How effective are crotch straps?

The RNLI recently commissioned some research into the effectiveness of crotch straps fitted to lifejackets. Here, PBO presents their findings

In 2007, a fatal accident inquiry report was the trigger for the RNLI’s marine safety manager, Peter Chennell, to instigate a programme of research that would ultimately provide the first conclusive evidence of the effectiveness of crotch straps and be used to influence global standards for lifejacket design. In August 2006, the yacht Ouzo was involved in an incident with a car ferry off the Isle of Wight in which all three crew died. The fatal accident inquiry considered it likely that all three crew members would have been able to survive far longer in the water if they had crotch straps attached to their lifejackets (MAIB Report No7/2007). The Marine Accident Investigation Bureau (MAIB) also made an important recommendation that the British Standards Institute should consider whether a crotch strap…

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Practical Boat Owner (Digital) - 1 Issue, June 2015

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