8.9 Operational readiness, maintenance and inspections
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - International Codes - HSC 2000 Code - International Code of Safety for High-Speed Craft, 2000 – Resolution MSC.97(73) - Chapter 8 - Life-saving appliances and arrangements - 8.9 Operational readiness, maintenance and inspections

8.9 Operational readiness, maintenance and inspections

  8.9.1 Operational readiness

Before the craft leaves port and at all times during the voyage, all life-saving appliances shall be in working order and ready for immediate use.

  8.9.2 Maintenance

  • 8.9.2.1 Instructions for on-board maintenance of life-saving appliances complying with the requirements of regulation III/36 of the Convention shall be provided and maintenance shall be carried out accordingly.

  • 8.9.2.2 The Administration may accept, in lieu of the instructions required by 8.9.2.1, a shipboard planned maintenance programme which includes the requirements of regulation III/36 of the Convention.

  8.9.3 Maintenance of falls

  8.9.3.1 Falls used in launching shall be turned end for end at intervals of not more than 30 months and be renewed when necessary due to deterioration of the falls or at intervals of not more than five years, whichever is the earlier.

  8.9.3.2 The Administration may accept in lieu of "end for ending" required in 8.9.3.1, periodic inspection of the falls and their renewal whenever necessary due to deterioration or at intervals of not more than four years, whichever is the earlier.

  8.9.4 Spares and repair equipment

Spares and repair equipment shall be provided for life-saving appliances and their components which are subject to excessive wear or consumption and need to be replaced regularly.

  8.9.5 Weekly inspection

The following tests and inspections shall be carried out weekly:

  • .1 all survival craft, rescue boats and launching appliances shall be visually inspected to ensure that they are ready for use;

  • .2 all engines in rescue boats shall be run ahead and astern for a total period of not less than 3 min provided the ambient temperature is above the minimum temperature required for starting and running the engine. During this period of time, it should be demonstrated that the gearbox and gearbox train are engaging satisfactorily. If the special characteristics of an outboard motor fitted to a rescue boat would not allow it to be run other than with its propeller submerged for a period of 3 min, it should be run for such period as prescribed in the manufacturer's handbook; and

  • .3 the general emergency alarm system shall be tested.

  8.9.6 Monthly inspections

Inspection of the life-saving appliances, including survival craft equipment shall be carried out monthly using the checklist required by regulation III/36.1 of the Convention, to ensure that they are complete and in good order. A report of the inspection shall be entered in the log-book.

  8.9.7 Servicing of inflatable liferafts, inflatable lifejackets, marine evacuation systems and inflated rescue boats

 Every inflatable liferaft, inflatable lifejacket and MES shall be serviced:

  • .1 at intervals not exceeding 12 months, provided where in any case this is impracticable, the Administration may extend this period by one month;

  • .2 at an approved servicing station which is competent to service them, maintains proper servicing facilities and uses only properly trained personnel.footnote

  8.9.8 Rotational deployment of marine evacuation systems

In addition to, or in conjunction with, the servicing intervals of marine evacuation systems required by 8.9.7, each marine evacuation system shall be deployed from the craft on a rotational basis at intervals to be agreed by the Administration provided that each system is to be deployed at least once every six years.

  8.9.9 An Administration which approves new and novel inflatable liferaft arrangements pursuant to 8.1 may allow for extended service intervals under the following conditions:

  .1 The new and novel liferaft arrangement shall maintain the same standard, as required by testing procedure, throughout the extended service intervals.

  .2 The liferaft system shall be checked on board by certified personnel according to paragraph 8.9.7.

  .3 Service at intervals not exceeding five years shall be carried out in accordance with recommendations of the Organization.

  8.9.10 All repairs and maintenance of inflated rescue boats shall be carried out in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Emergency repairs may be carried out on board the craft; however, permanent repairs shall be effected at an approved servicing station.

  8.9.11 An Administration which permits extension of liferaft service intervals in accordance with 8.9.9 shall notify the Organization of such action in accordance with regulation I/5(b) of the Convention.

  8.9.12 Periodic servicing of hydrostatic release units

Hydrostatic release units shall be serviced:

  • .1 at intervals not exceeding 12 months; where in any case this is impracticable, the Administration may extend this period by one month;

  • .2 at a servicing station which is competent to service them, maintains proper servicing facilities and uses only properly trained personnel.

  8.9.13 Marking of stowage locations

Containers, brackets, racks and other similar stowage locations for life-saving equipment, shall be marked with symbols in accordance with the recommendations of the Organization, indicating the devices stowed in that location for that purpose. If more than one device is stowed in that location, the number of devices shall also be indicated.

  8.9.14 Periodic servicing of launching appliances

 Launching appliances:

  • .1 shall be serviced at recommended intervals in accordance with instructions for on-board maintenance as required by regulation III/36 of the Convention;

  • .2 shall be subject to a thorough examination at the annual surveys required by paragraph 1.5.1.3; and

  • .3 shall upon completion of the examination in .2, be subjected to a dynamic test of the winch brake at maximum lowering speed. The load to be applied shall be the mass of the survival craft or rescue boat without persons on board, except that, at intervals not exceeding five years, the test shall be carried out with a proof load equal to 1.1 times the weight of the survival craft or rescue boat and its full complement of persons and equipment.

Parent topic: Chapter 8 - Life-saving appliances and arrangements
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