SINCE the introduction of mandatory on-load release hooks on ships built after July 1, 1986, such systems have become the most common cause of lifeboat accidents, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries. These are often caused by ignorance among the crew about the operation of these systems, particularly since most are not designed to offer protection against human error. Unfortunately, when the regulations for on-load release gear were drawn up, there was more concern about the ease of releasing the hooks than for the prevention of accidental release.