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Regulations on service of life-saving equipment

Life-saving equipment on board must be maintained, tested and inspected to ensure its reliability. The shipping company has the overall responsibility for ensuring this is done. Service providers carrying out this work must be appropriately authorised.

SOLAS requirements

The IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) adopted amendments to SOLAS Chapter III through Resolution MSC.404(96), effective internationally from 1 January 2020. The amendments have been incorporated into Swedish law through amendments to TSFS 2009:93 (the Swedish Transport Agency's regulations and general advice on life-saving equipment and life-saving appliances on board vessels covered by SOLAS 1974).

The amendments require the following:

Maintenance, testing and inspections — on all vessels covered by the regulations, the shipping company shall ensure that life-saving equipment is reliable through maintenance, testing and inspections carried out in accordance with Resolution MSC.402(96). Instructions for onboard maintenance shall be kept on board and shall include a maintenance schedule, maintenance and repair log, a record of inspections, and instructions for maintenance that can be carried out on board.

Authorised service providers — service providers engaged to carry out maintenance, testing and inspections of life-saving equipment shall be authorised. For Swedish-flagged vessels, the Swedish Transport Agency is responsible for approving service providers operating on Swedish vessels.

Service intervals for inflatable equipment

Inflatable life-saving equipment is subject to specific service requirements:

  • Inflatable liferafts, life jackets and marine evacuation systems shall be serviced at a servicing station at intervals of no more than 12 months. If it is not possible to carry out service within 12 months, the Swedish Transport Agency may in individual cases extend the interval up to a maximum of 17 months.
  • Liferafts with extended service interval — certain liferafts (such as Viking Life-Saving A/S S30 types) hold MED certification for 30-month service intervals in accordance with MSC.1/Circ.1328. These may be serviced at extended intervals subject to conditions set by the Swedish Transport Agency, including onboard inspections at intervals not exceeding 12 months.
  • Inflatable rescue boats shall be repaired and maintained in accordance with Resolution Res.A.761(18).

5-yearly service of launching appliances

Launching appliances (davits, winches and release gear) shall undergo thorough examination and operational testing at intervals not exceeding 5 years, including a proof load test at 1.1 times the maximum working load. This 5-yearly service shall be carried out at the annual survey required by SOLAS I/8, within the renewal survey window for the Safety Equipment Certificate.

Approval of service providers and servicing stations

The Swedish Transport Agency currently lacks the legal authority to approve and supervise service providers and servicing stations. Work is underway to effect the necessary legislative change.

What applies in the interim?

Until the legislative change is completed, the following applies:

  • Swedish shipping companies, service providers and servicing stations shall carry out service in accordance with the requirements in Resolution MSC.402(96) and, for inflatable life-saving equipment, Resolution Res.A.761(18). However, the Swedish Transport Agency will not require the service to have been carried out by a service provider or servicing station approved by the Swedish Transport Agency.
  • Swedish shipping companies may engage a service provider or servicing station — Swedish or foreign — that is approved by an EU-recognised classification society.
  • Swedish service providers and servicing stations requiring approval may obtain approval from an EU-recognised classification society in lieu of approval by the Swedish Transport Agency.

Applicable regulations

  • SOLAS Chapter III — Life-saving appliances and arrangements.
  • TSFS 2009:93 — Swedish Transport Agency regulations implementing SOLAS Chapter III, in particular Regulation 20 on maintenance, testing and inspections.
  • Resolution MSC.402(96) — Requirements for maintenance, testing and inspections of life-saving equipment.
  • Resolution MSC.404(96) — Amendments to SOLAS Chapter III.
  • Resolution Res.A.761(18) — Requirements for service of inflatable life-saving equipment.
  • MSC.1/Circ.1328 — Guidelines for extended service intervals for liferafts.
  • Directive 2014/90/EU — Marine Equipment Directive (MED).