Rescue Boat Fall Accidents on board Tankers－Preventive Measure The Federal Bureau of Maritime Casualty Investigation (BSU) published an investigation report and a press release on its official website on 23 July 2026, regarding an uncontrolled fall accident of a rescue boat on board a tanker during a drill.   This accident occurred during a rescue boat launching drill, when the boat descended rapidly due to a hidden technical defect in the launching appliance's winch-unit freewheel module (One-way clutch) caused by corrosive ambient air and moisture within the winch, resulting in injuries to three crew members. The BSU has issued safety recommendations to the German Association for Shipbuilding and Marine Technology (VSM) to inform member manufacturing companies of these technical findings. (Source: BSU Investigation Report 271/23 and Press Release 11/26 )   While drills involving the launching of rescue boats are essential operations to maintain emergency response capabilities, they pose a constant and severe risk of falls from heights. Conducting drills without adhering to pre-inspection routines and safety procedures specified in the vessel's Safety Management System (SMS), thereby deviating from established procedures, is extremely dangerous.   Preventive Measures Thorough Open-up Inspections and Planned Maintenance of Launching Appliance Internal Mechanisms (Recognising the Limitations of Visual Inspections): Internal deterioration, such as corrosion and seizure within the winch (including the freewheel and braking mechanisms)—the root cause of this accident—cannot be detected solely through routine visual inspections or external greasing. Recognising the inherent limitations of visual inspections, it is essential to establish and strengthen a maintenance management system that ensures periodic open-up inspections in accordance with the manufacturer's instruction manual and thorough verification of internal conditions. Understanding Structural Ri