Wednesday, 28th July 2010
IMO MSC resolution MSC.201(81) adopted 18 May 2006 and applicable from 1 July 2010, introduced amendments to SOLAS Chapter III Regulation 7 - Personal life-saving appliances. Amendments relate to the provision of infant lifejackets on passenger ships and accessories for adult lifejackets not designed for persons weighing up to 140kg with a chest girth of up to 1,750 mm on passenger and cargo ships.
Confusion over how many "accessories" should be available on board has led the UK MCGA to produce some guidance.
"The UK is of the view that in order to avoid possible complications during PSC inspections and in anticipation of the UK's implementation of the requirements, the operators of UK vessels on international voyages should be encouraged to comply with the SOLAS III/7.2 as amended, as follows:
All passenger ships engaged on international voyages and all cargo ships of 500 GT and above engaged on international voyages should be encouraged to comply with SOLAS III/7.2.1.5 - provision of oversized lifejackets - from 1 July 2010".
The new regulation III/7.2.1.5 states:
"if the adult lifejackets provided are not designed to fit persons weighing up to 140 kg and with a chest girth of up to 1,750 mm, a sufficient number of suitable accessories shall be available on board to allow them to be secured to such persons."
The UK is of the view that a "sufficient number" with respect to III/7.2.1.5 shall be decided through a risk assessment conducted by the operator and scrutinised by the attending surveyor. It would be expected that the operator will undertake a formal documented risk assessment of the likely number of such accessories required on board, taking into account the number of persons for which the vessel is certificated, the usual maximum number of adults on board, and the likely number of adults in the weight and size range beyond that which the existing lifejackets will fit, up to a maximum of 140 kg and 1750 mm girth.
The MCA research of demographics suggests that a risk assessment which produced a figure of less that 5% of total persons should be questioned.
Interested parties who require any further information are encouraged to contact the UK MCA.