MSC.
402(96) REGULATIONS
QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE FOR
LIFEBOATS MAINTENANCE
WHAT HAS
CHANGED?
MSC 402(96) REGULATION
MSC.402(96) is the IMO Resolution which describes the requirements
for maintenance, thorough examination, operational testing, overhaul
and repair of lifeboats and rescue boats, launching appliances and release
gear.
From 1st Jan 2020 IMO Resolution MSC.402(96) came into force
to address varying standards of quality, acceptance and certification
of lifeboat service companies and service personnel. More than one year
on and there remains confusion over compliance and acceptance.
In this document we explain
what has changed when the new
MSC.402(96) Regulation came
into force.
REQUIREMENTS
BEFORE
Multiple guidelines, notices and
individual interpretations from
NOW
Administrations, surveyors and Mandatory requirement within
equipment makers SOLAS Chapter III – A standard
regulation adopted and
implemented by all
Administrations.
Annual services and operational
tests need not be performed in
the presence of class. IMO
Resolution A.1140(31) Annex 1
paragraph 1.2.2.24 instructs
surveyors to check through
examination of current
certificates and other records
that services have been
performed when they are
conducting the SEQ Survey.
HOW SERVICE PROVIDERS
ARE AUTHORIZED?
BEFORE
• Commercial agreements with
manufacturers
• ro e y the e e
e a an on the a
of ha n a o er a NOW
a ree ent th
an a t rer • Administrations authorises
Service Providers directly
• Administrations accepts other
SOLAS contracting
governments Authorised
Service providers
• Administrations delegate
appro al o ser i e pro iders
to any one o their e ognised
Organisations Class .
HOW SERVICE PERSONNEL
ARE TRAINED AND CERTIFIED?
BEFORE
NOW
• Trained and certified by the
equipment manufacturer only Authorised Ser i e ro iders no
• tten n an a t rer longer required to ha e
tra n n ro ra o e ommer ial agreements with
o h h are on y at o t manu a turers or attend
a re te to a at ona manu a turer training. Ser i e
tan ar an o e tho t personnel are trained to either
o ente o eten e a re ogni ed industry standard
a e ent su h as ISO AS
• o e an a t rer or manu a turers training
t n tra n n a e programmes
on terr tor e or re tr t n Ser i e personnel to be erti ied
the n er o er onne by the Authorised Ser i e
an a ent o ro ider or Manu a turer
ha e tra ne or ea h ma e and type o
equipment to be wor ed on with
do umented ompeten e
assessments pro ided upon
ompletion o training.
EQUIPMENT MAKERS SUPPORT
BEFORE
• Technical support and spares
was limited to only their
appointed agents or directly
to ship owners.
• Training was generally only
provided to their appointed
service agents NOW
Mandatory requirement
within SOLAS that equipment,
instructions, specialized
tools, spares parts, training
and accessories, as required,
are available to independent
service providers
ABOUT SEASAFE MARINE
SeaSafe Marine is a leading international authorised service provider
for marine lifesaving equipment. Authorised by maritime administrations
and their RO’s (classification societies) to service and certify over
60 different makes and types of lifeboats, release gear and davit systems.
SeaSafe’s own team of engineers, trained and certified by most
manufacturers, are located at key global hubs and able to mobilise
with rapid efficiency to any port. With service coordination through
a single administration centre, we can schedule services globally and
mobilise our engineers much faster from our nearest service outlet saving
time and money.
• Authorised Service Provider
of the Bahamas, Liberia
and Panama Administrations
• Authorised on behal o
Administrations by
Classi i ation So ieties
• Personnel trained to recognised
international standards,
manufaturers training
programes and certified through
documented competence
assessments
• Authorised to inspect, repair and
re-certify over 60 makes
of lifeboat systems on behalf
of Flag Administrations
Get in touch with a SeaSafe Lifeboats Expert
[email protected] www.seasafe.com
