Safety Compliance Warning VIKING evacuation systems Disclaimer: this knowledge share is designed to prevent similar incidents occurring. All guidance herein is provided in good faith and Step Change in Safety nor its member companies accept responsibility for any inaccuracies or omissions contained within this knowledge share.

If your VIKING evacuation system is using non-VIKING life-rafts, it may be non-compliant.

What’s the problem? Recent service visits have revealed that a small number of VIKING Offshore Evacuation Systems (type SES-2B and SES-2A) are being used with non-VIKING life-rafts. This is potentially a serious issue.

Why is this important? All VIKING evacuation systems are type-approved in accordance with MSC.81 (70) as a single unit – the chute and the life-raft. If the two elements are used separately, the system will no longer be compliant and therefore not approved.

What does this mean in the event of an emergency? The life-rafts used with VIKING evacuation systems are designed with integrated connection lines that keep them securely attached to the platform once the system is deployed. Without these lines, the life-rafts are likely to drift away which could prevent a dry evacuation as outlined in PFEER regs 15 and 16. Non-VIKING life-rafts are not typically fitted with these connection lines. Only authorized servicing personnel are able to know whether these lines are correctly positioned – unauthorised personnel will be unlikely to identify this, and therefore unable to recognise the non-compliance issue.

How do I know if I am affected? In the unlikely event that your company is affected you should contact your VIKING rep for a quick solution. If you are unsure, you should still contact your VIKING representative as it is the only certain way to know you are unaffected.

So What’s next? EERTAG meeting Viking are presenting this topic at the Oil & Gas UK Emergency Response meeting on 14th June Escape and Evacuation Webinar Step Change in Safety are hosting a webinar on 30th June covering three topics; Safety Compliance Warning, Viking Changes to industry PLBs, Survitec Passenger Size re-measurement changes, Step Change This will be a good opportunity to engage with industry on all three topics. You can book your place via the Step Change Website. We are also arranging a visit to Viking in Denmark – if you would like to invite your ESRs to come with us, please email Emily@stepchangeinsafety.net