Unit VI personal life-saving appliances

Life-saving appliances on all ships have to be fitted with retro-reflective material(retro-reflective material is a material which reflects in the opposite direction a beam of light directed on it) where it will assist in detection and in accordance with the recommendations of the Organization(Organization means IMO with all its committees) in A.658(16);

Unless expressly provided otherwise in the opinion of the Administration(Administration means Maritime administration of Flag state), all LSA prescribed in this part shall:

• be constructed with proper workmanship and materials;

• not be damaged in stowage throughout the air temperature range -30°C to +65°C;

• if they are likely to be immersed in seawater during their use, operate throughout the seawater temperature range -1°C to +30°C;

• where applicable, be rot-proof, corrosion-resistant, and not be unduly affected by seawater, oil or fungal attack;

• where exposed to sunlight, be resistant to deterioration;

• be of a highly visible color on all parts where this will assist detection;

• be fitted with retro-reflective material where it will assist in detection and in accordance with the recommendations of the Organization in A.658(16);

• if they are to be used in a seaway, be capable of satisfactory operation in that environment;

• be clearly marked with approval information including the Administration which approved it, and any operational restrictions;

• where applicable, be provided with electrical short circuit protection to prevent damage or injury.

The Administration shall determine the period of acceptability of life-saving appliances which are subject to deterioration with age. Such life-saving appliances shall be marked with a means for determining their age or the date by which they must be replaced. Permanent marking with a date of expiry is the preferred method of establishing the period of acceptability. Batteries not marked with an expiration date may be used if they are replaced annually, or in the case of a secondary battery (accumulator), if the condition of the electrolyte can be readily checked.

Text A

Lifejackets

A life jacket is a personal flotation device that is certified by an independent authority as a life jacket that complies with the requirements of SOLAS.

An abandon ship life jacket must be placed in a rack or a designated location near each bunk. All life jackets must comply with Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and other local regulating agencies.

Abandon ship life jackets should be capable of being donned and adjusted within 30 seconds. They should have a conspicuous, centrally positioned lifting bracket (a strong webbed loop with which to pull the wearer from the water) and a whistle housed in loop or small pocket, reflective tape and a battery-powered light. They should turn an exhausted or unconscious person face upward (within five seconds with inherent buoyancy and ten seconds with auto or manual gas inflation) and hold the body inclined backward between 30° and 60° from the vertical with the mouth clear of the water.

There should be at least 100% more abandon ship life jackets on board beyond the maximum number of crew and passengers. Additional life jackets must be available for bridge crew and engine room personnel and kept near the work areas.

The three main types of life jackets are:

1) An inherently buoyant life jacket, well padded with closed-cell foam. An abandon ship life jacket will be of this construction.

2) Manual gas-inflatable life jackets with a pull tag to activate the carbon dioxide cylinder with oral inflation tube.

3) Automatic gas inflatable life jackets in which the carbon dioxide cylinder is activated when immersed in water, with both oral inflation and manual pull-tag overrid jackets can be worn flat and folded against the body but neither becomes a life jacket until fully inflated. If you fall into the water unconscious, a jacket requiring manual inflation will be of little use. Under no circumstances should an automatically inflatable or inherently buoyant life jacket be worn while in a helicopter since, in the event of ditching, it will inflate and trap the wearer inside the emergency exits.

Manual and automatic gas inflation models need more servicing than a jacket with inherent buoyancy. The cylinders should be weighed at regular intervals to ensure the carbon dioxide is not leaking. According to manufacturers’ instructions, company procedures and local regulating agencies, a thorough inspection program should be devised.

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