23/02/2022
2 Air Pressure Test: Seams and closures of immersion suits shall be tested in accordance with the guidance found in reference (d) (copy attached as Appendix I) as follows:
• Immersion suits less than 10 years old once every three years, and
• Immersion suits over 10 years old every other year.
• All repairs shall be completed by an authorized repair facility.
.3 Air test by ship’s crew: Although reference (d) states it is preferable to have the air pressure test conducted at a suitable shore-based facility equipped to make any repairs in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendation, allowances are given for the air pressure test to be conducted onboard, provided the ship has suitable equipment to conduct the test and the test crew is properly trained. If the ship operator elects to conduct the air test of the immersion suits onboard they may do so, provided:
1. The ship is in possession of the manufacturer's Immersion Suit Service Manual and any necessary Test Kit(s).
2. The selected crew members shall be trained in the procedures and instructions in the manufacturer's Service Manual regarding the monthly, annual, and three year tests and inspections of the immersions suits onboard the vessel as laid down in reference (d). A company training course may be used to satisfy this requirement.
3. Procedures for the monthly, annual, and three year testing and inspection of the immersion suits shall be incorporated into the company‘s Safety Management System provided to the ship and in the vessel's safety management manual.
4. The annual and three-year inspection and testing of the immersion suits requiring the air pressure test shall be performed to the satisfaction of the attending class surveyor.
5. The results of the inspections shall be recorded in the vessel's official logbook and any safety equipment inspection logbook maintained by the vessel.
6. Annual and three-year inspection and testing of the immersion suits by the crew shall be to the satisfaction of the attending class surveyor and would be acceptable for meeting the Safety Equipment Certificate annual survey requirements.
3.2 For purposes of Regulations III/7.3, III/22.4.1.2, III/32.3.2.3, and III/32.3.3.3 of reference (b), the Administration defines warm climates as being that between 32o North and 32 o South latitudes. For vessels, other than bulk carriers operating exclusively within this trading zone, immersion suits and thermal protective aids will not be required. However, the thermal protective aids described in Sections 4.1.5.1.24, 4.4.8.31, and 5.1.2.2.13 of reference (c), are an integral part of survival craft and rescue boat equipment and must be provided regardless of vessel route.
3.3 The Administration defines cold climates as the areas of operation above 50o N and 50o S latitudes. For the prolonged operation of vessels with open lifeboats in cold climates, the Office of the Deputy Commissioner requires that immersion suits constructed in accordance with LSA Code Section 2.3 be provided for all persons on board.
3.4 Existing cargo ships subject to these regulations, and any new cargo ships constructed after 1 July 2006, shall carry immersion suits for every person on board, no later than the first safety equipment survey on or after 1 July 2006. In addition, any ship subject to this regulation shall also provide additional immersion suits to allow quick access for individuals working at some distances from where their immersion suits are stowed. This would be similar to the protections afforded by the requirement for an additional liferaft fitted forward and/or aft as required by SOLAS Regulation III/31.1.4, and the additional lifejackets required by Regulation III/7.2.2 of reference (b).
.1 As an example, in addition to the immersion suit for every person carried on board the ship, shall be required to carry at least two additional immersion suits of adequate size near the additional liferaft(s) when remotely located either forward or aft, so that the immersion suits may be readily available to crew working out on deck away from the accommodation block (reference (e)). See part 5 and Appendix II to determine “remote locations.”
.2 A number of additional immersion suits may also be required at other locations if the vessels class society surveyor determines that there are remote watch or work stations, which are located in a place, that in an emergency it is unreasonable to expect him or her to acquire the assigned immersion suit.
.3 Form E of the Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate: The total number of immersion suits onboard is required to be listed in section 2.8.8.1 of Form E to the Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate (SEC). This number should include the immersion suits required for every person on board and the additional required for any watch or work stations which are considered "remote locations". Thus, in most cases, the number of immersion suits in section 2.8.8.1 should be more than the number listed in section 2.1. of Form E.
If the total number of immersion suits required for every person on board is less than the total listed in 2.1 of Form E of the current SEC, the Owner/Operator has the option to request the class society to reduce the number in 2.1 or to provide additional immersion suits to match the number in section 2.1. In making this decision, Owners/Operators should consider the possible future need to carry additional persons on board and the requirement to provide additional immersion suits and other life-saving appliances.
3.5 Immersion suits and thermal protective aids are to be assigned by the Master. It is recommended that they should be kept in staterooms along with life jackets.
3.6 An immersion suit shall be assigned for every person assigned to crew the rescue boat and shall be readily accessible. The immersion suits required by III/32.3 may be used to comply with the immersion suits required for the rescue boat crew.
3.7 For cargo vessels less than 85 meters in length operating above 32o North and 32o South latitudes where only liferafts are carried in accordance with Regulation III/31.1.3 of reference (b), all persons are to be provided with immersion suits.
3.8 Reference (f) provides excellent guidance regarding the wearing of immersion suits in totally enclosed lifeboats. In general, immersion suits should not be worn when boarding totally enclosed lifeboats. While abandon ship drills are a good opportunity to examine and demonstrate the use of immersion suits, crew training during these drills should emphasize that immersion suits are intended primarily to ensure thermal protection in cases where the totally enclosed lifeboat cannot be embarked on.
Source: LISCR - SAF-001 Rev. 06/12
(This article is for informational purposes only.)
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