LSA Maintenance & Tests

Weekly test and inspection :

→ All survival craft, rescue craft and launching appliance shall be visually inspected to ensure that they are ready for use

→ Lifeboat engines should be run for at least 3 minutes.

→ The condition of the hooks and their attachment to the lifeboat.

→ Lifeboats (except free-fall) shall be moved from their stowed position without any person onboard.

→ General emergency alarm & light.

Monthly test and inspection :

→ Lifeboats (except free-fall) shall be turned out from their stowed position without any person onboard.

→ Check the lifeboat equipments.

→ Check the marking on lifeboat.

→ Check the limit switch.

Quarterly test and inspection :

→ Lower the lifeboat and maneuver in the water.

→ Try out the sprinkler system.

→ Change lifeboat water.

6 monthly test and inspection :

→ Free-fall lifeboat lower without any person, either by free-fall or by other means & maneuver in the water.

ANNUAL THOROUGH EXAMINATION (MSN 1803) (By the ship’s crew in the presence of service personnel)

→ Items listed in checklists for the weekly/monthly inspections also form the first part of the annual thorough examination. When carrying out this examination the inspection of these items should be performed by the ship’s crew in the presence of accredited service personnel and any recommendations or new procedures should be demonstrated then

→ Inspection and maintenance records of inspections and routine maintenance carried out by the ship’s crew and the applicable certificates for the launching appliances and equipment should be available.

→ Repairs and replacement of parts should be carried out in accordance with the manufacturer’s requirements and standards.

Lifeboats :

The following items should be examined and checked for satisfactory condition and operation:

→ Condition of lifeboat structure including fixed and loose equipment.

→ Engine and propulsion system.

→ Maneuvering system.

→ Power supply system

→ Sprinkler system, where fitted.

→ Air supply system, where fitted.

→ Bailing system.

Release gear :

The following should be examined for satisfactory condition and operation after the annual winch brake test with the empty boat :

→ Operation of devices for activation of release gear.

→ Cables for control and release.

→ Hook fastening; including cheek plates, keel bolts etc.

→ Excessive free play (tolerances).

→ Hydrostatic interlock system, where fitted.

Davit :

The following items should be examined for satisfactory condition and operation:

→ Davit structure, with particular regard to corrosion, particularly behind head sheaves an in other hard to paint places, misalignments, deformations and excessive free play, ego in bearings or track rollers.

→ Wires and sheaves, possible damage such as kinks and corrosion.

→ Lubrication of wires, sheaves and moving parts.

→ Functioning of all limit switches.

→ Stored power systems including a check on capacity.

→ Hydraulic systems.

→ Inspection for correct termination of fall wire ends, verification of fall wire end for ending or replacement of wire condition and reaving of remote control wires, pulleys etc.

Winch :

The following items should be examined for satisfactory condition and operation:

→ Open and inspect brake mechanism.

→ Replace brake pads, if necessary.

→ Remote control system.

→ Power supply system.

→ Winch foundation.

→ Winch crank handle interlocks.

→ The angles / clearances of "dead mans" brake levers to be checked upon reassembly.

Dynamic Winch Brake Test :

→ Annual operational testing should preferably be done by lowering the empty boat. When the boat has reached its maximum lowering speed and before the boat enters the water, the brake should be abruptly applied.

→ The five-year operational test should be done by lowering the boat loaded to a proof load equal to 1.1 times the weight of the survival craft or rescue boat and its full complement of persons and equipment, or equivalent load. When the boat has reached its maximum lowering speed and before the boat enters the water, the brake should be abruptly applied.

→ Following these tests, the brake pads and stressed structural parts should be re-inspected.

Operational test of on-load release function :

→ Position the lifeboat partially into the water such that the mass of the boat is substantially supported by the falls and the hydrostatic interlock system, where fitted, is not triggered.

→ Operate the on-load release gear.

→ Reset the on-load release gear.

→ Examine the release gear and hook fastening to ensure that the hook is completely reset and no damage has occurred.

Operational test of off-load release function :

→ Position the lifeboat fully waterborne.

→ Operate the off-load release gear.

→ Reset the on-load release gear.

→ Recover the lifeboat to the stowed position and verified ready for launching in an emergency.