Tag: life-saving equipment

The US Coast Guard shared equipment manufacturers' guidance to seek approval of pilot ladders and embarkation ladders that meet ISO 799-1:2019 or ISO 5489:2008, respectively, as well as current guidance on embarking and disembarking of pilots.

A total of 57 ships were detained in the US in 2020, marking a decrease in the annual ship detention rate from 1.10% to 0.77%, the USCG said in its PSC Annual Report for 2020. While ship detentions related to fire safety and lifesaving systems remained similar to the past few years, MARPOL Annex I deficiencies decreased in the last year, the report reveals. 

Claiming the title of the most high-level shipwreck in history, Titanic is far more than a famous tragic story as it redefined the concept of maritime safety and led to the adoption of SOLAS Convention.

In October 2020, the US Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach found eleven non-compliant SEE-ME 1.0 LED PFD lights. The bottoms of the lights were missing, cracked, or bulging.

PSCO’s checklists have a dedicated LSA section with specific items to be checked. Some PSC authorities issue specific information and PSC findings on LSA equipment (eg AMSA). This a practice to declare the importance of such items and systems. After all, LSA is the type of equipment which aims to provide seafarers protection in case of emergency.

Lifeboats save lives. Titanic had a limited number of lifeboats onboard because its construction was considered a technological miracle of safety and luxury. And this is why 1,500 out of the 2,200 people onboard perished in what is considered as the world’s most famous maritime disaster.

With Resolution MSC.402(96), IMO issued amendments for maintenance, thorough examination, operational testing, overhaul and repair of lifeboats /rescue boats, launching appliances and release gear, which came into force in January 2020.

The traditional open wooden boat has been replaced by totally enclosed boats and free fall boats while new designs of rescue boats are nowadays in use to serve rescue operations in sea. Although, industry has addressed the risks associated with launching, running, and recovering a modern ship’s lifeboat and while the design, condition and equipment have been upgraded, many mariners have been killed or injured in accidents during operation.

Mr Iasonas Lalizas, Marketing Communication Manager, Lalizas Hellas highlights that periodical trainings of the crew, onboard visual product inspections and maintenance are key practices for the proper operation of lifesaving equipment on board and refers to safety challenges that lifesaving equipment manufacturers face.

Transport Canada issued a bulletin to advise the marine industry of the Policy on Authorized Service Providers. This applies to the equipment carried on SOLAS vessels and any vessels that are required to meet Chapter III of the SOLAS Convention. It applies also to the service provider who carries out their maintenance.