Dec. 18 2019

Class & statutory

REQUIREMENTS FOR MAINTENANCE, THOROUGH EXAMINATION, OPERATIONAL TESTING, OVERHAUL AND REPAIR OF LIFEBOATS AND RESCUE BOATS, LAUNCHING APPLIANCES AND RELEASE GEAR

Entry into force of IMO Resolution MSC.402(96) on the 1st January 2020

The following amendments to SOLAS Chapter III enter into force on the 1st January 2020, through IMO Resolution MSC.404(96):

Maintenance, thorough examination, operational testing, overhaul and repair of lifeboats and rescue boats, launching appliances and release gear shall be carried out in accordance with IMO Resolution MSC.402(96).

 

These requirements apply to : 

 

1 lifeboats (including free-fall lifeboats), rescue boats and fast rescue boats; and 

 

2 launching appliances and on-load and off-load release gear for lifeboats (including primary and secondary means of launching appliances for free-fall lifeboats), rescue boats, fast rescue boats and davit-launched liferafts. 

 

From 1st January 2020, thorough examination, operational testing, repair and overhaul of such equipment will have to be carried out by service providers authorized by the ship's Flag State Administration.

A large number of Flag State Administrations delegate their Recognized Organizations, including Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore, the issuance and maintenance of such authorization document of service providers on their behalf.

Please contact your BV local office should you have any request or question in that respect.