MSC.274(85) Adoption of Amendments to the Revised Recommendation on Testing of Life-Saving Appliances (Resolution MSC.81(70))

Resolution MSC.274(85)

ADOPTION OF AMENDMENTS TO THE REVISED RECOMMENDATION ON TESTING OF LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES (RESOLUTION MSC.81(70))

(adopted on 4 December 2008)

THE MARITIME SAFETY COMMITTEE,

RECALLING Article 28(b) of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization concerning the functions of the Committee,

RECALLING ALSO resolution A.689(17) on Testing of life-saving appliances, by which the Assembly, at its seventeenth session, adopted recommendations for test requirements for life-saving appliances,

RECALLING FURTHER that the Assembly, when adopting resolution A.689(17), authorized the Committee to keep the Recommendation on testing of life-saving appliances under review and to adopt, when appropriate, amendments thereto,

NOTING resolution MSC.81(70), by which, at its seventieth session, it adopted the Revised recommendation on testing of life-saving appliances, recognizing the need to introduce more precise provisions for the testing of life-saving appliances based on the requirements of the International Life-Saving Appliances (LSA) Code,

BEING DESIROUS to address increases in the size of mariners by increasing the assumed weight of persons in lifeboats and rescue boats, and to address potential injury by flexing of hulls and canopies of free-fall lifeboats during launch,

HAVING CONSIDERED, at its eighty-fifth session, amendments to the Revised recommendation on testing of life-saving appliances, proposed by the Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Equipment at its fifty-first session,

1. ADOPTS amendments to the Revised recommendation on testing of life-saving appliances (resolution MSC.81(70)), the text of which is set out in the Annex to the present resolution;

2. RECOMMENDS Governments to apply the annexed amendments when testing life-saving appliances.

Annex.

AMENDMENTS TO THE REVISED RECOMMENDATION ON TESTING OF LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES (RESOLUTION MSC.81(70))

Part 1.
PROTOTYPE TESTS FOR LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES

6.1 Definitions and general conditions

1. The existing paragraph 6.1.1 is replaced by the following:

"6.1.1 Except as specified otherwise, the mass of an average person as used herein should be taken to be 75 kg for a lifeboat intended for a passenger ship or 82.5 kg for a lifeboat intended for a cargo ship."

6.3 Lifeboat overload test

2. In the first sentence of paragraph 6.3.2, after the word "persons", the words "for the type of ship" are inserted.

3. The existing paragraph 6.3.9 is replaced by the following:

"6.3.9 This test should be considered successful if the lifeboat passes the operational test to the satisfaction of the Administration; no damage has been sustained that would affect the lifeboat’s efficient functioning; and any deflections of the hull or canopy as measured during the test would not cause injury to lifeboat occupants."

6.7 Lifeboat seating space test

4. In the second sentence of paragraph 6.7.1, after the words "75 kg", the words "for a lifeboat intended for a passenger ship or 82.5 kg for a lifeboat intended for a cargo ship," are inserted.

7.1 Rigid rescue boats

5. In the second sentence of paragraph 7.1.3, the words "75 kg" are replaced by the words "82.5 kg".

6. In the first sentence of paragraph 7.1.4, after the word