumstances and evacuation urgency. Offload release provides safer, more controlled deployment when time permits. Onload release ensures crew survival when immediate evacuation is critical.

Step-by-Step Operating Procedures for Onload and Offload Releases

Lifeboat Offload Release Procedure

Before conducting offload release, confirm:

• Lifeboat is fully waterborne

• No ropes or lines are entangled on release hooks

• Engine has been started

• All crew are seated with seat belts fastened

Execute offload release by following these steps:

1. Lower the lifeboat until completely waterborne and supporting its own weight

2. Wait for the hydrostatic piston to sense water pressure

3. Release the safety lock device

4. Pull out the release handle safety pin

5. Pull the release handle to the fully open position in one continuous action

6. Both hooks should release simultaneously

Lifeboat Onload Release Procedure

Before conducting onload release, confirm:

• All crew are inside the boat with seat belts fastened

• The boat is at approximately 1 meter above water surface

• Only genuine emergency conditions warrant this procedure

Execute onload release by following these steps:

1. Remove the interlock safety pin or break protective glass

2. Move the emergency release handle to the green "armed" position

3. Pull the release handle firmly and quickly to the fully open position

4. Both hooks will release simultaneously while under load

5. Be prepared for a controlled drop to the water surface

Critical Warning: Never practice onload release during routine drills unless using approved simulation equipment. Actual onload release during drills has caused numerous fatalities.

Common Accidents and Safety Risks

Leading Causes of Accidents

Lifeboat release mechanism accidents continue to occur despite design improvements. Common causes include inadequate crew training, failure to properly reset hooks after drills, damaged release cables, confusion between different release designs, and language barriers.

Real-World Accident Case Study

On June 30, 2019, during a quarterly lifeboat drill at Shell's Auger platform in the Gulf of Mexico, Lifeboat 6 fell 80 feet when a degraded aft hook release cable—previously identified during maintenance but not replaced—prevented the hook from locking properly, resulting in two fatalities and one injury. This incident underscores the critical importance of timely maintenance and the dangers of deferring known defects.

Prevention and Best Practices

Effective accident prevention focuses on proper crew training using varied drill scenarios, regular maintenance following manufacturer instructions, strict adherence to operational procedures, interchanging crew roles, and using operating instructions specific to your vessel written in the common working language.

Maintenance and Inspection Best Practices

Proper maintenance of onload and offload release systems is mandatory under SOLAS regulation III/20 and critical for preventing failures during emergencies.

Weekly Inspections

Conduct visual inspections of all lifeboat components including condition of release hooks and their attachments, control cables for wear or corrosion, hydrostatic interlock unit operation, safety pins and protective devices, and hook indicators.

Monthly Maintenance

Monthly maintenance requires turning out lifeboats from stowed position (weather permitting), testing release gear operation with the boat partially in water, verifying hydrostatic interlock engagement when the boat leaves water, checking for free play in mechanical components, and lubricating all grease nipples on davit systems.

Annual and Five-Year Services

Annual inspections by certified personnel must include full structural and equipment checks, while five-year overhauls require complete dismantling, testing with cyclic loading to 1.1 times the safe working load, and recertification. All maintenance must comply with SOLAS III requirements.

Partnering with New Marine for Reliable SOLAS-Compliant Solutions

Understanding and properly maintaining onload and offload release mechanisms is fundamental to maritime safety. Success requires comprehensive crew training, rigorous maintenance, strict adherence to SOLAS requirements, and selection of properly certified equipment.

New Marine, established in 1972 and headquartered in Ningbo, China, is a leading manufacturer of SOLAS-compliant lifeboats and rescue boats. The company holds certifications from CCS, BV, ABS, RINA, IRS, RMRS, NK, and EC, ensuring all equipment meets the highest international safety standards. With over 50 years of experience, New Marine specializes in different types of lifeboats and launching systems equipped with state-of-the-art onload and offload release mechanisms.

Contact New Marine today for expert consultation on your vessel's lifeboat release mechanism needs and SOLAS-compliant solutions.