Beware of stagnation! Your load test water bag is no longer compliant.

Real-world Detention Cases (Hot Topics)

2025–2026: Several large bulk carriers in the Asia-Pacific and Europe were detained in ports due to the lack of valid calibration certificates for the davit load test water bags, resulting in unrecognized test reports and tens of thousands of US dollars in port delays and dock repair losses.

IMO MSC.402 (96) Amendment to be Mandatory in 2026: Water Bags Officially Become the Preferred Test Medium

1. The China Classification Society (CCS) MSC.402 (96) Amendment clarifies that lifeboat davits and drop rafts must undergo a comprehensive inspection every 5 years, verifying 110% SWL rated load.

• Two compliant testing methods are recognized: calibrated water-filled load bags + force gauges, and standard solid counterweights.

• Compared to heavy steel blocks, IMO official documents prioritize the water-filled load bag method, recognizing its three major advantages: gradual, staged water filling; real-time load monitoring; and suitability for confined boat interiors. The test requires a traceable, calibrated force gauge; relying solely on flow meters to estimate weight is no longer accepted by classification societies and PSCs.

Paris/Tokyo Memorandum: PSC Upgrades Lifeboat Load Testing Inspection; Non-compliant Water Bags Become a New Cause of Detention

1. PSC Inspection Adds Core Verification Items

By the end of 2025, both memorandums simultaneously updated port inspection guidelines, incorporating lifeboat load testing documents and water bag compliance into the detention determination criteria. High-frequency defects include:

•  Using non-standard water bags without third-party calibration certificates;

•  Calculating weight solely with a water pipe flow meter, without using a force gauge to read the actual tension in real time;

•  Damaged, aged, or torn water bags, reuse of water bags past their lifespan;

•  Lack of water bag pressure test records and volume traceability calibration reports.

New Regulations for Simulated Release of Drop-Off Lifeboats (Mandatory by 2031)

1. IMO SSE 11 Subcommittee, February 2025, finalized LSA Regulation Amendment: From January 1, 2031, all newly constructed drop-off lifeboats must undergo a simulated release load test annually. No actual launch is required, but a load-bearing water bag must be used to simulate the full weight of the crew to verify the strength of the release mechanism.