Subject
Maintenance, servicing and inspection for lifeboats andlaunching appliances

TechnicalInformation
No.
DateTEC-0656
19 April 2006

To whom it may concern
In accordance with the amendments to 1974 SOLAS (MSC.152(78)), regardless of flag,
implementation of maintenance, servicing and inspection of lifeboats and launching appliancescomplying with MSC/Circ.1093 will become mandatory.
Major points of the mandatory scheme are as follows, but for details, please see the attached
MSC/Circ.1093.
1.

By 1 July 2006, upon obtaining the “maintenance manuals and associated documents” preparedby the manufacturer, the manual associated with the ISM which reflects procedures for themaintenance, servicing and inspection in accordance with MSC/Circ.1093 should be available onboard the ship.

2.

On or after 1 July 2006, maintenance, servicing and inspection of lifeboats and launching
appliances should be as follows.
(1) annual thorough examination and operations test, 5-years-periodical thorough examinationand operations test under 1.1 times overload conditions, and repairs should be carried out by
the manufacturer’s representative or a person appropriately trained and certified by themanufacturer. (A statement on this maintenance will be issued by the manufacturer’s
representative or the person appropriately trained and certified by the manufacturer.)
As for the due date of annual thorough examination, ClassNK will treat the due as that of theperiodical survey of Safety Equipment.
(2) weekly / monthly inspections should be conducted by ship’s crews under the directsupervision of a senior ship’s officer in accordance with the above mentioned manual
associated with the ISM and these records should be kept on board the ship. During annual
thorough examination, weekly / monthly inspections should be performed by ship’s crews in
the presence of the manufacturer’s representative or the servicing personnel.

Although specific instructions and details from flag states have not yet been received, information indetail will be sent as it becomes available.
(To be continued)

NOTES：
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ClassNK Technical Information is provided only for the purpose of supplying current information to its readers.
ClassNK, its officers, employees and agents or sub-contractors do not warrant the accuracy of the information contained
herein and are not liable for any loss, damage or expense sustained whatsoever by any person caused by use of or
reliance on this information.
Back numbers are available on ClassNK Internet Homepage (URL: www.classnk.or.jp).

ClassNK Technical Information No. TEC-0656

For any questions about the above, please contact:
Technical matter:
NIPPON KAIJI KYOKAI (ClassNK)
Survey Department, Administration Center, Head Office
Address:
4-7 Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8567, JapanTel.:+81-3-5226-2027
Fax:+81-3-5226-2029
E-mail:svd@classnk.or.jp
ISM matter:
NIPPON KAIJI KYOKAI (ClassNK)
Safety Management Systems Department, Information Center, Head Office
Address:
1-8-5 Ohnodai, Midori-ku, Chiba 267-0056, JapanTel.:+81-47-294-5999
Fax:+81-47-294-7206
E-mail:smd@classnk.or.jp

Attachment: MSC/Circ.1093

2

INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION
4 ALBERT EMBANKMENTLONDON SE1 7SR
Telephone: 020 7735 7611
Fax:
020 7587 3210
Telex:
23588 IMOLDN GE
IMORef. T4/3.01

MSC/Circ.1093
17 June 2003

GUIDELINES FOR PERIODIC SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE OF LIFEBOATS,LAUNCHING APPLIANCES AND ON-LOAD RELEASE GEAR1The Maritime Safety Committee, at its sixty-second session (24 to 28 May 1993), approved
Guidelines on inspection and maintenance of lifeboat on-load release gear, issued as MSC/Circ.614.
2Recognizing the experience gained since the approval of the Guidelines by MSC 62 and thatthe implementation of expanded and improved guidelines could contribute towards a reduction of theincidence of accidents with lifeboats, the Maritime Safety Committee, at its seventy-seventh session(28 May to 6 June 2003), approved the Guidelines for periodic servicing and maintenance oflifeboats, launching appliances and on-load release gear, set out in the annex, which could also be
used for the periodic servicing and maintenance of liferafts, rescue boats and fast rescue boats andtheir launching appliances and on-load release gear.
3
Member Governments are invited to give effect to the annexed Guidelines as soon as possible
and to bring them to the attention of shipowners, ship operators, ship personnel, surveyors,
manufacturers and all others concerned with the inspection and maintenance of lifeboats, liferafts,
rescue boats and fast rescue boats and their launching appliances and on-load release gear.
4

This circular supersedes MSC/Circ.614.
***

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MSC/Circ.1093
ANNEX
GUIDELINES FOR PERIODIC SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE OF LIFEBOATS,LAUNCHING APPLIANCES AND ON-LOAD RELEASE GEAR
General1
The objective of these Guidelines is to establish a uniform, safe and documented performanceof periodic servicing and maintenance of lifeboats, launching appliances and on-load release gear.
2
These Guidelines relate to the application of the ISM Code to periodic servicing andmaintenance of lifeboat arrangements and should therefore be reflected in procedures developed fora ship under that Code.
3These Guidelines can also be used for the periodic servicing and maintenance of liferafts,rescue boats and fast rescue boats and their launching appliances and release gear.
4
Detailed guidance regarding some procedures covered by these Guidelines is provided in theappendix.
SOLAS regulations
5

The Guidelines relate to the requirements contained in:.1

SOLAS regulation III/20 - Operational readiness, maintenance and inspections; and.2

SOLAS regulation III/36 - Instructions for on-board maintenance.

Responsibility
6The company* is responsible for servicing and maintenance onboard its ships in accordancewith SOLAS regulation III/20 and for the establishment and implementation of health, safety andenvironment (HSE) procedures covering all activities during servicing and maintenance.
7
The personnel carrying out servicing and maintenance are responsible for the performance of
the work as authorized in accordance with the system specified in paragraph 9.
8

The above personnel is also responsible for complying with HSE instructions and procedures.

9
Where satisfied with an organization’s ability to carry out these functions, the Administration
may authorize such organization to perform the functions of the manufacturer as assigned underthese Guidelines, if the manufacturer is unable to provide the service.
Authorization
10
Where these Guidelines require certification of servicing personnel, such certification should
be issued by the manufacturer in accordance with an established system for training andauthorization.
*For the purpose of these Guidelines, “company” is as defined in SOLAS regulation IX/1.2.

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MSC/Circ.1093
ANNEX
Page 2
Qualification levels
11
Weekly and monthly inspections, and routine maintenance as defined by the manufacturer,
should be conducted under the direct supervision of a senior ship’s officer in accordance with theinstructions provided by the manufacturer.
12
All other inspections, servicing and repair should be conducted by the manufacturer’srepresentative or a person appropriately trained and certified by the manufacturer for the work to bedone.
Reports and records
13
All reports and checklists should be correctly filled out and signed by the person who carries
out the inspection and maintenance work and should also be signed by the company’s representative.
14
Records of inspections, servicing, repairs and maintenance should be updated and filed
onboard the ship.
15
When repairs, thorough servicing and annual servicing are completed, a statement confirmingthat the lifeboat arrangements remain fit for purpose should be issued by the manufacturer’srepresentative.

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MSC/Circ.1093
ANNEX
Page 3
APPENDIX
SPECIFIC PROCEDURES FOR MAINTENANCE AND SERVICING
1

GENERAL

1.1
Any inspection, servicing and repair should be carried out according to the system forinspection and services developed by the manufacturer.
1.2
A full set of maintenance manuals and associated documentation issued by the manufacturer
should be available on board for use in all operations involved in the inspection, maintenance,adjustment and re-setting of the lifeboat and associated equipment, such as davits and release gear.
1.3
The manufacturer’s system for inspection and services should include the following items asa minimum.
2THOROUGH EXAMINATION

2.1
As items listed in checklists for the weekly/monthly inspections also form the first part of thethorough examination, the inspection of these items should be performed by the ships’ crew in thepresence of the manufacturer’s representative or a person appropriately trained and certified by themanufacturer for the work to be done.
2.2
Inspection and maintenance records of inspections and routine maintenance carried out by theship’s crew and the applicable certificates for the launching appliances and equipment should beavailable.
2.3
Repairs and replacement of parts should be carried out in accordance with the manufacturer’srequirements and standards.
Lifeboat
2.4
The following items should be examined and checked for satisfactory condition andoperation:.1

condition of lifeboat structure including fixed and loose equipment;.2

engine and propulsion system;.3sprinkler system, where fitted;.4

air supply system, where fitted;.5

manoeuvring system;.6

power supply system; and.7bailing system.

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MSC/Circ.1093
ANNEX
Page 4
Release gear
2.5

The following should be examined for satisfactory condition and operation:.1

operation of devices for activation of release gear;.2

excessive free play (tolerances);.3hydrostatic interlock system, where fitted;.4cables for control and release; and.5

hook fastening.

Notes:

2.6

2.7

1

The setting and maintenance of release gear are critical operations with regard tomaintaining the safe operation of the lifeboat and the safety of personnel in thelifeboat. All inspection and maintenance operations on this equipment should
therefore be carried out with the utmost care.

2

No maintenance or adjustment of the release gear should be undertaken while thehooks are under load.

3

Hanging-off pennants may be used for this purpose but should not remain connected
at other times, such as when the lifeboat is normally stowed and during training
exercises.

Operational test of on-load release function:.1

position the lifeboat partially into the water such that the mass of the boat is
substantially supported by the falls and the hydrostatic interlock system, where fitted,
is not triggered;.2

operate the on-load release mechanism; and.3

reset the on-load release mechanism.

Operational test of off-load release function:.1

position the lifeboat fully waterborne;.2

operate the off-load release gear;.3

reset the on-load release gear; and.4

recover the lifeboat to the stowed position and prepare for operational readiness.

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MSC/Circ.1093
ANNEX
Page 5
Note:
Prior to hoisting, check that the release gear is completely and properly reset. The final
turning-in of the lifeboat should be done without any persons on board.
Davit
2.8

The following items should be examined for satisfactory condition and operation:.1

davit structure, in particular with regard to corrosion, misalignments, deformations
and excessive free play;.2

wires and sheaves, possible damages such as kinks and corrosion;.3

lubrication of wires, sheaves and moving parts;.4functioning of limit switches;.5

stored power systems; and.6

hydraulic systems.

Winch
2.9

3

The following items should be examined for satisfactory condition and operation:.1

open and inspect brake mechanism;.2

replace brake pads, if necessary;.3

remote control system; and.4

power supply system.

DYNAMIC WINCH BRAKE TEST

3.1
Annual operational testing should preferably be done by lowering the empty boat. When theboat has reached its maximum lowering speed and before the boat enters the water, the brake shouldbe abruptly applied.
3.2
Five-yearly operational testing should be done by lowering the boat loaded to a proof load of
1.1 times the maximum working load of the winch, or equivalent load. When the boat has reached
its maximum lowering speed and before the boat enters the water, the brake should be abruptlyapplied.

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MSC/Circ.1093
ANNEX
Page 63.3

Following these tests, the brake pads and stressed structural parts should be re-inspected.
Note:
In loading the boat for this test, precautions should be taken to ensure that the stability of theboat is not adversely affected by free surface effects or the raising of the centre of gravity.

4

OVERHAUL OF ON-LOAD RELEASE GEAR

Overhaul of on-load release gear includes:.1

dismantling of hook release units;.2

examination with regard to tolerances and design requirements;.3

adjustment of release gear system after assembly;.4

operational test as per above
SOLAS regulation III/20.11.2.3; and.5

examination of vital parts with regard to defects and cracks.

andwithaloadaccordingtoNote:
Non-destructive examination (NDE) techniques, such as dye penetrants (DPE), may besuitable.
____________

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