Key factors in reducing accidents with existing lifeboats, particularly during launching, include regulations that enable masters to properly perform their risk assessments, enhanced training and knowledge for personnel dealing with service and maintenance, better routines and enhanced maintenance systems of lifesaving appliances. Shipowners and  INTERTANKO have been looking for a better suitable control and maintenance system for lifesaving appliances (LSA).

While lifeboat manufacturers have improved various technical solutions to existing two-davit lifeboats and free-fall boats such as additional securing pins for hook-systems, systems for test-launch of free-fall boats, etc., a tailored and complete service- and maintenance system for LSA has now been developed.

SAMS (Service and Maintenance System) is developed by MM Systems (www.mmsystems.no).  It is a web-based service and maintenance system that can be used for any brand of LSA equipment or tailored for other types of customer specific modules as required, and can be used for any brand of LSA equipment.

Recently INTERTANKO attended a brief presentation of SAMS.  The first impression is that the system provides both shore- and ship-board personnel with an enhanced tool for follow-up of control, service and maintenance of any on-board LSA systems.

SAMS also contains an open forum , which enables a dialogue between anybody dealing with control, service and maintenance.  The system is not tailored for a specific LSA manufacturer, but can be used universally.

Some key features:

• Provides automatic alert on upcoming services (examples of such information are upcoming services w/checklists, completed checklists, drills, documents, procedures, images, etc.)
• Easy follow-up by using pre-defined checklists
• Support for documents, images, procedures, etc.
• Service history
• Access from everywhere