MARITIME AND PORT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE
SHIPPING CIRCULAR
NO. 11 OF 2019
MPA Shipping Division
460 Alexandra Road
21st Storey PSA Building
Singapore 119963
Fax: 6375 6231
http://www.mpa.gov.sg
20 November 2019
Applicable to: Ship owners, ship managers, operators, masters of Singapore
registered ships, recognised organisations, agents and service providers of lifeboats
and rescue boats, launching appliances and release gear
IMPLEMENTATION OF REQUIREMENTS FOR MAINTENANCE, THOROUGH
EXAMINATION, OPERATIONAL TESTING, OVERHAUL AND REPAIR OF
LIFEBOATS AND RESCUE BOATS, LAUNCHING APPLIANCES AND RELEASE
GEAR
1. This circular provides information on the implementation of the requirements on
Singapore registered ships (SRS) as adopted by Resolution MSC.402(96), which will
take effect on 1 January 2020 upon entry into force of the associated amendments to
Regulations III/3 and III/20 of the SOLAS Convention.
2. Resolution MSC.404(96) had adopted amendments to Regulations III/3 and
III/20 of the SOLAS Convention which mandates that the maintenance, thorough
examination, operational testing, overhaul and repair of lifeboats and rescue boats,
launching appliances and release gear, are to be carried out in accordance to
Resolution MSC.402(96) which provides details on the requirements.
3. The requirements as adopted by Resolution MSC.402(96) applies to the
maintenance, thorough examination, operational testing, overhaul and repair of:
i. lifeboats (including free-fall lifeboats), rescue boats and fast rescue
boats; and
ii. launching appliances and on-load and off-load release gear for lifeboats
(including primary and secondary means of launching appliances for
free-fall lifeboats), rescue boats, fast rescue boats and davit-launched
liferafts.
4. Resolution MSC.402(96) also requires service providers carrying out
maintenance, thorough examination, operational testing, overhaul and repair of
lifeboats and rescue boats, launching appliances and release gear to be approved by
the Administration in accordance with paragraph 7 of the Resolution. This requirement
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shall equally apply to manufacturers when they are acting as authorised service
providers.
5. In accordance to paragraph 7.4.3 of Resolution MSC.402(96), the Maritime and
Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has authorised our Recognised Organisations
(ROs) to approve the service providers on its behalf and will accept the service
providers approved by our ROs. Further details on the implementation is appended in
the annex to this circular.
6. Ship owners, managers, operators and masters of SRS are reminded to ensure
that maintenance, thorough examination, operational testing, overhaul and repair of
lifeboats and rescue boats, launching appliances and release gear carried out onboard
its ships on or after 1 January 2020 are in accordance with the requirements.
7. Queries relating to this circular should be directed to Mr. Calvin Lee at (+65)
6375-6269 or email [email protected].
GOH CHUNG HUN
DIRECTOR OF MARINE
MARITIME AND PORT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE
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ANNEX
DETAILS ON IMPLEMENTATION OF RESOLUTION MSC.402(96) AND
MSC.404(96) FOR SINGAPORE REGISTERED SHIPS
1. Will MPA carry out the approval of service providers carrying out maintenance,
thorough examination, operational testing, overhaul and repair of lifeboats and
rescue boats, launching appliances and release gear service providers (“service
providers”) located in Singapore and overseas?
MPA has authorised eight (8) Recognised Organisations 1 (ROs) to carry out the
approval of service providers located in Singapore and overseas on its behalf. MPA
will not carry out any direct approval of service providers. Service providers seeking
approval should contact any of our ROs.
2. Will all service providers carrying out maintenance, thorough examination,
operational testing, overhaul and repair of lifeboats and rescue boats, launching
appliances and release gear need to be approved by MPA?
All service providers that carry out the services onboard SRS on or after 1 January
2020 will need to be approved by our ROs. With reference to paragraph 7.1.1 of
Resolution MSC.402(96), MPA has informed our ROs that the authorisation of
service providers shall include demonstration of employment and documentation
of personnel certified in accordance with the manufacturer's established
certification programme. Personnel certified with a standard other than the
manufacturer’s established certification programme will not be accepted.
The only exception applies to the original equipment manufacturer when carrying
out the services on its own equipment. In such cases, the original equipment
manufacturer need not be approved by our ROs.
3. Where can I find information regarding the availability of authorised service
provider in Singapore and overseas?
All our ROs are requested to promulgate the information of approved service
provider on their respective websites and made available to the shipping
community.
4. Is it mandatory for the service provider to be certified to ISO quality system in view
that paragraph 7.1.5 of Resolution MSC.402(96) specifically mentioned the
availability of a “documented and certified quality system”?
1 The eight (8) Recognised Organisations (ROs) are ABS, BV, CCS, DNVGL, KR, LR, NK and RINA.
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MPA has communicated to our ROs that it is not mandatory to be ISO certified and
the use of any documented and certified quality system that satisfy paragraph
7.1.5.1 to 7.1.5.8 of Resolution MSC.402(96) is acceptable.
5. Does MPA consider the service providers approved by ROs before the
implementation of Resolution MSC.402(96) as valid?
Existing service providers approved by our ROs are allowed to continue to provide
services to SRS on or after 1 January 2020, subject to the RO’s confirmation that
the service providers meet the requirements of MPA.
6. Who can be engaged to carry out the services if the manufacturer is no longer in
business or no longer provides technical support?
In accordance with paragraph 7.3 of Resolution MSC.402(96), in cases where a
manufacturer is no longer in business or no longer provides technical support, ROs
may authorise service providers for the equipment on the basis of prior
authorisation for the equipment and/or long-term experience and demonstrated
expertise as an authorised service provider.
7. Can a non-approved service provider be engaged to carry out the maintenance,
thorough examination, operational testing, overhaul and repair carried out onboard
Singapore ships after 1 January 2020 in the event approved service providers are
not available in the port of call?
The services should normally be carried out by approved service providers. If there
is no approved service provider at the port and there is an urgent need to carry out
the services onboard SRS, the RO which issued the vessel’s Cargo Ship Safety
Equipment certificate should be contacted to evaluate the suitability and
acceptance of the proposed service provider. Upon satisfactory assessment that
the service provider is competent to perform the services, the RO may accept the
services, subject to the attending surveyor witnessing the services carried out
onboard.
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