The following legislation is applicable:
- Regulations of 1 July 2014 No. 1019 on life-saving appliances on ships
- Regulations of 28 March 2000 No. 305. Appendix I
- Regulations of 5 January 1998 No. 6
- Regulations of 29 December 1998 No. 1455
- SOLAS chapter III, regulation 20.7 M
- SC/Circ. 1047
- MSC/Circ. 1114
Incident:
The Norwegian Maritime Authority has received notes of concern about leaks in the seams of immersion suits from the brands Takashina and Xingtai. The leaks were discovered in connection with a routine pressure test, which, in accordance with the recommendation from the IMO, should be carried out for the first time within three years (cf. MSC/Circ. 1114).
The suits satisfy the IMO's requirements for immersion suits and have been type-approved/wheelmarked by a Notified Body.
Probable cause:
The leaks may be linked to the way the suits have been stored and handled on board, imperfect seams, and deterioration of the material due to ageing.
Measures:
There are a variety of type-approved immersion suits from different suppliers available on the market. The quality and price of the suits vary. The purchasing of suits should be seen in the context of the vessel's areas of operation. The company is responsible for ensuring that the vessel is equipped with correct equipment at all times.
Contributing causes of leaks in immersion suits may be:
- ageing
- storage in unfavourable environments
- damage in connection with routine inspections and drills
It is important that the supplier's recommendations for storage and inspection of suits are followed, and that the company has good procedures for the storage and inspection of immersion suits.
