Superseded by MSC.1/Circ.1206
Circular Letter
MSC/Circ.1093
GUIDELINES FOR PERIODIC SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE OF LIFEBOATS, LAUNCHING APPLIANCES AND ON-LOAD
RELEASE GEAR
(adopted
on 5 June 2003)
1.
At its sixty-second session (24 to 28 May 1993), the Maritime Safety Committee
approved guidelines on inspection and maintenance of lifeboat on-load release
gear, issued as MSC/ Circ.614.
2.
Recognizing the experience gained since the approval of the guidelines by MSC
62 and that implementation of expanded and improved guidelines could contribute
towards reduction of the incidence of accidents with lifeboats, the
seventy-seventh Session of the Maritime Safety Committee approved the
guidelines for periodic servicing and maintenance of lifeboats, launching
appliances and on-load release gear, annexed hereto.
3.
Member Governments are invited to give effect to the guidelines as soon as
possible and to bring them to the attention of shipowners, ship operators, ship
personnel, surveyors, manufacturers and all others concerned with inspection
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 the ship under that Code.
3.
These guidelines can also be used for the periodic servicing and maintenance of
liferafts, rescue boats and fast rescue boats launching appliances and release
gear.
4.
Detailed guidance information regarding some procedures covered by these
guidelines is provided at appendix.
5.
The 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 ship 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 9.
8.
These personnel are also responsible for complying with HSE instructions and
procedures.
9.
Where satisfied of an organization's ability to carry out these functions, the
Administration may authorize such other organization to perform the functions
of the manufacturer as assigned under these guidelines, if the manufacturer is
unable to continue providing the service.
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.
13.
All reports and checklists should be correctly filled out and signed by the
person who carries out the inspection and maintenance work and should also be
signed by the company's representative.
14.
Records of inspections, servicing, repairs and maintenance should be updated
and filed onboard the ship.
15.
When repairs, thorough servicing and annual servicing are completed, a
statement confirming that the lifeboat arrangements remain fit for purpose
should be issued by the manufacturer's representative.
APPENDIX.
SPECIFIC PROCEDURES FOR MAINTENANCE AND SERVICING
1.1
Any inspections, servicing and repair should be carried out according to the
manufacturers' developed system for inspection and services.
1.2
A full set of maintenance manuals and associated documentation issued by the
manufacturer should be available on board for use in all operations involved in
the inspection, maintenance, adjustment and re-setting of the lifeboat and
associated equipment, such as davits and release gear.
1.3
The manufacturers' system for inspection and services should include the
following items as a minimum.
2.1
As items listed in checklists for the weekly/monthly inspections also form the
first part of the thorough examination, these items should be performed by the
ships' crew in the presence of the manufacturers' representative or a person
appropriately trained and certified by the manufacturer for the work to be
done.
2.2
Inspection and maintenance records of inspections and routine maintenance
carried out by the ship's crew and the applicable certificates for the
launching appliances and equipment should be available.
2.3
Repairs and replacement of parts should be carried out in accordance with the
manufacturers' requirements and standards.
2.4
The following items should be examined and checked for satisfactory condition
and operation:
.1 condition of lifeboat
structure including fixed and loose equipment;
.2 engine and propulsion
system;
.3 sprinkler system, where
fitted;
.4 air supply system, where
fitted;
.5 manoeuvring system;
.6 power supply system; and
.7 bailing system.
2.5
The following should be examined for satisfactory condition and operation:
.1 operation of devices for
activation of release gear;
.2 excessive free play
(tolerances);
.3 hydrostatic interlock
system, where fitted;