HE00495 - DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW CREW SEAT FOR ALL WEATHER LIFEBOATS

This paper describes the development of a new design of seat for all weather lifeboats, primarily intended to protect the occupant from the worst effect of extreme wave impacts.

The development process began with the collection of lifeboat motions data, both through measurement of existing lifeboats and through computer simulation. Potential crew injury mechanisms were then incorporated and a generic seat suspension system was dynamically modelled to optimise shock absorption and comfort.