**Executive Summary**
Merchant Shipping Notice No. 13 of 2016 addresses the servicing of life-saving appliances (LSAs), launching appliances, and on-load release gears, with reference to the SOLAS Convention. It modifies previous circulars to ensure ease of doing business while maintaining maritime safety. The notice is effective as of the date of issue, 25.11.16.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **SOLAS Convention and Indian Regulations:**
* The notice pertains to matters covered by the International Convention on the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), specifically Chapter III, which concerns life-saving appliances on merchant ships.
* In India, these matters are addressed by the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958, Merchant Shipping (Life Saving Appliances) Rules 1991, and related circulars from the Directorate General of Shipping.
* **Regulation 20 of SOLAS:**
* Regulation 20 of SOLAS concerns operational readiness, maintenance, and inspections of life-saving appliances.
* It covers servicing of inflatable liferafts, lifejackets, marine evacuation systems, inflatable rescue boats, hydrostatic release units, launching appliances, and on-load release gears.
* **Modification of Previous Circulars:**
* Para 2 of Engineer Circular No.122-A dated 18.07.11 and para 4 of Nautical Wing Circular No. NT/LSA/01/2016 dated.19.02.16 are to be replaced.
* **Service Station Authorizations:**
* All approved service stations are authorized to service all life-saving appliances, launching appliances, and on-load release gears.
* If a service station has valid authorization from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), it can certify the servicing on a self-certification basis, including a copy of the OEM authorization in the servicing certificate.
* Service stations without OEM approval can service equipment if they have the necessary spares, but the servicing must be verified by Surveyors of the National Maritime Administration/Recognized Organization.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Approved Service Stations**
* **Impact:** Revised guidelines on authorization for servicing life-saving appliances. Allows wider scope of servicing but introduces verification requirements if OEM approval is lacking.
* **Action Required:** Ensure compliance with either the self-certification process with OEM authorization or prepare for verification by Surveyors of the National Maritime Administration/Recognized Organization.
**Stakeholder: Shipowners/Operators**
* **Impact:** Expanded access to service stations for life-saving appliances, potentially reducing downtime and costs.
* **Action Required:** Utilize approved service stations complying with the new regulations for servicing life-saving equipment.
**Stakeholder: Directorate General of Shipping**
* **Impact:** Must oversee the implementation and enforcement of the new regulations, including the verification process for service stations without OEM approval.
* **Action Required:** Ensure surveyors are adequately trained to verify compliance of servicing by non-OEM approved service stations.
Key Entities Referenced
SOLAS Convention: The International Convention on the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, addresses life-saving appliances and arrangements on merchant ships.
Merchant Shipping Act, 1958: Indian law addressing matters covered by the SOLAS Convention.
Directorate General of Shipping: The issuer of the notice and a key regulatory body.
Ministry of Shipping: Parent ministry of the Directorate General of Shipping
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F. No. I 9-NT(6)/2009-Pt-lI Dated: 25.11.16
Merchant Shipping Notice No. 13 of 2016
Sub.: Servicing of life saving appliances.launching appliances and
on-load release gears etc.- reg.
The Intemational Convention on the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 [SOLAS Convention]
addresses, inter-alia, matters pertaining to life-saving appliances and arrangements on merchant ships,
at Chapter III of the said Convention. In India, this is addressed by the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958,
Merchant Shipping (Life Saving Appliances) Rules 1991 and the orders/ notices/circulars issued by
the Directorate General of Shipping, Golt. of India from time to time.
Z. Regulation 20 of the SOLAS Convention deals with operational readiness, maintenance and
inspections. Sub-para 8 of the said Regulation refers to the servicing of inflatable liferafts, inflatable
lifejackets, marine evacuation systems and maintenance & repairs of inflatable rescue boats. Sub-para
9 of the said Regulation adverts to the periodic servicing of hydrostatic release units. Sub-para I 1 of
said Regulation encompasses the periodic servicing of launching appliances and on-load release gears.
3. The Directorate General of Shipping, Govt. of India has issued instructions on the subject vide
its Engineering Circular No.l22 dated 26.08.10 on'Measures and Recommendations to Prevent
Accidents with Lifeboats issued by the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) of the International
Maritime Organization (IMO) vide MSC/Circ. 1277.1' [F. No. G/IMO-ENGA4MAM-37(6)199),
EngineeringCircularNo. 122-4dated 19.02.11 on'Addendumto EngineeringCircularNo. 122'lF-
No. ENGIN,IMAM-37(6)/99 Vol.Il, Engineering Circular No. 122 B dated 22.04.13 on'Addendum to
Engineering Circular No. 122' [F. No. ENGAvIMAM-37(6)199], Nautical Wing Miscellaneous
Circular No. 02 of Z0l4 dated 04.03.14 on '[Jniformity in mandatory servicing of LSA, navigational
and radio communication equipments' fF . No. 19-NT (6)120091, Engineering Circular No. 3 of 2014
dated 09.04.14 on 'servicing of lifeboats, launching appliances and on-load release gear' [F. No.
ENG[VIMAM-37(8y05] & NT Circular No. NT/LSN0ll2}l6 dated 19.02.16 on'servicing of Life
Saving Appliances' [F. No. I 9-NT(6y2009-Pt.II].
-2--2-
4.
The Directorate General of Shipping, Govt. of India has received representations from several
stakeholders, including the Indian National Shipowners' Association [INSA] and ICC Shipping
Association UCCSA], as the end users thereof, requesting to reconsicier certain aspects of the circulars
referred in para 3 of this notice to ensure robust competition for the benefit of the Indian shipping
industry.
5. The matter has been examined with a view to ensure an ease of doing business without
compromising on maritime safety. Accordingly, it has been decided, calibratedly, that para 2 of
Engineer Circular No.122-A dated 18.07.11 and para 4 of the Nautical Wing Circular No.
NT/LSA/0112016 dated.19.02.16, both of this office shall be replaced by the following mutatis-
mutandis.
6.
Noting the appurtenant provisions of the SOLAS Convention, IMO guidelines, various makes
of LSAs' being used on Indian ships, increasing number of ports on the Indian coast and the limited
number of facilities to meet the-time-bound requirements of the shipping industry for carrying out
repairs and servicing of various makes of life saving appliances, amongst others, it has been decided
that all approved service stations shall, henceforth, be authorized to service all life saving appliances,
launching appliances and on-load release gears etc., including lifeboats, liferafts, lifejackets, launching
appliances, on-load release gears, etc., subject to the following conditions:
6.1 If the service station has valid a authorization from the Original Equipment Manufacturer
(OEM) of the equipment concerned, the service station is authorized to certiff the servicing of
the equipment on a self-certification basis. However, in such a case, the servicing certificate
issued by the service station shall include a copy of the valid authorization of the given OEM.
6.2 Other approved service stations not having an approval from the OEMs may service these
equipments provided they have necessary spares for carrying out such servicing. However,
service stations not having an approval from the OEMs concerned shall require the servicing to
be verified by Surveyors of the National Maritime Administration/ Recognized Organization to
confirm due compliance with the applicable standards thereon.
7. This is issued with the approval of the Director General of Shipping & Secretary to the Govt.
of India.
€!n4"2-,
(Capt. K.P. Jayakumff)-
Deputy Nautical Adviser to the Govt. of India