No. 9 - Periodic servicing and maintenance of lifeboats, launching appliances and on-load release gear - application of IMO circular MSC.1/Circ.1206.
In accordance with art.40 of the Ships decree 2004, a ship for which a passenger ship safety certificate or a cargo ship safety certificate is required shall satisfy a.o. the requirements of chapter III of the SOLAS Convention applicable to that ship. Furthermore, in accordance with art.14 of the Ships decree 2004, these ships shall be subject to the surveys required by regulations I/7 and I/8 of the SOLAS convention.
When it concerns the periodic servicing and maintenance of lifeboats, launching appliances and on-load release gear, NSI considers MSC.1/Circ.1206 as a policy rule (see Easyrules), with the exception of par.10 of Annex 1 to this circular. In this respect the following interpretation shall be applied:
Where circular MSC.1/1206 requires certification of servicing personnel by the manufacturer, if it concerns the servicing and maintenance of lifeboats, launching appliances and on-load release gear on board of Dutch flag vessels, this may be read as follows:
- personnel, which may include ship-owner's personnel, certified by the manufacturer should be used unless, subject to the discretion of the R.O., they are not available;
- when manufacturer certified personnel is not available, an independent service provider may be appointed by the R.O., when it is satisfied that:
- the operation of the service provider is certified and complies with quality standard ISO 9001 or equivalent. The standard procedures for the servicing of lifeboat systems shall be submitted. Sufficient spare parts and technical documentation (maintenance manuals, tolerance data, etc.), as provided by the manufacturer should be available to the service personnel;
- 1) the personnel performing the maintenance and service has at least two years of servicing experience with different manufacturer's equipment;
2) service personnel has followed training on several manufacturer's equipment (at least two manufacturers);
- The service provider shall maintain a record system which provides traceability of work carried out and parts used. All spare parts used shall be original manufacturer's spare parts. If the equipment manufacturer no longer exists and there are no original spare parts, the equipment shall be replaced by equipment compliant with the Marine Equipment Directive (96/98/EC as amended)(i.c. wheelmarked);
- The service provider makes use of an accredited service personnel detailed training program;
- Service providers appointed in accordance with par.2 are strongly recommended to seek manufacturers authorization as soon as possible.