The Maritime Safety Committee of IMO at its seventy-eighth session (May 2004), approved the MSC/Circ.1114 “Guidelines for periodic testing of immersion suit and anti-exposure suit seams and closures”. The Guidelines are attached for your easy reference.

These Guidelines recommend that the immersion suit and anti-exposure suit be subjected to the air pressure test such at intervals not exceeding three years, or more frequently for suits over ten years of age at a suitable shore-based facility equipped to make any necessary repairs in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. However, the air pressure test may be carried out on board ship if suitable equipment is available. Unless otherwise instructed by the Administrations, the interval of the first test is counted from the date of manufacture of the each suit.

The implementation of these Guidelines is subject to the decision of the each Flag Administration. At the present, the following Administrations have noticed their instructions to implement MSC/Circ.1114 by the attached circulars. ClassNK will confirm the implementation of these tests at the periodical SE surveys of these flagged ships to be held on or after 15 January 2009.

Belize Merchant Shipping Notice MSN-0018
Cayman Islands Shipping Notice CISN 04/05 (Para.2.3)
Cyprus Circular No. 12 /2006
Greece Ref. No. 4338.1/03/06
Liberia Marine Notice SAF-001 (Para.5.4)
Malta Administration Requirements 1.19.1
Marshall Islands Marine Notice No. 2-011-5 (Para.3.7)
Panama Merchant Marine Circular No.165
St. Kitts & Nevis Circular Letter No. SV06/2007 (Para.6)
Vietnam Technical Information 021KT/05TB.E

ClassNK will inform you of the instructions for the test concerned from the other Administrations once we received.

(To be continued)