In accordance with the amendments to 1974 SOLAS (MSC.152(78)), regardless of flag, implementation of maintenance, servicing and inspection of lifeboats and launching appliances complying with MSC/Circ.1093 will become mandatory.

Major points of the mandatory scheme are as follows, but for details, please see the attached MSC/Circ.1093.

1. By 1 July 2006, upon obtaining the "maintenance manuals and associated documents" prepared by the manufacturer, the manual associated with the ISM which reflects procedures for the maintenance, servicing and inspection in accordance with MSC/Circ.1093 should be available on board the ship.

2. On or after 1 July 2006, maintenance, servicing and inspection of lifeboats and launching appliances should be as follows.
(1) annual thorough examination and operations test, 5-years-periodical thorough examination and operations test under 1.1 times overload conditions, and repairs should be carried out by the manufacturer's representative or a person appropriately trained and certified by the manufacturer. (A statement on this maintenance will be issued by the manufacturer's representative or the person appropriately trained and certified by the manufacturer.)
As for the due date of annual thorough examination, ClassNK will treat the due as that of the periodical survey of Safety Equipment.
(2) weekly / monthly inspections should be conducted by ship's crews under the direct supervision of a senior ship's officer in accordance with the above mentioned manual associated with the ISM and these records should be kept on board the ship. During annual thorough examination, weekly / monthly inspections should be performed by ship's crews in the presence of the manufacturer's representative or the servicing personnel.

Although specific instructions and details from flag states have not yet been received, information in detail will be sent as it becomes available.

(To be continued)