IMO’ Maritime Safety Committee at its 89th session agreed 20 May 2011 upon several items concerning lifeboat release and retrieval systems.

The following items were covered:
1. Amendments to Regulation III/1 of SOLAS entering into force 1 July 2014.
A new sub-paragraph 5 requires that for all ships, lifeboat on-load release mechanism shall meet new requirements
of the amended LSA Code not later than the first scheduled dry-docking after 1 July 2014, but not later than 1 July 2019.

2. Amendments to LSA Code Chapter IV on design criteria of lifeboat release gear mechanism will enter into force 1 January 2013.
Three of the subparagraphs will also apply to existing ships, i.e. criteria of hook stability, locking devices and hydrostatic interlock (if provided).

3. Guidelines for evaluation and replacement of lifeboat release and retrieval systems. These guidelines states that an evaluation of existing lifeboat
release and retrieval systems shall be completed not later than 1 July 2013.

The evaluation shall be conducted by the original manufacturer. Alternatively, the evaluation may be conducted by another manufacturer of lifeboat release and
retrieval systems or any person who has taken responsibility of the existing system when the original manufacturer no longer exists or supports the equipment.

4. Amendments to the Revised recommendation on testing of life-saving appliances (resolution MSC.81(70)) on prototype testing of life-saving appliances.
The prototype testing of the release mechanism is more detailed and strict than the existing test requirements.

5. MSC/Circular on early implementation of new SOLAS regulation III/1.5 encouraging all parties concerned to evaluate existing lifeboat release and retrieval systems at the earliest
opportunity. Also, the parties concerned are for new ships constructed after 20 May 2011, but before 1 July 2014, encouraged to initiate, at the earliest opportunity, approval processes for new
on-load release and retrieval systems.

Immediate actions to be taken:
All existing lifeboat release and retrieval systems shall be evaluated before 1 July 2013 according to guidelines mentioned in paragraph 2 above.
Failing so, the release and retrieval system shall be considered as non-compliant with the new requirements.

Hence, the owners are encouraged to as soon as possible to contact the maker of the systems to initiate the evaluation according to the amended guidelines.
Please be informed that the Administration, or DNV, will not take part of this evaluation.
A complete report from the meeting will be published imminently.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it