Maritime and Coastguard Agency
OPERATIONAL ADVICE NOTE / Document number:
OAN 728
Revision: 01 / Life Saving Appliances
Increased Person Weight for Lifeboats & Rescue Boats
IMO MSC Resolution / Date:
15October 2010
Distribution / HQ & MO
Target document / MSIS Survey of Life Saving Appliances – Volume 1 Chapter
Expiry date / Remains valid until it is incorporated in MSIS 14 Survey of Life Saving Appliances Volume 1

Information

  1. The purpose of this OAN is to clarify the line taken by the MCA onRESOLUTION MSC.272(85)ADOPTION OF AMENDMENTS TO THE INTERNATIONAL LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCE (LSA) CODE
  1. The entry into force date for the resolution is the 1st July 2010.

Background

  1. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted Resolution MSC.272(85) at the 85th session of the Maritime Safety Committee. This amends Chapters IV and V of the International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code, introducing increased assumed mass of occupants for the approval of liferafts and rescue boats, and enhanced seating arrangements for the occupants of free-fall lifeboats.
  1. The changes affect the following areas of the LSA Code;
  1. Cargo ship lifeboats (both davit launched and free-fall) should be approved assuming an average mass of occupants of 82.5kg (increased from 75kg).
  1. Cargo and passenger ship rescue boats should be approved assuming an average mass of occupants of 82.5kg (increased from 75kg).
  1. Cargo ship free-fall lifeboat seating arrangements should comply with amended LSA Code Chapter IV, paragraph 4.7.2.
  1. LSA Code amendments are automatically incorporated into the Marine Equipment Directive (MED)and are therefore applicable from the date of entry into force. All new products from 1st July 2010 affected by this resolution, need to be compliant.

Actions

  1. Recognised Organisations issuing new MED certificates after the 1st July 2010, should ensure full compliance with the LSA Code (Resolution MSC.81(70)), as amended by Resolution MSC.272(85).
  1. Recognised Organisations renewing MED certificates after the 1st July 2010, should ensure full compliance with the LSA Code (Resolution MSC.81(70)), as amended by Resolution MSC.272(85).
  1. All new equipment placed onboard an existing vessel after 1st July 2010, should be fully compliant with the LSA Code (Resolution MSC.81(70)), as amended by Resolution MSC.272(85).
  1. After the 1st July 2010, when old equipment is no longer serviceable and needs to be replaced onboard an existing vessel, new equipment should be fully compliant with the LSA Code (Resolution MSC.81(70)), as amended by Resolution MSC.272(85).
  1. When Equipment is replaced, the launching appliance serving it must be checked to be certified to the weight of the new equipment being placed onboard.
  1. When equipment is placed onboard a new vessel, who’s keel laying date was prior to the 1st July 2010, the lifeboats and rescue boats need not be compliant with the amending Resolution MSC.272(85).

Author / Jonathan Assael / Branch / Marine Technology Branch
Authorised by / Paul Coley / Branch / Assistant Director Seafarers & Ships