As you may be aware, the Bahamas Maritime Authority has issued BMA Information Bulletin No. 72 on 17 February 2005, which addresses the concerns of the Bahamas relating to ongoing accidents when launching lifeboats during abandon ship drills and gives advice in order to significantly reduce the number of incidents. ClassNK consider that its points are as follows, for further details refer to ClassNK's Web Site (http://www.classnk.or.jp), ClassNK ISM, Special requirements of the Bahamas.

BMA Information Bulletin No. 72 "Lifeboat Safety"
(List of IMO Circulars to be referred to)
Section A: Technical
1. General
2. Important points
3. Causes of accident
Section B: Regulatory
4. Abandon ship drill and launching requirements
5. Applications for exemption: The Bahamas accepts that abandon ship drills required by SOLAS may, at the discretion of the ship's Master, be:
(1) modified to suit the circumstances of weather, location and vessel operational requirements, or
(2) postponed until such time as circumstances are suitable for the drill to be carried out
Full details of the planned drills, whether carried out or not, should be entered into the Official Log Book, with reasons for modification or postponement if applicable. Such written evidence is acceptable to the Bahamas as valid reason (in lieu of exemption) for not carrying out abandon ship drills at the required intervals. Failure to this requirement should be considered as a NC.
6. Davit winch brake remote release gear ? equivalent arrangement
7. Early Implementation of SOLAS Ch. III Reg.19.3.3.3 Amendment: The Bahamas gives immediate effect to the SOLAS Ch. III Reg.19.3.3.3, which allows to launch lifeboats without its assigned operating crew aboard.

(To be continued)