Bulletin 322: Authorised Service Providers re life-boats, appliances etc.
Application: All ship-owners, operators, masters and officers of merchant ships and
authorised Classification Societies
SUMMARY
New amendments to SOLAS Chapter III included in Res. MSC. 404(96) came into force.on
1st January 2020.
In the amended Regulations III/3, the requirements for periodic servicing and maintenance of lifeboats,
launching appliances and on-load release gear contained in the Guidelines MSC.1/Circ.1206, “Measurer to
prevent accidents with lifeboats”, were replaced by Res. MSC.402(96), “Requirements for maintenance,
through examination, operational testing, overhaul and repair of lifeboat and rescue boats, launching
appliance and release gear” (The Requirements), setting it as mandatory (see new Reg. III/20.11.5).
Res. MSC. 402(96) set down as mandatory that personnel carrying out maintenance, through examination,
operational testing, overhaul and testing and repair of the following items should be certified by an
authorised service provider:
Lifeboats (including free-fall lifeboats), rescue boats and fast rescue boats.
Launching appliances as well as on load and off load release gear for lifeboats, rescue boats, fast rescue
boat, and davit-launched life rafts.
The following inspection intervals are described:
Weekly and monthly inspections are to be conducted by authorised service providers, or by shipboard
personnel under the direction of a senior ship’s officer in accordance with the maintenance manual(s).
Annual thorough examinations and operational tests are to be conducted by certified personnel of either the
manufacturer or an authorised provider. The service provider may be the ship operator, provided they are
authorised.
Five-year thorough examination, any overhaul, overload operational tests and repairs are to be conducted by
certified personnel of either the manufacturer or an authorised service provider. This shall be done in the
presence of vessel’s Classification surveyor.
The scope for each inspection, maintenance, through examination, operational testing, overhaul and repair
interval is detailed in the Res. MSC.402(96), Section 6.
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Bulletin 322: Authorised Service Providers re life-boats, appliances etc.
In
general, an authorised service provider is an entity authorised by flag administrations in accordance with
the requirements given in the Res. MSC.402(96). The certification programme requires authorisation for each
make and type of equipment to be provided. It is important to note that the authorisation as service provider
equally applies to manufacturer needs to obtain authorisation. The authorised service provider will certify
their personnel for each make and type of equipment.
Barbados Maritime Ship Registry will accept only service providers authorised by other administrations or by
their Recognised Organisation, specifically for each make and type of equipment on board of the vessel.
Evidence of such authorisations shall be made available on board to FSI surveyors, attached to service reports.
In cases where a manufacturer is no longer in business or no longer provides technical support, Barbados
Maritime Ship Registry may authorize other service providers for the equipment based on prior authorisation
for the equipment and/or long-term experience and demonstrated expertise as an authorised service provider.
Documented evidence is to be provided to the Technical Department in order to get such authorisation.
18/3/2020
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Bulletin 322: Authorised Service Providers re life-boats, appliances etc.
18 March 2020
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