circula5.pdf

INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION

4 ALBERT EMBANKMENT

LONDON SE1 7SR

Telephone: 020 7587 3152

Fax:

020 7587 3210

IMO

Ref. T4/4.01

MSC.1/Circ.1206

26 May 2006

MEASURES TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS WITH LIFEBOATS

1 The Maritime Safety Committee, at its eighty-first session 10 to 19 May 2006, recalled that at

its seventy-fifth session (15 to 24 May 2002), it had considered the issue of the unacceptably high

number of accidents with lifeboats in which crew were being injured, sometimes fatally, while

participating in lifeboat drills and/or inspections, and noted that most accidents fell under the

following categories:

failure of on-load release mechanism;

inadvertent operation of on-load release mechanism;

inadequate maintenance of lifeboats, davits and launching equipment;

communication failures;

lack of familiarity with lifeboats, davits, equipment and associated controls;

unsafe practices during lifeboat drills and inspections; and

design faults other than on-load release mechanisms.

2 Pending further consideration of the problem, the Committee approved MSC/Circ.1049 on

Accidents with lifeboats, to draw the attention of manufacturers, shipowners, crews and

classification societies to the personal injury and loss of life that may follow inadequate attention to

the design, construction, maintenance and operation of lifeboats, davits and associated equipment

and urged all concerned to take necessary action to prevent further accidents with lifeboats. It

invited Member Governments to:

bring the circular to the attention of their maritime Administrations, relevant industry

organizations, manufacturers, shipowners, crews and classification societies;

take the necessary action to prevent further accidents with lifeboats pending the

development of appropriate IMO guidance;

ensure that:

.3.1 on-load release equipment used on ships flying their flag is in full compliance

with the requirements of paragraphs 4.4.7.6.2.2 to 4.4.7.6.5 of the LSA Code;

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.3.2 all appropriate documentation for the maintenance and adjustment of

lifeboats, launching appliances and associated equipment is available

on board;

.3.3 personnel undertaking inspections, maintenance and adjustment of lifeboats,

launching appliances and associated equipment are fully trained and familiar

with these duties;

.3.4 maintenance of lifeboats, launching appliances and associated equipment is

carried out in accordance with approved established procedures;

.3.5 lifeboat drills are conducted in accordance with SOLAS regulation III/19.3.3

for the purpose of ensuring that ship’s personnel will be able to safely embark

and launch the lifeboats in an emergency;

.3.6 the principles of safety and health at work apply to drills as well;

.3.7 personnel undertaking maintenance and repair activities are appropriately

qualified;

.3.8 hanging-off pennants should only be used for maintenance purposes and not

during training exercises;

.3.9 all tests required for the design and approval of life-saving appliances are

conducted rigorously, according to the guidelines developed by the

Organization, in order to identify and rectify any design faults at an early

stage;

.3.10 the equipment is easily accessible for inspections and maintenance and is

proven durable in harsh operational conditions, in addition to withstanding

prototype tests; and

.3.11 the approving authorities or bodies pay close attention to proper

workmanship and state-of-the-art possibilities when assessing equipment for

approval; and

encourage shipowners, when undertaking maintenance and repair activities, to

employ qualified personnel, preferably certified by the manufacturer.

3 Member Governments were further invited, while enforcing the provisions of SOLAS

regulation IX/4.3, to ensure that the above issues are addressed through the Safety Management

System of the company, as appropriate.

4 The Committee further recalled that, at its seventy-seventh session (28 May to 6 June 2003),

recognizing the experience gained since the approval of the Guidelines on inspection

and maintenance of lifeboat on-load release gear (MSC/Circ.614) at its sixty-second session

(24 to 28 May 1993), and that the implementation of expanded and improved guidelines could

contribute towards a reduction of the incidence of accidents with lifeboats, it had approved the

Guidelines for periodic servicing and maintenance of lifeboats, launching appliances and on-load

release gear (MSC/Circ.1093), superseding MSC/Circ.614. Taking into account subsequent

amendments to SOLAS chapter III and the LSA Code, and having considered proposals by the

fiftieth session of the Sub-Committee on Fire Protection, the Committee approved amendments to

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MSC.1/Circ.1206

the Guidelines as set out in annex 1. The Committee further noted that the guidance developed for

lifeboats could also apply to the periodic servicing and maintenance of liferafts, rescue boats and fast

rescue boats and their launching appliances and on-load release gear.

5 The Committee further recalled that, at its seventy-ninth session (1 to 10 December 2004), it

had endorsed the intention of the Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Equipment, in co-operation

with the Sub-Committee on Standards of Training and Watchkeeping, to develop further IMO

guidance as envisioned in MSC/Circ.1049, and accordingly, approved the Guidance on safety during

abandon ship drills using lifeboats (MSC/Circ.1136), as set out in annex 2. The Committee further

recalled that the Guidance developed for lifeboats has relevance, in general, for emergency drills

with other life-saving systems and should be taken into account when such drills are conducted. In

connection with MSC/Circ.1136, and recognizing the need to provide a basic outline of essential

steps to safely carry out simulated launching of free-fall lifeboats in accordance with

SOLAS regulation III/19.3.3.4, and having considered proposals by the forty-seventh session of the

Sub-Committee on Design and Equipment, the Committee further approved the Guidelines for

simulated launching of free-fall lifeboats (MSC/Circ.1137), as set out in the appendix to annex 2.

6 Having considered the need to update several of the circulars discussed above, and having

considered proposals by the fiftieth session of the Sub-Committee on Fire Protection to consolidate

the numerous circulars on the subject of measures to prevent accidents with lifeboats in order to

better serve the mariner, the Committee approved the annexed Guidelines for periodic servicing and

maintenance of lifeboats, launching appliances and on-load release gear (annex 1) and Guidelines on

safety during abandon ship drills using lifeboats (annex 2).

7 Member Governments are invited to give effect to the annexed Guidelines as soon as possible

and to bring them to the attention of shipowners, ship operators, ship-vetting organizations, ship

personnel, surveyors, manufacturers and all others concerned with the inspection and maintenance of

lifeboats, liferafts, rescue boats and fast rescue boats and their launching appliances and on-load

release gear.

This circular supersedes MSC/Circ.1049, MSC/Circ.1093, MSC/Circ.1136 and MSC/Circ.1137.

***

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MSC.1/Circ.1206

ANNEX 1

GUIDELINES FOR PERIODIC SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE OF LIFEBOATS,

LAUNCHING APPLIANCES AND ON-LOAD RELEASE GEAR

General

1 The objective of these Guidelines is to establish a uniform, safe and documented performance

of periodic servicing and maintenance of lifeboats, launching appliances and on-load release gear.

2 These Guidelines relate to the application of the ISM Code to periodic servicing and

maintenance of lifeboat arrangements and should therefore be reflected in procedures developed for

a ship under that Code.

3 The general principle in these Guidelines may also be applied for the periodic servicing and

maintenance of liferafts, rescue boats and fast rescue boats and their launching appliances and

release gear.

4 Detailed guidance regarding some procedures covered by these Guidelines is provided in the

appendix.

SOLAS regulations

These Guidelines relate to the requirements contained in:

SOLAS regulation III/20 – Operational readiness, maintenance and inspections; and

SOLAS regulation III/36 – Instructions for on-board maintenance.

Responsibility

6 The company * is responsible for servicing and maintenance onboard its ships in accordance

with SOLAS regulation III/20 and for the establishment and implementation of health, safety and

environment (HSE) procedures covering all activities during servicing and maintenance.

7 The personnel carrying out servicing and maintenance are responsible for the performance of

the work as authorized in accordance with the system specified in paragraph 10.

8 The above personnel are also responsible for complying with HSE instructions and

procedures.

9 Where satisfied with an organization’s ability to carry out these functions, the Administration

may authorize such organization and its personnel to perform the functions of the manufacturer and

manufacturer’s certified personnel as assigned under these Guidelines, if manufacturer certified

facilities are not available.

* For the purpose of these Guidelines, company is as defined in SOLAS regulation IX/1.2.

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