IMO issues amendments to the International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code

Eda Zenic -

The International Maritime Organization has issued resolution MSC.554(108) with amendments to the International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code, which regulates life-saving equipment on ships under the SOLAS Convention.

These amendments will come into force on January 1, 2026.

The amendments modify sections of Chapter II (Personal Life-Saving Appliances), Chapter IV (Survival Craft), and Chapter VI (Launching and Embarkation Appliances) of the LSA Code.

Chapter II – Personal Life-Saving Appliances

Lifejackets (Section 2.2)

  1. New requirement (2.2.1.6.2): Lifejackets must now be capable of turning an unconscious person who is face-down in the water to a face-up position. This must happen within a specific time frame, namely the “RTD + 1 second”, where RTD is the time taken for the lifejacket to perform this maneuver under standard conditions. This ensures quicker and more reliable life-saving action for unconscious people in water.

Chapter IV – Survival Craft

Lifeboat Fittings (Section 4.4.7)

  1. Paragraph 4.4.7.6.8: This amendment tightens safety requirements for lifeboat hooks. Hooks must now be designed such that they cannot support any load unless they are completely reset. This prevents accidental release during the recovery of the lifeboat. Additionally, indicators and signs must ensure that the hook’s reset status is clearly displayed to avoid confusion.
  2. Paragraph 4.4.7.6.17: When a single fall and hook system is used to launch a lifeboat or rescue boat, it must be designed so that the hook cannot release the boat with a load unless it is fully waterborne. This enhances safety by ensuring the boat isn't prematurely released.

Chapter VI – Launching and Embarkation Appliances

Launching Appliances Using Falls and a Winch (Section 6.1.2)

  1. Paragraph 6.1.2.8: This amendment sets a formula for the minimum lowering speed of fully loaded survival craft or rescue boats. The speed should not be less than S = 0.4 + 0.02H (where H is the height in meters from the davit head to the waterline), with an upper limit of 1.0 meter per second. This ensures that rescue boats and survival craft can be deployed quickly, especially from higher positions on large vessels.
  2. Paragraph 6.1.2.10: A maximum lowering speed for survival craft and rescue boats is set at 1.3 meters per second. However, the Administration may permit higher speeds if the design of the craft and launching mechanisms protect occupants from excessive forces. This prevents potential injury due to high-speed lowering while ensuring emergency operations remain efficient.