This document summarizes the key requirements for life-saving appliances and arrangements on ships as outlined in the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). It discusses the major elements which include communications equipment, personal life-saving appliances, muster lists and instructions, survival craft, line-throwing appliances, emergency training and drills, and operational readiness. Specific requirements are provided for equipment like lifeboats, life rafts, rescue boats, immersion suits and other personal protective equipment.

2. Major elements of life-saving appliances and
arrangements include:
 Communications
 Personal life-saving appliances
 Muster list and instructions
 Survival craft
 Line-throwing appliances
 Emergency training and drills
 Operation readiness, maintenances and inspections

3. Note:
All life-saving appliances need to comply with
relevant requirement and performance standard.
International Life-Saving Appliances Code (LSA
Code)

4. LSA Code 1.2.2.9
“ be clearly marked with approval information
including the Administration which approved
it, and any operational restrictions “

5. Unlike other parts of SOLAS Chapter III has not
changed dramatically in the recent past.
As a result this package will be structured to
examine the carriage requirements and the
nature of the equipment is in question rather
the paraphrasing the regulations.

6. Muster List
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7. 4
12
2
2 (P&S)
With
light / rope
no. as required

8. 100% each side
100% each side or
50% each side (aggregate 100% if liferaft transferable)

9. How do we know what are the equipment
and how many of them are required on
board?

14. Communications (Reg III/6)
•Two-way VHF radiotelephone apparatus
•Radar Transponders
•Distress flares
•On board communications and alarm system
•Public-address system on passenger ships (also
for cargo ships).

15. Two-way VHF radiotelephone apparatus
◦ On ships of 300 gt and greater, but less than
500 gt, two (2) sets are to be carried on board.
◦ On ships of 500 gt and greater three (3) sets are
to be carried on board.
(be provided with a dedicated primary battery
with a non-replaceable seal)

16. Radar Transponders (SARTs)
◦ On passenger ships and cargo ships of 500 gt,
or greater, at least one radar transponders shall
be carried on each side of the ship.
◦ On cargo ships 300 gt and greater, but less than
500 gt, one transponder is to be carried.
◦ The transponder(s) shall be stowed in such
locations that they can be rapidly placed in any
survival craft or inside the survival craft.
 Note: SARTS are to be carried in one in every
four life rafts of Ro-Ro passenger ships.

18. Distress flares
◦ Not less than 12 rocket parachute flares shall be
carried and be stowed on or near the navigation
bridge.
◦ (Note: each lifeboat is also to be equipped with
4 rocket parachute flares, 6 hand flares and 2
buoyant smoke signals.)

20. On-board communications and alarm system
◦ An emergency means shall be provided for two-
way communications (fixed or portable) between
strategic positions on board.
◦ A general emergency alarm system shall be
provided.

21. Public address system on passenger ships
◦ All passenger ships shall be fitted with a public
address system.
◦ (also for cargo ships)

22. Personal life-saving appliances
(Reg III/7)
• Lifebuoys
•Lifejackets
• Immersion suits, anti-exposure suits and
thermal protective aids

23. Lifebuoys
◦ Lifebuoys are to be distributed evenly along the
ship and to be easily deployed.
◦ At least one lifebuoy will be located in the
vicinity of the stern.
◦ One lifebuoy at each side fitted with buoyant
lifeline which has a length of twice the height at
which it is stowed, or 30m, which ever is
greater.

24. ◦ Not less than half the lifebuoys fitted with self-
igniting lights. Not less than two of these fitted
with orange smoke signals and can be quickly
released from navigation bridge (Man-
Overboard units)
◦ Each lifebuoy us marked in block letters with the
name and port of registry of the ship.
◦ Minimum number to be carried on board will
vary from one ship to another depending on
ship type and length (see reg III/22 and III/32).

27. Lifejackets
◦ Required for every person on board the ship
plus:
 A number of lifejackets suitable for children equal
to at least 10% of the number of passengers (or
sufficient to provide a lifejacket for each child); and
 sufficient number carried for persons on watch and
for use at remotely located survival craft stations.
The lifejackets carried for persons on watch should
be stowed on the bridge, in the engine control
room and at any other manned watch station.

28. ◦ Lifejackets to be fitted with lights and whistles
as required by the LSA code.
◦ Lifejackets shall be so placed as to be readily
accessible and their position shall be plainly
indicated.
◦ The lifejackets used in totally enclosed lifeboats,
except free-fall lifeboats, shall not impede entry
into the lifeboat or seating, including operation
of the seat belts in the lifeboat.

30. What about this life-jacket?
This is not a SOLAS type approved jacket.

31. Immersion suits, anti-exposure suits and thermal
protective aids
◦ Immersion suits or anti-exposure suits required
for every person on board (including for
assigned crew for the rescue boat - normally 3
for cargo ships or to the marine evacuation
system party).
◦ For lifeboats other than totally enclosed
lifeboats on cargo ships, 3 immersion suits are
required for each lifeboat. In addition, thermal
protective aids are required for the other
persons on board. (see reg III/22.4 and 32.3)

32. ◦ Immersion suits may also meet requirement of
lifejacket (i.e. no need to wear together with a
lifejacket). In such cases, the immersions suits
to be provided with lights and whistles.
◦ Immersion suit may not be required on vessels
operating solely in warm climates.

34. Muster list and instructions
(Reg III/8)
• Clear instructions to be followed in the event of
an emergency shall be provided for every person
on board.
• Muster lists and emergency instructions shall be
exhibited in conspicuous places throughout the
ship (including bridge, engine room and crew
accommodation spaces).

35. Note: Alleyways, stairways and exits
giving access to the muster and
embarkation stations is to be lighted
and be supplied by the emergency source
of electrical power. ……….routes to
muster stations shall be indicated with
the muster station symbol.
(Reg III/11.5)

36. Operating instructions
(Reg III/9)
• Clear instructions are to be provided in the
vicinity of survival illustrating how to launch the
boat.
• These instructions shall be easily seen under
emergency lighting.

39. Survival craft (Reg III/13 to 17,
21 and 31)
• Lifeboat (open type, partially enclosed, totally
enclosed, free-fall, lifeboat with self-contained
air support system, fire-protected lifeboat).
• life raft (inflatable, rigid)
• Rescue boat and fast rescue boat
• Associated launching and embarkation
appliances
• Marine evacuation system

40. Lifeboat and life rafts
◦ Cargo ships
 100% life boat capacity each side – (or
freefall lifeboat with 100% capacity)
 100% life raft capacity both side
combined (if raft can be easily
transferred, otherwise 100% each side
– (require hydrostatic release device)

41.  If free fall lifeboat is fitted, then life
raft(s) 100% capacity each side and for
one side raft(s) to be provided with
davit launching arrangement.
 One additional life raft (normally 6
persons) to be provided if distance
between survival craft and stem/stern
more than 100 metres. This life raft
do not require hydrostatic release
device.

44. Lifeboat and life raft
◦ Passenger ships
 50% capacity each side - lifeboats
 25% capacity each side - life rafts
 Launching appliance for life rafts on
each side
 Marine evacuation system(s) may be
used as substitute for the equivalent
capacity of life rafts.

45. MARINE EVACUATION
SYSTEMS (MES)

47. •OPEN LIFEBOATS
•NOT ALLOWED ON SHIPS BUILT
AFTER 1/7/86

48. •ALL CARGO SHIPS BUILT AFTER 1/7/86
•OPTIONAL ON PASSENGER SHIPS
LIFEBOAT - ENCLOSED

49. •ALL TANKERS
–FIRE PROTECTED LIFEBOATS
•CHEMICAL TANKERS AND GAS CARRIERS
–SELF CONTAINED AIR SUPPORT SYSTEM

50. •FREE FALL LIFEBOAT
–100% CAPACITY
–100% LIFERAFTS EACH SIDE
–DAVIT LAUNCHED LIFERAFTS ON
ONE SIDE

51. LIFEBOAT - PARTIALLY ENCLOSED
•PERMITTED ON
PASSENGER SHIPS

52. General requirement of lifeboat (LSA code)
◦ Access
◦ Buoyancy
◦ Freeboard and stability
◦ Propulsion (LSA Code)
◦ Fittings (drain valve, rudder and tiller, bilge grab
rails, release mechanism, painter arrangement,
skates, fenders etc.)
◦ Equipment
◦ Ship name, port of registry, capacity markings

53. Launching and embarkation arrangement of
lifeboat
◦ Launching to be carried out by gravity only.
◦ Muster and embarkation stations shall be readily
accessible and adequately illuminated by
emergency lighting.
◦ Embarkation ladder to be provided.

60. Davit Launching arrangement of life raft
◦ Allow the turning out operation to be manual
◦ The lowering is to be done by gravity.
◦ Allow automatic release when life raft is water-
borne.
◦ To be provided with on load release
arrangement

64. Float Free life rafts (included stowed davit launch
life rafts)
◦ Painter permanently attached to the ship;
◦ Float free arrangement as per LSA code
(hydrostatic release and weak link etc);
◦ Stowed to allow manual release;
Note: these requirements do not apply to the
life raft stowed forward where required under
III/31.1.4.

71. Rescue boat
◦ Cargo ship to carry at least one rescue boat
◦ Passenger ships (500GT and above) to carry one
rescue boat on each side.
◦ Passenger ships (less than 500GT) to carry one
rescue boat.
◦ A lifeboat may be accepted as rescue boat.

72. Launching and embarkation arrangement of
rescue boat
◦ The boat can be boarded and launched in the
shortest possible time.
◦ Recovery time shall be not more than 5 minutes.
◦ Shall allow for safe and efficient handling of a
stretcher case.

73. •RESCUE BOATS
–LAUNCHED @ 5kts SHIP SPEED
–RECOVERED IN 5 MINUTES
•CARGO SHIPS
–AT LEAST ONE RESCUE BOAT
•PASSENGER SHIPS
–ONE RESCUE BOAT EACH SIDE
–ONE FAST RESCUE BOAT ON RO
RO SHIPS

74. Fast rescue boat
◦ The boat can achieve 8 knots with full
complement.
◦ The boat can achieve 20 knots with 3 persons.
◦ There shall be at least one rescue boat on Ro-Ro
- passenger ships (Reg III/26.3).

78. NOTE:
Life-saving appliances is to be fitted with
retro-reflective material where it will
assist in detection and in accordance
with the recommendation of IMO. Refer
IMO resolution A.658(16).

81.  Training manual to be provided in each crew mess
room and recreation room or in each crew cabin
 Contain instructions and information, on the life-
saving appliances provided in the ship
 To be written in the working language of the ship
To be easily understood

82. When ships are required to carry this?
Ships built 1 July 2014 onward
From first periodical/renewal survey after 1
July 2014 (if built before this date).
SOLAS CIII R17-1
MSC.1 /Circ.1447

83.  Show the duties assigned to different members.
 Exhibited in conspicuous places throughout the ship
including the navigation bridge, engine room and
crew accommodation spaces.
 Specify details of general emergency alarm and
action to be taken

90. END