**Executive Summary**
This document, NT Circular No. NT/LSA/01/2016 issued by the Directorate General of Shipping, Ministry of Shipping, Govt. of India, outlines the regulations for servicing life-saving appliances (LSA) on Indian ships. It specifies that LSA servicing must adhere to IMO guidelines and DGS approval. This circular is effective immediately and supersedes NT Wing/Miscellaneous Circular No. 02 of 2014 dated 04.03.2014.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **General Requirements:**
* Inflatable life rafts, rescue boats, and other inflatable LSAs must be serviced according to the guidelines issued by the DGS and the IMO.
* The guidelines mentioned in Engineering Circular No. 122, 122A dated 18th February 2011, paragraph 4 are to be implemented immediately.
* **LSA Service Stations:**
* Service stations servicing inflatable LSAs from Indian ships must have DGS approval, meet IMO guidelines, have a quality system, be registered with local authorities, and employ competent personnel.
* Approved service stations and personnel receive certificates valid for 5 years, with an intermediate verification between the 2nd and 3rd anniversary dates.
* The onus of making application for Intermediate verification and renewal is on the service station. The Principal Officer of the Mercantile Marine Department (MMD) concerned shall carry out such verifications.
* Stations must route submissions for certification through the Principal Officer MMD, clarifying compliance with IMO and DGS guidelines.
* The competent person shall be attached to the approved service station, with approval reflected in the certificate.
* **Servicing Procedures:**
* If a manufacturer-approved service station is available with trained personnel, it may service LSAs according to the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) procedures, with the competent person issuing the service certificate.
* If a manufacturer-approved station is unavailable, servicing may be done under the supervision of an MMD surveyor or a surveyor from a Recognized Organization (RO), following OEM procedures. The competent person may issue a certificate of serviceability after endorsement by the attending surveyor.
* **Record Keeping and Reporting:**
* LSA servicing stations must maintain servicing records and submit quarterly statements to the Principal Officer, MMD.
* Certificates of inspection must have the necessary endorsement for receipt of fees from the MMD.
* **Pyrotechnics Disposal:**
* Expired pyrotechnics must be disposed of per NT Circular 01 of 2015 dated 18.05.2015, with records maintained.
* **Enforcement:**
* Approval of the service station or competent person may be withdrawn or suspended for breaches of instruction or adverse reports, potentially leading to penalties under the M.S. Act 1958.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** LSA Service Stations
* **Impact:** Must obtain DGS approval, meet IMO guidelines, implement a quality system, and employ competent personnel. They are responsible for intermediate verification and renewal of certificates. They must also maintain servicing records and submit quarterly reports.
* **Action Required:** Apply for DGS approval, implement quality systems, ensure personnel are qualified, and adhere to the record-keeping and reporting requirements. Route the submissions through the Principal Officer MMD concerned.
**Stakeholder:** Ship Owners/Operators
* **Impact:** Responsible for ensuring that LSAs are serviced at approved stations.
* **Action Required:** Ensure that all LSA servicing is performed by DGS-approved service stations and that proper documentation is maintained.
**Stakeholder:** Mercantile Marine Department (MMD)
* **Impact:** Responsible for carrying out verifications and certification of LSA service stations. MMD Surveyors may need to supervise servicing in certain situations.
* **Action Required:** Verify compliance of service stations with guidelines during intermediate verification and renewal process and endorse LSA inspection certificates. Route the submissions through the Principal Officer MMD concerned.
**Stakeholder:** Competent Persons
* **Impact:** Responsible for servicing inflatable LSA in the service station.
* **Action Required:** Must be attached to the approved service station. The approval certificate shall reflect the same.
Key Entities Referenced
M.S (Life Saving Appliances) Rules, 1991: Governs the servicing of inflatable life rafts, inflatable rescue boats, and other inflatable life-saving appliances.
International Maritime Organization (IMO): Sets the guidelines for the servicing of life-saving appliances, which are prescribed by the Directorate General of Shipping.
Directorate General of Shipping (DGS): Regulates LSA service stations and requires valid approvals for servicing inflatable LSAs from Indian ships, along with compliance with IMO guidelines.
Mercantile Marine Department (MMD): Conducts verification of service stations and processes submissions for certification compliance with IMO and DGS guidelines.
M.S. Act 1958: Defines penal provisions that may apply in case of breach of instructions related to approval of competent persons or service stations.
Directorate General of Shipping' Ministry of Shipping, Govt'
NAUTICAL WING
Subject-Servicing of Life Saving Appliances- reg' File No. 19-NT (6)/2009-Pi.ll
the Govt. of NT Circular No. NT/LSA'/01/20'16 Dated 19.02.2016
1. ln accordance with the provisions the M.S (Life Saving ) Rules, 1991 , inflatable
Iife rafts, inflatable rescue boats and other such inflatable saving appliances shall be
serviced in accordance with the relevant guidelines issued by this office and as Prescribed
by the International Maritime Organization (lMO), from time to
The importance of servicing of such Life Saving Appliance (L equipment's and that the
shipping industry operates on the 'time-bound' principle pertinent. Based on the
ions under apPlicable IMO
deliberations with maritime industry representallves'
guidelines on the subject and keeping in line with pri adopted under Engineering
Circular No. 122, lz2Adated 18th February 2011, the guidel as mentioned in Para. 4 on
the subject are to be implemented with lmmediate effect'
3. LSA service stattons where inflatable LSA from Indian shi are permitted to be serviced
periodically must have a valid approval from the ceneral of Shipping (DGS).
Such service stations should meet the applicable IMO g have a quality system,
be registered with the local statutory auihorities and have persons for servicing
the aDoliances. Such competent person/persons will be for activities related to
servicing of inflatable LSA in that service station
3.1 The approved service stations and the competent ns will be issued necessary
certificates valid for a period of 5 years with an verification between 2nd
and 3'd anniversary dates Onus of making applicati for lntermediate verification
and renewal is on the service station The Prlncipal of the Mercantile Marine
Department (MMD) concerned shall carry out such
3.2 The approved service stations and the com oersons shall route their
submission through the Principal Officer MMD for the stated certification
clarifying compliance with the applicable IMO and
3.3 The competent person shall be attached to the service station. The
aooroval certificate shall reflect the same changes if required can be
made with due verification and approval of the Officer.
I Noting the provisions under the IMO guidelines, different m of LSAs being used on the
Indian ships, increasing number of ports on the Indian coast and limited number of facilitiesto meet the time bound requirements of the shipping Industry, le carrying out the repair
and servicing of various makes of the life saving appliances, servicing shall be carried
at service stations as under:
Service stations approved by the manufacturer of the and model of the LSA
and having appropriately trained, qualified and personnel by the
manufacturer may carry out servicing of LSA in rdance with the orescribed
procedures/manual of the Original Equipment Man (OEM). The competent
person shall issue certificate of service.
.+.2 In the event, the manufacturer's authorised and service station is not
available in the port, the servicing of LSAs may be in the presence of a
survevor from Mercantile Marine Department or a rveyor of the recognized
organization (RO) in accordance with the prescri procedures/manual of the
OEM. The competent person may issue certifi of serviceability after due
endorsement of the attendtng surveyor.
5. In accordance with the provisions under the quality manual approved'LSA' servicing
station shall maintain records of servicing and submit the quarterly statement to the
Princioal Officer. Mercantile Marine Department. of inspection of the LSA
issued to Indian ships must have necessary endorsement for of fees from the MMD
as aoolicable.
o. All expired pyrotechnics must be disposed in accordance the guidelines under NT
Circular 01 of 2015 dated 18.05.2015. Necessary records be maintained for the use
and disposal pyrotechnics.
7. ln case of anv breach of above instructions or an adverse in regard to the approval
of competent person, service station, the approval may be or suspended and
such actions may invite penal provision in accordance with orovisions under the M.S.
Act 1958.
This Circular supersedes this office preceding NT Circular No. 02 of
2014 dated 04.03.2014, on the aforesaid subject and is with the approval of the
competent authority.
Nautica Surveyor-cum-DDG (Tech)