Ref. T4/3.01 MSC/Circ.1115
25 May 2004
1 The Maritime Safety Committee, at its seventy-eighth session (12 to 21 May 2004), consideredseveralreportsofinjuriessustainedbyseafarersduringfree-falllaunchesoffree-fall lifeboats fromheights greater than 20 metres.
2 TheCommitteeendorsedtheproposaloftheSub-CommitteeonShipDesignandEquipment toaddarelevantitemtoitsshort-termworkplanformeasurestopreventaccidentswithlifeboats,to considertheneedforimprovementstotherequirementsfordesignandconfigurationoffree-fall lifeboatseatingandlauncharrangementstoprotecttheoccupantsfromharmfulaccelerationforces, particularly with regard to free-fall launch heights greater than 20 metres.
3 TheCommittee,recognizingtheongoingwork oftheSub-CommitteeonShipDesignand Equipment to address this issue, agreed that in enforcing the provisions of SOLAS regulation III/19.3.3.4withregardtofree-falllifeboatsbeinglaunchedfromheightsgreaterthan 20metres,Administrationsmayacceptlaunchingbyfallsinlieuoffree-falllaunching,providedthat a simulated free-fall launch is conducted at least every six months.
4 Member Governments are invited to bring this circular to the attention of their Administrations and all parties concerned.
5 Thiscircularremainsineffectfortwoyearsfromthedateofthiscircularunlessrevoked earlier.