Firms Engaged in Maintenance, Through Examination, Operational Testing, Overhaul and Repair of

(b) In cases where the service supplier has been approved by the flag administration, another administration deemed acceptable by the flag administration or another classification society, a part of or the entire the demonstration may be dispensed with.

2.13 Firms Engaged in Maintenance, Through Examination, Operational Testing, Overhaul and Repair of Lifeboats, Rescue Boats, Launching Appliances, and Release Gear

2.13.1 Application

This section applies to firms engaged in maintenance, through examination, operational testing, overhaul and repair of the life-saving appliances listed below:

(a) lifeboats (including free-fall lifeboats), rescue boats, and fast rescue boats;

(b) launching appliances and on-load and off-load release gear for lifeboats (including primary and secondary means of launching appliances for free-fall lifeboats), rescue boats, fast rescue boats and davit-launched liferafts.

2.13.2 Approval

(a) The contents of this procedure apply equally to manufacturers or ship's operator when they are acting as service suppliers.

(b) Any service suppliers engaged in maintenance, thorough examination, operational testing, overhaul and repair of lifeboats and rescue boats, launching appliances and release gear carried out in accordance with SOLAS regulation III/20, as amended, are to be approved for these operations for each make and type of equipment for which they provide the service in accordance with IMO Resolution MSC.402(96)/Corr.1 (annex, section7).

Such approval shall include, as a minimum:

(i) employment and documentation of personnel certified in accordance with a recognized national, international or industry standard as applicable, or an equipment manufacturer’s established certification program. In either case, the certification program shall be based on 2.13.4(a) for each make and type of equipment for which service is to be provided; and,

(ii) compliance with provisions of 2.13.3(c), 2.13.6 and 2.13.7.

(c) In cases where an equipment manufacturer is no longer in business or no longer provi des technical support, service suppliers may be approved for the equipment on the basis of prior approval for the equipment and/or long term experience and demonstrated expertise as an approved service provider.

2.13.3 Document examination:

(a) Training procedures

The documented training procedure required by 1.5.2(a) is to contain information on the items listed in 2.13.4(c)(i)(1) to (6) as well as 2.13.3(1)(c)(i) to (iv). In addition, the service supplier is to provide the latest versions of all relevant documents.

(b) Work procedures

The service suppliers are to have documented work procedures, as required by 1.5.2(c), containing information for at least the following (i) to (iv):

CHAPTER 2 SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS 2.13 Firms Engaged in Maintenance, Through Examination, Operational Testing, Overhaul and Repair of Lifeboats, Rescue Boats, Launching Appliances, and Release Gear

(i) information related to preparing and implementing the service of lifeboats, launching appliances, on-load release gear and automatic release hooks;

(ii) information related to recording the conditions of defects found during servicing;

(iii) information related to reporting the results of servicing to the Surveyor and receiving the Surveyor's verification of the results; and

(iv) information related to issuing service record certificates.

(c) Reference documents

The service suppliers are to have access to the documents listed in the following (i) to (v):

(i) IMO – Resolution MSC.402(96)/Corr.1 Requirements for Maintenance, Through Examination, Operational Testing, Overhaul and Repair of Lifeboats and Rescue Boats, Launching Appliances and Release Gear;

(ii) IMO - Resolution A.689(17), recommendation on testing of life-saving appliances and, for life-saving appliances installed on board on or after 1 July 1999;

(iii) IMO - Resolution MSC.81(70), as amended, revised recommendation on testing of life-saving appliances;

(iv) Manufacturer’s instructions (including updates, amendments and safety notices) for repair work involving disassembly or adjustment of on-load release mechanisms and davit winches; and

(v) Type approval certificate showing any conditions that may be appropriate during the servicing and/or maintenance of lifeboats, launching appliances and on-load release gear.

2.13.4 Certification of personnel

(a) Personnel for the work specified in 2.13.1 shall be certified by the manufacturer or the service supplier for each make and type of the equipment to be worked on. Approved Service Supplier is allowed to certify its own personnel (i.e. employed by the same service supplier) only.

(b) Education for personnel

The education for initial certification of personnel should be documented and address, as a minimum:

(i) Causes of lifeboat and rescue boat accidents;

(ii) Relevant rules and regulations, including International Conventions as well as flag Administration requirements, as well as the Rules of the Society related to the servicing of lifeboats, launching appliances and on-load release gear and the inspection instructions for said devices issued by the Society;

(iii) Design and construction of lifeboats (including free-fall lifeboats), rescue boats and fast rescue boats, including launching appliances, on load release gear;

(iv) Education and practical training in the procedures specified in section 6 of the Annex to IMO Resolution MSC.402(96)/Corr.1 for which certification is sought;

(v) Detailed procedures for thorough examination, operational testing, repair and overhaul of lifeboats, launching appliances, on load release gear and automatic release hooks, as applicable;

(vi) Procedures for issuing a report of service and statement of fitness for purpose based on IMO Resolution MSC.402(96)/Corr.1 (annex, paragraph 5.3); and

(vii) Work, health and safety issues while conducting activities on board.

(c) Training for personnel

The training for the personnel shall include practical technical training on thorough examination, operational testing, maintenance, repair and overhaul techniques using the equipment for which the personnel are to be certified. The technical training shall include disassembly, reassembly, correct operation and adjustment of

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2.13 Firms Engaged in Maintenance, Through Examination, Operational Testing, Overhaul and Repair of Lifeboats, Rescue Boats, Launching Appliances, and Release Gear

the equipment. Classroom training shall be supplemented by field experience in the operations for which certification is sought, under the supervision of a certified person.

(d) Initial certification and renewal of certification

Prior to issuance of personnel certification, a competency assessment shall be satisfactorily completed, using the equipment for which the personnel are to be certified.

(e) Upon completion of training and competency assessment, a certificate shall be issued defining the level of qualification and the scope of the certification (i.e. makes and types of equipment and specifically state which activities (annual thorough examination and operational tests; 5-year thorough examination, overhaul;

overload operational tests; repairs) are covered by the certification). The expiry date shall clearly be written on the certificate and shall be three years from the date of issue. The validity of any certificate shall be suspended in the event of any shortfall in performance and only revalidated after a further competency assessment.

(f) A competency assessment shall be conducted to renew the certification. In cases where refresher training is found necessary a further assessment shall be carried out after completion.

2.13.5 Demonstration

(a) On board demonstrations are to be carried out in the presence of the Surveyor to verify that the service suppliers have appropriate competence for the services of lifeboats, launching appliances, on -load release gear, or automatic release hooks. However, as for the lifeboats, launching appliances, on-load release gear, and automatic release hooks for which said demonstration is difficult to carry out, may be substituted for by the submission of the service record certificates.

(b) In cases where the service supplier has been approved by other classification societies, a part of or the whole of the demonstration may be dispensed with.

2.13.6 Equipment and facilities

The service supplier is to have the following:

(a) sufficient tools, and in particular any specialized tools specified in the equipment manufacturer 's instructions, including portable tools as needed for work to be carried out on board ship;

(b) access to appropriate parts and accessories as specified by the equipment manufacturer for maintenance and repair; and

(c) for servicing and repair work involving disassembly or adjustment of on-load release mechanisms, availability of genuine replacement parts as specified or supplied by the equipment manufacturer.

2.13.7 Reporting to the Society

The report is to conform to the requirements of IMO Resolution MSC.402(96)/Corr.1 (annex, paragraph 5.3). When repairs, thorough examinations and annual servicing are completed, a statement confirming that the lifeboat arrangements remain fit for purpose is to be promptly issued by the service supplier that conducted the work. A copy of valid documents of certification and authorization as appropriate shall be included with the statement.

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