Control No: QAF-018

Merchant Marine Notice MMN-20-001r1

To: DEPUTY REGISTRARS, SHIP OWNERS/ISM OPERATORS/RECOGNIZED ORGANIZATIONS/

SHIPPING AGENTS/GENERAL SAFETY INSPECTORS

Reference: Requirements for Approval of Service Providers for Maintenance, Thorough Examination,
Operational Testing, Overhaul and Repair of Lifeboats and Rescue Boats, Launching
Appliances and Release Gear.

Issuance Date: 17/01/2020

MSN Superseded: MSN-0025 & MMN-20-001 Revision No.: 1 (16 Mar 2020)
ISSUE DATE: 17 January 2020
_____________________________________________________________________

1. PURPOSE

1.1. This Merchant Marine Notice is intended to provide all Shipowners/Operators, Company ISM
managers and other parties with our procedures for approval of an Organization other than the
manufacturer concerning the Requirements for Maintenance, Thorough Examination,
Operational Testing, Overhaul and Repair of Lifeboats and Rescue Boats, Launching Appliances
and Release Gear as required by the Maritime Safety Committee in its Resolution MSC.402(96)
adopted on 19 May 2019 and which entered into force on 1st January 2020.

2. BACKGROUND

2.1. SOLAS Reg. III/20.3.1 « maintenance, testing and inspections of life-saving appliances shall
be carried out based on the guidelines adopted by the Organization in MSC/Circ.1093,
subsequently superseded by MSC.1/Circ.1206 dated May 26, 2006» was amended by Resolution
MSC.404(96) to state that maintenance, testing and inspections of life-saving appliances shall be
carried out in a manner having due regard to ensuring reliability of such appliances.

2.2. These guidelines relate to the application of the ISM-Code to periodic servicing and
maintenance of lifeboats, liferafts, rescue boats and fast rescue boats arrangements, their
launching appliances and release gear.

Page 1 of 6

MARINA TOWERS, SUITE 204, NEWTOWN BARRACKS

BELIZE CITY, BELIZE, C.A.
Telephones: +501-223-5031 / +501-223-5026
[email protected]
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Merchant Marine Notice MMN-20-001r1

2.3. SOLAS Reg. III/20.11 «launching appliances to be subjected to a thorough examination and
dynamic tests at the annual surveys required for the Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate and
the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate» was also amended to require Maintenance, thorough
examination, operational testing, overhaul and repair of lifeboats, rescue boats and fast rescue
boats, launching appliances and release gear.

2.4. Under these requirements, any inspections, maintenance, thorough examination, operational
testing, overhaul and repair shall be carried out according to the maintenance manuals and
associated technical documentation developed by the manufacturer.

2.5. In cases where a manufacturer is no longer in business or no longer provides technical

support, in accordance with paragraph 7.3 in Annex 1 of the Resolution MSC 402(96), this
Administration may authorize service providers for the equipment on the basis of prior
authorization for the equipment and/or long-term experiences and demonstrated expertise as an
authorized service provided.

3. DEFINITIONS

3.1. Authorized Service Provider means an entity authorized by this Administration in

accordance with section 3 and section 7 of the Resolution 402(96).

3.2. Manufacturer means the original equipment manufacturer or any entity which has taken
legal and legitimate responsibilities for equipment when the original equipment manufacturer no
longer exists or supports the equipment.

4. APPLICATION

4.1. The amendments contained in Resolution MSC 404(96) are applicable to all SOLAS vessels.

5. QUALIFICATIONS LEVELS AND CERTIFICATION

5.1. Weekly and monthly inspections and routine maintenance as specified in the equipment
maintenance manual(s), shall be conducted by authorized service providers, or by shipboard
personnel under the direction of a senior ship’s officer in accordance with the maintenance
manual(s).

Page 2 of 6

MARINA TOWERS, SUITE 204, NEWTOWN BARRACKS

BELIZE CITY, BELIZE, C.A.
Telephones: +501-223-5031 / +501-223-5026
[email protected]
 Control No: QAF-018

Merchant Marine Notice MMN-20-001r1

5.2. Annual thorough examinations and operational tests, as described in section 6.2, shall be
conducted by certified personnel of either the manufacturer or an authorized service provider in
accordance with section 7 and section 8. The service provider may be the ship operator provided
that it is authorized in accordance with section 3 and section 7.

5.3. Five-year thorough examination, any overhaul, overload operational tests, as described in
section 6.3 and repair shall be conducted by certified personnel of either the manufacturer or an
authorized service provider in accordance with section 7 and section 8.

Note: Above mentioned sections are in accordance with the Resolution MSC 402(96).

6. REQUIREMENTS FOR AUTHORIZATION OF SERVICE PROVIDERS

6.1. The Administration may authorize Service Providers to carry out the inspection, maintenance,
thorough examination, operational testing, overhaul and repair of lifeboats and rescue boats,
launching appliances and release gear provided that the Service Provider demonstrate the
following:

6.1.1. Employment and documentation of personnel certified in accordance with a

recognized national, international or industry standards as applicable, or a manufacturer’s
established certification programme. In either case, the certification programme shall
comply with section 8 of the Resolution MSC 402(96) for each make and type of equipment
for which service is to be provided;

6.1.2. Availability of sufficient tools, and in particular any specialized tools specific in the
manufacturer’s instruction, including portable tools as needed for work to be carried out on
board ships;

6.1.3. Access to appropriate parts and accessories as specified for maintenance and repair;

6.1.4. Availability of the manufacturer’s instructions for repair work involving disassembly or
adjustment of on-load mechanisms and davit winches;

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MARINA TOWERS, SUITE 204, NEWTOWN BARRACKS

BELIZE CITY, BELIZE, C.A.
Telephones: +501-223-5031 / +501-223-5026
[email protected]
 Control No: QAF-018

Merchant Marine Notice MMN-20-001r1

6.1.5. A documented and certified quality system, which covers at least the following:

6.1.5.1. Code of conduct for personnel involved in the relevant activity;

6.1.5.2. Maintenance and calibration of measuring tools and gauges;

6.1.5.3. Training programmes for personnel;

6.1.5.4. Supervision and verification to ensure compliance with operational

procedures;

6.1.5.5. Recording and reporting of information;

6.1.5.6. Quality management of subsidiaries and agents;

6.1.5.7. Job preparation; and

6.1.5.8. Periodic review of work process procedures, complaints, corrective actions

and issuance, maintenance and control of documents. The Organization has
documented procedures and instructions for carrying out the testing and examination
of life-saving and launching appliances and on-load releasing gear. Such procedures
and instructions should ensure that the level of performance tests is in compliance
with the relevant technical standards of the manufacturer.

6.1.6. In lieu of the above, this Administration may accept or recognize service providers on
case by case basis if the service provider is approved by the attending Recognized
Organization or by a member of the International Association of Classification Societies
(IACS)

7. STATEMENT OF EXTENSION

7.1. In the event that the maintenance, thorough examination, operational testing, overhaul and
repair of lifeboat and rescue boats, launching appliances and release gear cannot be conducted
along with the annual survey for the Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate/Passenger Ship
Safety Certificate within the window period (+/-3 months) due to exceptional circumstances, a
Statement of Extension needs to be requested from the Administration.
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MARINA TOWERS, SUITE 204, NEWTOWN BARRACKS

BELIZE CITY, BELIZE, C.A.
Telephones: +501-223-5031 / +501-223-5026
[email protected]
 Control No: QAF-018

Merchant Marine Notice MMN-20-001r1

7.2. The issuance of Statement of Extension shall be determined in coordination with the
Recognized Organization which may require additional requirements.

7.3. The Statement of Extension shall be requested through the vessel’s Designated Office at an
established fee for Technical Certificates.

8. RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SERVICE PROVIDER

8.1. Upon completion of the maintenance, thorough examination, operational testing, overhaul
and repair of lifeboat and rescue boats, launching appliances and release gear a Certificate of
Inspection or similar should be issued valid until the last date of the window period (+/-3
months) of the Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate/ Passenger Ship Safety Certificate.

8.2. A copy of the Certificate of Inspection or similar should be submitted to the Administration.

9. RESPONSIBILITY OF THE RECOGNIZED ORGANIZATION

9.1. The maintenance, thorough examination, operational testing, overhaul and repair of lifeboat
and rescue boats, launching appliances and release gear should be done in the presence of the
ship’s Recognized Organization’s surveyor who shall verify on behalf of IMMARBE that the
servicing and inspection provided by the Service Provider is carried out in accordance with the
Resolution MSC 402(96).

9.2. The Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate/Passenger Ship Safety Certificate will be
endorsed only once the Recognized Organization has been satisfied that the servicing and
inspection has been carried out in accordance with the Resolution MSC 402(96).

10. RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OWNER OR ISM OPERATOR

10.1. The Owner or ISM Operator is responsible for the development of the procedures covering
all activities during the maintenance, thorough examination, operational testing, overhaul and
repair of lifeboat and rescue boats, launching appliances and release gear.

10.2. The Owner or ISM Operator shall ensure that the maintenance, thorough examination,
operational testing, overhaul and repair of lifeboat and rescue boats, launching appliances and
release gear referred to in the Resolution MSC 402(96) are completed at the date of the survey
(Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate/Passenger Ship Safety Certificate).

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MARINA TOWERS, SUITE 204, NEWTOWN BARRACKS

BELIZE CITY, BELIZE, C.A.
Telephones: +501-223-5031 / +501-223-5026
[email protected]
 Control No: QAF-018

Merchant Marine Notice MMN-20-001r1

10.3. The Owner or ISM Operator shall ensure that the requirements stated on directive 6 of this
MMN are submitted in a timely manner.

10.4. The Owner or ISM Operator is responsible to locate the manufacturer of the life-saving
and launching appliances and release gear on board.

10.5. The Owner or ISM Operator is responsible for covering the costs related to the issuance
and delivery of the Statement of Extension.

This Merchant Marine Notice is to be brought to the attention of Owners/ISM Operators, Masters
and Recognized Organizations and be implemented forthwith.

Look forward for your cooperation and assistance.

The Notice was issued in Belize city, Belize 17/01/2020

Eng. Eduardo Simon AnnetteGarel(Mrs.)

Technical Manager Senior Deputy Registrar
IMMARBE IMMARBE

Page 6 of 6

MARINA TOWERS, SUITE 204, NEWTOWN BARRACKS

BELIZE CITY, BELIZE, C.A.
Telephones: +501-223-5031 / +501-223-5026
[email protected]