From their origin in the world of sailing to deployment on work boats across Europe, marine safety rail systems have expanded their foothold and are now gaining traction in the North American commercial maritime market.
Leading the adopters is the Sabine Pilots Association of southeast Texas, which ordered a Harken TR31 track-and-car safety rail system for its newest vessel to keep pilots and deck hands safe in rough weather.The 53-foot Port Arthur, built by Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding and delivered in 2016, is the first U.S. boat to use the Harken system, which allows personnel to stay hooked in from port to starboard while working outside conventional handrails.
“We all carry a bag or a backpack with portable pilot units (for navigation), so sometimes the deck hand has to send that up on a separate line. Having him tethered to the (TR31) rail frees up both of his hands with out having to worry about falling overboard,” said Capt. Charles LaHaye Jr., presiding officer of the Sabine Pilots. “This adds an extra measure of safety for guys out on deck. When the pilot boat comes alongside the ship and the crew has to walk on a deck only a few feet wide with no handrails, (they) can go completely around the house.”
In addition to the Harken TR31 — the TR stands for “tight radius” — other safety rails advancing in the commercial maritime market include systems from Ronstan and Hadrian. Ronstan’s system features a tandem sliding-car assembly; Hadrian’s is equipped with a mobile anchor that runs on a pre-shaped rail or track that mirrors the handrails fitted around the wheelhouse.
The car-and-track systems from Ronstan and Harken are similar in the way they operate, but their fixtures and fastener designs differ, said Scot West, managing director of Ronstan International of Portsmouth, R.I., a manufacturer of sailboat hardware and other marine components.
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Mariner's role still unknown as autonomous shipping gains speed
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