Technical Circular
No.: 002/2020 Date: 8th January 2020
Subject: DGS M.S. Notice 01 of 2020 Reg. Requirements for maintenance,
thorough examination, operational testing, overhaul and repair of
Lifeboats including free-fall lifeboats, Rescue boats and fast rescue boats,
launching appliances and release gears
1. Reference is made to our Technical Circular No. 038/2019, dated 15th November 2019
reg Maintenance, thorough examination, operational tests, overhaul and repair of
Lifeboats including free-fall lifeboats, Rescue boats and fast rescue boats, launching
appliances and release gears in accordance with the specifications contained in new IMO
Resolution MSC.402(96).
2. Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), GOI has now issued M.S.Notice 01 of 2020
(copy attached) providing mandatory requirements for authorization of service provider
intending to carry out ‘Maintenance, Thorough Examination, Operational Testing,
Overhaul and Repair of Lifeboats and Rescue Boats, Launching Appliances and Release
Gear’ as required by SOLAS Regulation III/20 as amended.
3. Accordingly, all safety equipment service providers undertaking servicing of life boats,
rescue boats, launching appliances and release gear for lifeboats, rescue boats, fast
rescue boats and davit launched life rafts, in India must be registered with the
Directorate General of Shipping in accordance with the provisions of M.S.Notice 01 of
2020.
4. Existing authorized service providers holding authorization document (Certificate of
registration as safety equipment servicing station) prior to issuance of M.S.Notice 01 of
2020 (06 January 2020) are required to comply with the provision of the Notice within
six months from the date of issue of the Notice, for issuance of fresh authorization
document.
5. Authorization as service provider equally applies to manufacturers when they are acting
as authorized service providers. In other words, a service branch of a manufacturer also
needs to obtain authorization.
6. Personnel who perform the ‘annual thorough examinations and operational tests’ and
‘five-year thorough examinations, any overhaul, overload operational tests and repair’
must be certified by the manufacturer or authorized service provider in accordance with
manufacturer’s established certification program complying with section 8 of IMO
. This Technical Circular and the material contained in it is provided only for the purpose of
supplying current information to the reader and not as an advice to be relied upon by any
person.
. While we have taken utmost care to be as factual as possible, readers/ users are advised to
verify the exact text and content of the Regulation from the original source/ issuing Authority.
Resolution MSC. 402(96) for each make and type of the equipment for which service
is to be provided.
7. Authorized service provider of the Directorate other than the manufacturer can only
undertake training, competency assessment and certification of personnel as above when
they have been exclusively granted such approval by the manufacturer under their
established training programme / supervision and authorized service providers are
required to submit a copy of such manufacturer’s approval.
8. When thorough examination, operational testing, overhaul and repair are completed, a
statement confirming that the lifesaving appliances / equipment arrangements remains fit
for purpose is to be issued by the attending service personnel. A copy of valid documents
of certification of personnel and copy of DG Shipping authorization (Certificate of
registration) is to be included with the servicing reports.
9. Ship owners, operators and masters of Indian flagged vessels are advised to ensure that;
➢ The Service Supplier undertaking servicing of life boats, rescue boats, launching
appliances and release gears for lifeboats, rescue boats, fast rescue boats and davit
launched life rafts, in India must be registered with the Directorate General of
Shipping in accordance with the provision of M.S.Notice 1 of 2020.;
➢ In foreign ports, a service provider authorized by the Maritime Administration of
that foreign port or by their Recognized Organizations may be employed.
➢ Service personnel who perform the ‘annual thorough examinations and operational
tests’ and ‘five-year thorough examinations, any overhaul, overload operational tests
and repair’ are certified by the manufacturer or authorized service provider in
accordance with manufacturer’s established certification program complying with
section 8 of IMO Resolution MSC. 402(96) for each make and type of the
equipment for which service is provided.
➢ A copy of valid documents of certification of personnel and authorization of the
service provider as appropriate is included with the servicing report issued by the
manufacturer or authorized service provider that conducted the work.
10. Service providers intending to carry out servicing of life boats, rescue boats, launching
appliances and release gear for lifeboats, rescue boats, fast rescue boats and davit
launched life rafts for Indian flagged vessels are advised to ensure compliance with the
provisions of M.S.Notice 01 of 2020.
Enclosure: DGS M.S.Notice 01 of 2020, dated 06 January 2020
Whilst the utmost care has been taken in the compilation of the Technical Information, neither Indian Register of
Shipping, its affiliates and subsidiaries if any, nor any of its directors, officers, employees or agents assume any
responsibility and shall not be liable to any person for any loss, damage or expense caused in any manner
whatsoever by reliance on the information in this document.
