Circular Letter
MSC.1/Circ.1206
MEASURES TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS WITH LIFEBOATS
(26 May 2006)
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:
.1 failure of
on-load release mechanism;
.2 inadvertent
operation of on-load release mechanism;
.3 inadequate
maintenance of lifeboats, davits and launching equipment;
.4 communication
failures;
.5 lack of
familiarity with lifeboats, davits, equipment and associated controls;
.6 unsafe
practices during lifeboat drills and inspections; and
.7 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:
.1 bring the
circular to the attention of their maritime Administrations, relevant industry
organizations, manufacturers, shipowners, crews and classification societies;
.2 take the
necessary action to prevent further accidents with lifeboats pending the
development of appropriate IMO guidance;
.3 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;
.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
.4 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 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.
8.
This circular supersedes MSC/Circ.1049,
MSC/Circ.1093,
MSC/Circ.1136
and MSC/Circ.1137.
Annex 1.
GUIDELINES FOR PERIODIC SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE OF LIFEBOATS, LAUNCHING
APPLIANCES AND ON-LOAD RELEASE GEAR
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.
5.
These Guidelines relate to the requirements contained in:
.1 SOLAS
regulation III/20 – Operational readiness, maintenance and inspections; and
.2 SOLAS
regulation III/36 – Instructions for on-board maintenance.
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.
______________
*For the purpose of these
Guidelines, company is as defined in SOLAS regulation IX/1.2.
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.
10.
Where these Guidelines require certification of servicing personnel, such
certification should be issued by the manufacturer in accordance with an
established system for training and authorization.
11.
Weekly and monthly inspections, and routine maintenance as defined by the
manufacturer, should be conducted under the direct supervision of a senior
ship’s officer in accordance with the instructions provided by the
manufacturer.
12.
All other inspections, servicing and repair should be conducted by the
manufacturer’s representative or a person appropriately trained and certified
by the manufacturer for the work to be done.