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of which regularly launch and recover workboats. This operation is critical to the performance of the vessels and by the nature of the task will always pose hazards for the personnel involved. A task force was set up to evaluate and report on safety, technical status of equipment, maintenance status, spare parts status, operational procedures and practice, certiÞ cation status and op- erational qualiÞ cations of personnel. It recommended setting up a joint industry project to develop rules and regulations that will improve safety during launch and recovery of seismic workboats. The project, says Vestdavit, will deliver a new industry standard/guideline for seismic workboat launch and recovery equipment, maintenance and annual testing and davit operator qualiÞ cations. ÒWe are very happy to bring our ex- perience with high quality workboat davits and training operators of these to the project,Ó said Bj¿rnar Dahle, key ac- count manager, Vestdavit. ÒThese stan- dards and guidelines can help raise the standard across the industry to the level of best practice which already exists. We supply the best equipment, but it must always be maintained and used cor- rectly. This project will help to ensure operators maintain and use launch and recovery equipment safely, which will reduce risks and downtime.Ó DNV will manage the project, which should com-plete its work by the end of 2014. Vestdavit already has a NORSOK-compliant davit. Marine Technology Reporter 13www.seadiscovery.com MTR #1 (1-17).indd 13MTR #1 (1-17).indd 131/24/2014 12:37:43 PM1/24/2014 12:37:43 PM