648 - 7/09 - Lifeboat Launching - Worldwide

The Association would like to inform its Members of a recent circular released by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) concerning lifeboat launching arrangements. The IMO has moved to clarify SOLAS regulation III/19.3.3.3 following some confusion over whether crew are required to be onboard lifeboats during launching; this bulletin presents a summary of the information.

Each lifeboat is required to be launched and manoeuvred in the water at least once every three months as part of an abandon ship drill under SOLAS regulation III/19.3.3.3. When in the water the boat is required to be manoeuvred by its operating crew but the crew is not required to be onboard when the lifeboat is launched.