Publish Time: 2025-07-21 Origin: Site
Safety and compliance require your vessel to meet the latest SOLAS lifeboat requirements. Under the newly amended Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention, this 2025 guide provides ship owners with a clear and practical overview of the types of lifeboats recognized, the requirements raised, and the approach to stay compliant.
The SOLAS Convention sets strict standards for life-saving appliances, including lifeboats, on commercial ships. Chapter III of SOLAS and the Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code together detail requirements for lifeboat design, equipment, capacity, maintenance, and drills, including:
Sufficient capacity for 100% of persons on board, with lifeboats on each side of the vessel
Launchable with full load within 5 minutes, even if the ship is listing or trimmed
Regular inspection, maintenance, and readiness for immediate use
Crew trained in launching and operating lifeboats
SOLAS approves several kinds of lifeboats, including totally enclosed lifeboats, free fall lifeboats, partially enclosed lifeboats, and open lifeboats, each with specific features and applications:
Features: Fully enclosed, fire-resistant, watertight, self-righting
Capacity: Up to 150 persons
Protection: Maximum shelter from weather, fire, and seawater
Best for: Cargo ships, passenger ships, offshore platforms
Features: Fully enclosed, launched by sliding off a ramp, rapid deployment
Requirements: Must withstand high-impact launches and self-right after entry
Best for: Tankers, offshore supply vessels, ships needing rapid evacuation
Features: Some weather protection, lighter and easier to deploy
Limitations: Less protection in extreme conditions
Best for: Coastal ships, smaller vessels
Features: Simple, minimal shelter, mostly phased out on commercial ships
Best for: Older or small vessels, inland waters
Regardless of the types, all lifeboats must be equipped with essential survival gear, including:
Food and water: 3 liters of water and 10,000 kJ of food per person
Thermal protection: Thermal protective aids for at least 10% of the capacity
Signaling devices: Rocket parachute flares, hand flares, smoke signals, mirrors
Navigation tools: Compass, radar reflector
Medical supplies: First aid kit, seasickness tablets
Other: Fishing gear, repair tools, emergency instructions
Every piece of equipment must be arranged for simple access in an emergency and secured within the lifeboat using appropriate restraining systems. Regular inspection should be scheduled throughout the vessel's service life to ensure consumable items are within expiration dates and all equipment stays operational.
Part of the Loose Equipment List for Free-Fall Lifeboats
For more insights on vital equipment specific to lifeboats and the loose equipment list for free-fall lifeboats, check out our previous article: What should a lifeboat be equipped with?
Even if the ship is listing or trimmed, lifeboats ought to be launchable within five minutes, completely loaded.
Free-fall lifeboats require specialized ramps and must self-right after launch.
Weekly: Visual inspection, engine run for at least 3 minutes
Monthly: Move lifeboats to launch position, check davits and winches
Annually: Full inspection by certified personnel, including structural and equipment checks
Five-Yearly: Complete overhaul, load testing, and recertification
Regular drills are mandatory to ensure that all crew can launch and operate lifeboats safely.
The amendments introduced by MSC.535(107) and endorsed during SSE‑11 provide precise guidance on free‑fall lifeboat drills:
Simulated launches are authorized: Under the updated LSA Code, routine drills may use operational testing—such as onboard simulations of the release mechanism—without physically launching the lifeboat.
Requirements for simulation equipment: Devices used to simulate free‑fall launches must be designed to handle both static and dynamic loads, consistent with the safety factors required by the LSA Code.
Live launches are still mandatory in special cases: The amendment permits simulation for routine drills only. Actual launches are still required during initial commissioning, periodic full‑scale drills, and whenever specified by flag state authorities.
Entry into force timeline:
Legal entry into force: 1 January 2028
Applies to new installations from 1 January 2031
Resolution MSC.559(108) (adopted 23 May 2024) enhances the 2020 maintenance regime under MSC.402(96):
Requires ventilation systems to be included in annual thorough examinations and operational tests for lifeboats, including free-fall models
Reinforces the requirement for certified service providers as stipulated by SOLAS III and MSC.402(96)
Entry into force: 1 January 2026
Resolution MSC.535(107) updates the LSA Code for ventilation requirements applied to totally enclosed lifeboats:
Minimum airflow required: New LSA Code provisions (paragraphs 4.6.6 & 4.6.7) require totally enclosed lifeboats to have a ventilation capacity of ≥ 5 m³/hour per person, functional for at least 24 hours, and operable from inside.
Watertight design & operation: Ventilation openings must be closable from inside and maintain watertight integrity—even under submerged conditions—without relying on radio or engine battery systems.
Enforceable timeline:
Amendments become mandatory on 1 January 2026.
Applicable to totally enclosed lifeboats installed on or after 1 January 2029.
Similar provisions for partially enclosed lifeboats are currently being developed:
SSE 11 developed draft amendments to Chapter IV of the LSA Code and MSC.81(70) to mandate ventilation using the same basis as for totally enclosed lifeboats.
A Correspondence Group will finalize the draft amendments by SSE 12 (2026), with potential entry into force around 1 January 2032, pending MSC adoption
Resolutions MSC.535(107) and MSC.559(108) call for detailed documentation covering:
Crew training (including simulated drills),
Maintenance and annual tests (including ventilation systems),
Equipment overhauls and operational readiness
Ship owners should make sure all service and inspection personnel are formally trained and certified to perform lifeboat maintenance and testing competently under SOLAS Chapter III.
Ship owners should use a comprehensive, systematic approach covering equipment, certification, training, service provider management, and ongoing monitoring to guarantee complete compliance with the current SOLAS lifeboat requirements. Here's how you should organize your compliance work:
Assess all lifeboats for compatibility with the latest SOLAS and flag state requirements, confirming their type, suitability, and capacity.
Audit the equipment inventory to ensure that every lifeboat is equipped with all mandatory SOLAS survival gear that is securely stowed, readily accessible, and within expiry.
Verify that all certificates for lifeboats, release gear, and launching appliances are current, approved by both classification society and flag state, and that maintenance records meet MSC.559(108) standards.
Update crew training programs in accordance with the latest SOLAS conventions, and maintain thorough documentation of all training and drills.
Ensure all maintenance, operational testing, and overhauls are performed by authorized, certified personnel/suppliers compliant with the standards per SOLAS III and MSC.402(96) as amended by MSC.559(108).
Perform internal audits and preventive maintenance to find and fix compliance gaps, and monitor regulations underway and draft procedures to get ready for emerging maritime safety regulations and guarantee compliance once they are implemented.
New Marine: Leading Manufacturer of SOLAS-Compliant Lifeboats
Ready to confirm your vessel's SOLAS compliance? As a leading manufacturer of SOLAS-compliant lifeboats, rescue boats, and launching appliances, New Marine can help ship owners worldwide navigate the complexities of SOLAS compliance. Contact our expert team today for a comprehensive consultation on your lifeboat requirements!
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Dongqian lake Industry Park,
Yinzhou District, NingBo, China
Phone: 0086-574-55227898