SEVERE corrosion has been blamed for a lifeboat accident that led to two deaths and serious injuries to three others on a bulk carrier in 2004. An Australian Transport Safety Bureau report covered a lifeboat drill on the Hong Kong-registered bulk carrier Lowlands Grace while the ship was anchored off Port Hedland. During the drill, the lifeboat's after-on load release hook failed and released the stern of the 3.5-tonne boat from its davit fall. The boat's stern then dropped and the lifeboat became inverted before the forward hook also failed. The lifeboat then fell, upside down, into the sea about 16m below. The report said the ship's maintenance and survey regime for on-load release systems fitted to the lifeboats was deficient because the condition of the wasted keel had not been detected. It recommends that ship owners, managers, crews, ISM accreditation authorities and class societies maintain regular lifeboat hook inspection and maintenance regimes. A recommendation is also made to the on-load release system manufacturer in regard to the design of the system fitted to Lowlands Grace's lifeboats. Singapore Maritime and Port Authority pointed out yesterday in a Shipping Circular that changes to the maintenance regime for launching appliances and on-load release gear as per Solas Reg III/20 come into effect on 1 July this year. Amendments have been made to Regulations III/20.3 (maintenance) and III/20.11 (periodic servicing).