Lifeboat Safety and the RulesLesson 7 of 8
Who may do what
Which lifeboat jobs the ship's crew may do, and which need certified technicians from the manufacturer or an authorised service provider.
12 minutes · For signed-up learners, free · Rules checked 20 October 2026 · Reviewed by the Lifeboat Inspections technical team
In plain words
Some lifeboat work is the crew’s job. Some of it the crew must never do, however experienced they are.
The crew look after the boats day to day. They do the weekly and monthly checks, run the engines, swing the boats out, and do the routine maintenance the manufacturer’s manual describes, all under a senior officer.
The bigger jobs are different. The annual thorough examination, the five-yearly overhaul and load tests, and any repair must be done by technicians trained and certified for that make and type of equipment. They must work for the manufacturer or for a service firm the flag State has authorised.
The dividing line is simple to remember. If the job is in the on-board maintenance manual and doesn’t need anything taken apart, the crew can usually do it. If not, call in the specialists.
Key points
- Weekly and monthly inspections and routine maintenance from the manual: authorised service providers, or the ship’s crew “under the direction of a senior ship’s officer” (MSC.402(96) §4.1).
- The annual thorough examination and operational tests: certified personnel of the manufacturer or an authorised service provider (MSC.402(96) §4.2).
- The five-year examination, any overhaul, overload tests and any repair: certified personnel of the manufacturer or an authorised service provider (MSC.402(96) §4.3).
- “Repair” means any work that needs equipment taken apart, or anything outside the on-board maintenance instructions (MSC.402(96) §2.2.6).
- Technicians are certified for each make and type, and their certification expires three years after issue (MSC.402(96) §8.1, §8.3.1).
- Service providers are authorised by the flag Administration, which may accept providers authorised by other Administrations or their recognised organisations (MSC.402(96) §3.1, §7.4.3).
Continue this lesson free
The full lesson, the interactive tool “Check whether your crew can do a job” and the check are open to signed-up learners. It's free, takes a minute, and opens every lesson in all three courses.
Sources
- Requirements for maintenance, thorough examination, operational testing, overhaul and repair of lifeboats and rescue boats, launching appliances and release gearIMO resolution MSC.402(96), 19 May 2016
- Amendments to SOLAS chapter III, regulations 3 and 20IMO resolution MSC.404(96), 19 May 2016, in force 1 January 2020
- Amendments to SOLAS (regulations III/19 and III/20)IMO resolution MSC.152(78), 20 May 2004
- Adoption of amendments to SOLAS 1974 (new chapter III)IMO resolution MSC.47(66), 4 June 1996
- IACS UR Z17 Procedural requirements for service suppliersIACS, Rev.23, July 2026
- Survival Craft, Rescue Boat and Launching Appliances – Testing, Servicing and MaintenanceLiberia Marine Notice SAF-005, Rev. 07/26
- Life-saving Appliances and SystemsRepublic of the Marshall Islands Marine Notice 2-011-37, Rev. Dec/2025
- Authorized service providers for lifeboats, launching appliances and release gearPanama Maritime Authority MMC-258, V.04, May 2026
- Lifeboat SafetyBahamas Maritime Authority Marine Notice 82, v1.1, 30 October 2023
- MGN 555 (M) Amendment 1: authorisation of service providersUK Maritime and Coastguard Agency, 27 March 2020
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.