LifeboatInspections
LifeboatInspections
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Free training

Lifeboat Academy

Learn how lifeboats are checked, tested and kept ready, from the weekly walk-round to the five-yearly load test. Every rule comes with its source.

3 courses · 22 interactive lessons · rules checked October 2026 · reviewed by the Lifeboat Inspections technical team

Courses

  1. Course 1 Lifeboat Safety and the Rules Why lifeboats hurt people, which rules keep them safe, and what crew and superintendents must check, log and leave to specialists. 8 lessons · about 90 minutes · Crew, officers and superintendents First 2 lessons open to everyone
  2. Course 2 Annual and Five-Yearly Thorough Examination What the annual and five-yearly lifeboat examinations must cover under SOLAS III/20.11 and MSC.402(96), step by step. 8 lessons · about 120 minutes · Superintendents, technicians and surveyors First 2 lessons open to everyone
  3. Course 3 Flag, Class and Port State Control How surveys, class approval, flag rules and port state inspections shape lifeboat work on a managed fleet. 6 lessons · about 90 minutes · Superintendents, DPAs and ship managers First 2 lessons open to everyone

How it works

  1. 01

    Start free

    The first two lessons of every course are open to everyone, with no sign-up.

  2. 02

    Sign up in a minute

    Your name, work email, company, role and country open every other lesson and save your progress.

  3. 03

    Try, check, finish

    Each lesson has a tool to try and a five-question check. Each course ends with a 15-question quiz.

Where it comes from

The rules themselves, not hearsay.

Lessons are built from IMO resolutions (SOLAS chapter III, the LSA Code, MSC.402(96) and the circulars behind them), flag state notices, IACS requirements and accident investigation reports. Each lesson lists its sources with links, and shows the date its rules were last checked.

Free awareness training. Lifeboat Inspections is not authorised to issue training certificates, so none is given, and this course is not a qualification. It doesn't replace STCW survival craft training, manufacturer training or MSC.402(96) technician certification. The manufacturer's manual and your flag's rules always come first.

Need the work done?

Annual and five-yearly inspections, worldwide.

Share your vessel, port and dates, and we'll coordinate authorised service providers for the make and type you have.

Request an inspection