The PSA (Norwegian Petroleum Safety Authority) has found a number of breaches after a lifeboat was unintentionally launched from the mobile unit Maersk Giant earlier this year.
The incident, in January, occurred during testing of the lifeboat systems.
An investigation by the PSA found if the boat had been released with workers in it, there could have been serious injuries caused or even fatalities.
The PSA said during testing, a lifeboat had descended to the sea, with efforts being made to activate the manual brake on the lifeboat winch.
The move was unsuccessful and the lifeboat entered into the sea, drifting beneath the unit, with the steel wires holding it eventually being torn off.
The lifeboat had eventually drifted away from the Maersk Giant, accompanied by a standby vessel, reaching land south of Stavanger.
The PSA found that the direct cause of the incident was a reduction in the braking effect of the brake on the lifeboat winch, owing to faulty adjustment.
It was found that if the manual brake had failed during maintenance with people in the lifeboat, “serious personal injury or deaths could have been suffered.”
The findings continued: “Should the lifeboat have begun to descend during an actual evacuation, a partially filled lifeboat could have reached the sea without a lifeboat captain on board.
“The PSA also considers it likely that people would have been at risk of falling from the lifeboat or the muster area should a descent have begun.
“The potential consequence could be fatalities.”
The PSA also found five non-conformities which included training, procedures relating to lifeboats and evacuations and qualification and follow-up of contractors.
Maersk Drilling Norge, who operate the Maersk Giant, have been asked by the PSA to describe how the non-conformities will be dealt with.
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