Summary of New Regulations And Initiatives for Rescue Boats

I. At the International Level (IMO)

1. MSC.1/Circ.1693 (July 2025, MSC 110th session – highly significant): Unified Interpretations of the LSA Code regarding rescue boat operations.

Resolves long-standing disputes during Port State Control (PSC) inspections:

- For rescue boats on cargo ships: Hoisting a rescue boat from its stowed position is considered "preparation for launching" rather than the "launching process" itself. It is therefore permissible to manually hoist the boat and slew it out to the embarkation position before personnel board.

- For existing cargo ship rescue boats not equipped with a stored-energy starting system: The process of hoisting and slewing out to the embarkation position does not require personnel to be inside the rescue boat to initiate the engine start.

Significance:

This clarifies common misconceptions and eases the criteria applied during PSC inspections—an issue that previously led to deficiencies for many older vessels. This is of great interest to manufacturers of rescue boat davits and release gear, as well as shipowners.

2. Resolution MSC.559(108) (supplementing MSC.402(96); effective January 1, 2026).

MSC.402(96) serves as the mandatory standard for the maintenance, annual thorough examination, and overhaul of rescue boats/lifeboats, launching appliances, and release gear. This amendment introduces:

- New inspection requirements for specific components: The ventilation system for totally enclosed lifeboats is now included in the annual thorough examination and operational testing. (While rescue boats themselves are not required to be "totally enclosed," they fall under the same maintenance framework; consequently, inspectors will also verify the test records for the rescue boat’s davits and release gear.)

Note:

Under the MSC.402(96) framework, requirements for periodic load testing—covering release gear, davits, winches, limit switches, brakes, and quick-release mechanisms—as well as the necessity for certified service providers, are becoming increasingly stringent. PSC authorities are placing a strong focus on maintenance records and the credentials of service providers.

3. LSA Code MSC.554(108) (Effective: 2026-01-01) — Updates to Rescue Boat Lowering Speed ​​Limits

Lowering speed for a fully loaded rescue boat:

- Lower limit: S = 0.4 + 0.02H (m/s)

- Upper limit: Fixed at 1.3 m/s. The lowering mechanism must be equipped with an integrated speed-limiting device to prevent excessive impact forces and overloading of the release hooks.

4. Amendments adopted via MSC.111 (May 2026) (Effective: 2028-01-01 – Long-term)

These amendments primarily introduce new regulations for the simulated launching of free-fall lifeboats. They also entail revisions to the maintenance and servicing regime (MSC.402). Consequently, requirements for simulated tests and operational tests (conducted without launching the craft into the water) for rescue boat release mechanisms will increase, thereby reducing the risks associated with drills involving the actual launching of the craft.

II. Common Industry Trends

1. Shift in Port State Control (PSC) Focus: Inspections have moved beyond merely verifying whether a rescue boat can be deployed. The focus now includes the maintenance cycles of release hooks, the validity of service provider certificates, records of lowering speeds, documentation of operational drills, and the completeness of sea anchors and other ancillary equipment.

2. Rising Demand for Fast Rescue Boats (FRBs): There is an increasing preference for high-speed rescue boats among passenger vessels, offshore wind farm support/service vessels, and offshore engineering vessels. Furthermore, LSA (Life-Saving Appliance) regulations continue to strictly enforce requirements regarding towing capacity—specifically the ability to tow a liferaft at a speed of 2 knots.

3. Demand for Retrofitting Existing Vessels: On many older ships, the lowering speed of rescue boat davit winches exceeds the 1.3 m/s limit. This has generated demand for retrofits, including the replacement of winches and the upgrading of release mechanisms.