She’s old but she’s ABS classed
She’s been re skinned several times since Pennsylvania launch in 75 Id reckon?
And lengthened....now that would be my focus point
I brought a much smaller 4500 gwt Dutch built vessel from Ravenna to Mobile AL to start a pole charter to Dar Es Salaam TZ in 87.....she was classed up to date British Lloyds in Ravenna inspection before I bought her
In Mobile the German born Brit Lloyds inspector came to reinspect her because change of ownership and reflagged from Malta to Panama
He was a sadist.....and could not be bribed....trust me
I spent another 160,000 dry docked at Bender in Mobile with new skin and welds etc etc....tank tops and so forth even though she just passed inspection by another Brit Lloyd man in Ravenna just 20 days earlier
I ran Brit Lloyd two more years and switched to Hellenic class...much much less stringent
Norske Veritas and Germanischer Lloyd and British Lloyds and ABS..America....And Nippon class
Bureau Veritas....french...top notch but not punitive
Italiano Navale.....a notch further down
The main requirement for super classification societies is the cargo
The more expensive the more it’s likely required
Ditto Cruise Ships usually.....but not always
200’ freefall lifeboat drop test. Great video.
I found it on this excellent CruisersForum thread:
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f122/safety-of-ships-lifeboats-in-major-storms-153992-3.html
I think a freefall lifeboat is the only chance for a successful deployment in a Cat 4 hurricane.