Technical Circular No: 038/2019
Download PDF- The IMO during Maritime Safety Committee’s 96th session (MSC96) adopted amendments to SOLAS Regulations III/3 and III/20 vide Resolution MSC. 402(96) and MSC. 404(96). These amendments effectively makes mandatory the Requirements for Maintenance, Thorough Examination, Operational Testing, Overhaul and Repair of Lifeboats and Rescue Boats, Launching Appliances and Release Gear currently contained in MSC.1/Circ.1206/Rev.1 and MSC.1/Circ.1277, for all ships on or after 1 January 2020.
- Salient points from Resolution MSC.402 (96) are provided below.
a. Administration is to ensure that the thorough examination, operational testing, repair and overhaul of equipment is carried out in accordance with SOLAS regulation III/20 by an authorized service provider.
b. An authorized service provideris an entity authorized by the flag administration in accordance with the requirements given in resolution MSC.402 (96).
c. Authorization as service provider equally applies to manufacturers when they are acting as authorized service providers. In other words, a service branch of a manufacturer needs to obtain authorization if the service is provided for another manufacturer’s equipment.
d. Section 6 of the Resolution provides specific procedures for inspection, maintenance, thorough examination, operational testing, overhaul and repairs for ‘General/Maintenance’, during ‘Annual thorough examination and operational test’ and ‘five-year thorough examination, overhaul and overload operational tests’.
e. Personnel who perform the ‘annual thorough examinations and operational tests’ and ‘five-year thorough examinations, any overhaul, overload operational tests and repair’ must be certified by the manufacturer or authorized service provider for each make and type of the equipment to be worked on in accordance with the specified minimum capabilities, education and training, and quality system requirements.
f. When thorough examination, operational testing, overhaul and repair are completed, a statement confirming that the lifeboat arrangements remain fit for purpose is to be issued by the manufacturer or authorized service provider that conducted the work. A copy of valid documents of certification of personnel and authorization of the service provider as appropriate is to be included with the statement.
For detailed requirements, refer attached copy of MSC. 402(96).
- Accordingly, once the amendments enters into force on 01/01/2020, it is to be ensured that;
- The Service Supplier authorized and personnel certified in accordance with IMO Resolution MSC. 402(96) are ONLY engaged for the maintenance, thorough examination, operational testing overhaul and repair of lifeboats including free-fall lifeboats, Rescue boats and fast rescue boats, launching appliances and release gears required as per SOLAS Ch.III/ Reg. 20; and
- A copy of valid documents of certification of personnel and authorization of the service provider as appropriate is included with the statement issued by the manufacturer or authorized service provider that conducted the work.
- Flag State specific instructions, if any, in this regard is to be taken into account when complying with above requirement.
- Ship owners/ operators and masters are advised to be guided by above.
Enclosure:
Disclaimer:
This Technical Circular and the material contained in it is provided only for the purpose of supplying current information to the reader and not as an advice to be relied upon by any person. While we have taken utmost care to be as factual as possible, readers/ users are advised to verify the exact text and content of the Regulation from the original source/ issuing Authority.