MGN 555 (M)

Maritime and Coastguard Agency LogMARINE GUIDANCE NOTE
MGN 555 (M)
Life-Saving Appliances; Lifeboats, Rigid Rescue

Boats, Launching Appliances and On-load Release
Gear - Authorisation of Service Providers
Notice to all Shipowners, Ship Operators and Managers, Masters, Officers and Crew of
Merchant Ships, Authorised Service Personnel and Recognised Organisations.
This Note replaces MIN 424.
Summary
This Marine Guidance Note provides guidance on the authorisation of service providers, to work
on lifeboats, rigid rescue boats, launching appliances and on-load release gear on-board UK
ships.
Service providers other than the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and other than official
authorised service providers of the OEM, carrying out the thorough examination, operational
testing, repair and overhaul of lifeboats, rigid rescue boats, launching appliances and on-load
release gear should be authorised to do so by a Recognised Organisation (RO).
1. Background
1.1 The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) no longer approves individual service
providers wishing to conduct statutory work on lifeboats, rigid rescue boats, launching
appliances and on-load release gear on-board UK ships. The UK no longer, therefore, has
any Independent Lifeboat Service and Testing Organisations’ (ILSTO). Instead, the MCA
accepts service providers authorised by the OEM or one of the UK authorised ROs listed in
the MSN 1672.
1.2 The MCA policy described at paragraph 1.1 has highlighted some procedural issues and
this MGN seeks to address those issues as well as set out the terms on which the above
policy is to be applied. In order to maintain the validity of applicable international certification
on UK ships, all thorough examinations, operational testing, repair and overhaul work
undertaken on lifeboats , rigid rescue boats, launching appliances and on-load release gear
should be conducted in accordance with SOLAS Chapter III Regulation 20 as applicable and
MSC.1/Circ.1206/Rev.1. This MGN does not alter that requirement in any way.
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1.3 The IMO is in the process of reviewing SOLAS Chapter III Regulation 20 and
MSC.1/Circ.1206/Rev.1 to make clearer the responsibilities of relevant personnel at each
stage of the life of equipment and the MCA will update this note as and when any changes
become applicable.
2. OEM and Official Authorised Service Providers of the OEM
2.1 The OEM and official authorised service providers of the OEM do not require further approval
to conduct work on equipment manufactured by that OEM. However, should a service
provider wish to conduct service work on equipment other than that of the authorising OEM,
then additional approval for the specific equipment, from a UK authorised RO or the actual
OEM, should be obtained before commencing work.
3. Authorisation of Service Providers by Recognised Organisations
3.1 Other than OEM and official authorised service providers of the OEM, service providers
wishing to conduct work on lifeboats, rigid rescue boats, launching appliances and on-load
release gear fitted to UK ships in accordance with SOLAS Chapter III Regulation 20, as
applicable and MSC.1/Circ.1206/Rev.1 should approach a UK authorised RO (listed in
MSN1672) and seek their authorisation as a service provider for the specific equipment on
which they wish to undertake work.
3.2 It should be noted that different levels of authorisation are issued by UK RO for work in
accordance with SOLAS Chapter III Regulation 20 as applicable and
MSC.1/Circ.1206/Rev.1, which may mean that an authorisation does not give automatic
authority to conduct all work in accordance with these IMO instruments, nor may it
necessarily permit work to be undertaken on every type of equipment.
3.3 Other than OEM and official authorised service providers of the OEM, only service providers
authorised by a UK RO through an assessment against the provisions of the International
Association of Classification Societies (IACS) Z17 “Procedural Requirements for Service
Suppliers” and International Maritime Organization (IMO) MSC.1/Circ.1277 “Interim
recommendations on conditions for authorisation of service providers for lifeboats, launching
appliances and on-load release gear” will be accepted.
3.4 Any service provider found by the MCA not to be meeting these requirements will be reported
to the authorising RO and the MCA may advise that the service provider will not be accepted
for work on UK ships.
4. Action by Ship Operators
4.1 It has been brought to the attention of the MCA that some service providers may be
authorised by one RO but not authorised by others. Care should be taken by ship operators
to ensure that service providers conducting work on their ships in accordance with SOLAS
Chapter III Regulation 20 as applicable and MSC.1/Circ.1206/Rev.1 are authorised by either
the OEM, or a UK RO in accordance with 3.1.
5. Reporting of Concern
5.1 Any concerns about the activities of service providers conducting work in accordance with
SOLAS Chapter III Regulation 20 and MSC.1/Circ.1206/Rev.1 should be addressed in the
first instance to the authorising body (OEM or RO) but if this does not resolve the concern
then such cases should be reported to the MCA’s Marine Technology Branch.
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More Information
Marine Technology Branch

Maritime and Coastguard Agency,
Bay 2/27
Spring Place,
105 Commercial Road,
Southampton,
SO15 1EG.
Tel : +44 (0) 203 8172000.

e-mail: marinetechnology@mcga.gov.uk.
Website Address: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/maritime-and-coastguard-agency .
General Inquiries: infoline@mcga.gov.uk
File Ref: MS 003/109/0001
Published: August 2016

Please note that all addresses and
telephone numbers are correct at time of publishing.
© Crown Copyright 2016.
Safer Lives, Safer Ships, Cleaner Seas.
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Maritime and Coastguard Agency LogMARINE GUIDANCE NOTE

MGN 555 (M)

Life-Saving Appliances; Lifeboats, Rigid Rescue

This Note replaces MIN 424.

2. OEM and Official Authorised Service Providers of the OEM

3. Authorisation of Service Providers by Recognised Organisations

4. Action by Ship Operators

Marine Technology Branch

Tel : +44 (0) 203 8172000.

Website Address: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/maritime-and-coastguard-agency .

General Inquiries: infoline@mcga.gov.uk

File Ref: MS 003/109/0001

Published: August 2016

© Crown Copyright 2016.

Safer Lives, Safer Ships, Cleaner Seas.

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