A summary of the decisions taken at the eighty-ninth session of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 89) held from 11 May 2011 to 20 May 2011 is given hereunder for your information.

1. Adopted mandatory requirements
The main mandatory requirements adopted at this session are as follows.
(1) SOLAS III/1.5 and LSA Code IV/4.4.7.6: lifeboat release and retrieval system
The following SOLAS, LSA Code and relevant guidelines were adopted or approved with the aim of preventing an accident resulting in injury or death due to the unexpected falling of a lifeboat.
(i) Amendments to the LSA Code IV/4.4.7.6 (reference is made to the Attachment 1)
Amendments to the LSA Code were adopted, in which safety performance requirements for the release mechanism of lifeboat release and retrieval systems are provided.
(ii) Amendments to SOLAS III/1.5 (reference is made to the Attachment 2)
Amendments to SOLAS were adopted, in which it is provided that lifeboat on-load release mechanisms not complying with a part of the amended LSA Code as indicated item 1 above (paragraphs 4.4.7.6.4 to 4.4.7.6.6 of the Code) are to be replaced not later than the first scheduled dry-docking after 1 July 2014, but no later than 1 July 2019.
(iii) Guidelines for evaluation and replacement of lifeboat release and retrieval systems (reference is made to the Attachment 3)
Guidelines for the evaluation and replacement of lifeboat release and retrieval systems were approved, in which it is provided that manufacturers will be required to carry out a self assessment of their types of existing lifeboat release and retrieval systems for subsequent evaluation by Administrations or RO not later than 1 July 2013, and then the Administration is to report the results to the IMO.
(iv) MSC circular on Early application of new SOLAS regulation III/1.5 (reference is made to the Attachment 4) and recommendation on testing of life-saving appliances (reference is made to the Attachment 5)
This MSC circular was approved, in which it is provided that Administrations are encouraged to take necessary action to evaluate existing lifeboat release and retrieval systems at the earliest available opportunity, pending the entry into force of the new SOLAS regulation III/1.5. Amendments to the Revised recommendation on testing of life-saving appliances (resolution MSC.81(70)) were adopted.

(To be continued)