The strictest new regulations on ship-launching equipment come into force in 2026!
Kailun Marine Electrical & Mechanical2026-07-06
On 1 January 2026, the amendments to the IMO MSC.554 (108) International Life-Saving Appliances (LSA) Code came into full force. Coupled with the simultaneous implementation of the new SOLAS Convention regulations on the supervision of lifting equipment and the new Chinese national standard GB/T 16303-2024, this marks the start of the most stringent regulatory period ever for the launching appliances of lifeboats and rescue boats on board ships. Recently, Port State Control (PSC) authorities worldwide have been conducting concentrated special inspections of lifesaving equipment. Numerous ocean-going vessels have been detained due to defects such as launching mechanisms exceeding speed limits, hooks lacking safety interlocks, and missing maintenance records. Shipowners not only face substantial losses due to port detention and delays to sailing schedules, but also harbour the latent risk of major maritime safety incidents caused by the failure of lifesaving equipment; industry-wide self-inspections for compliance and technical upgrades are now a matter of the utmost urgency.
In recent years, there have been numerous incidents worldwide involving lifeboats falling from great heights or accidentally becoming unhooked, resulting in casualties; the root causes of these accidents are largely attributed to design flaws in ageing launching systems, a lack of safety safeguards, and inadequate routine maintenance. Data from Port State Control (PSC) inspections at domestic coastal and international ports over the past two years shows that defects in lifeboat launching equipment have consistently ranked among the top causes of vessel detention. Common hazards include uncontrolled lowering speeds, failure of hook reset limiters, ageing of hydraulic speed control components, corrosion and failure of limit switches, and the continued use of slings beyond their service life. Once a detention defect is issued, the vessel is unable to depart port and operate normally, with economic losses per vessel ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of yuan. Furthermore, the company will be subject to enhanced scrutiny by maritime authorities, resulting in a significant increase in the frequency of subsequent route inspections. The introduction of these new regulations represents a systematic preventive measure adopted by the International Maritime Organisation in response to frequent safety incidents, tightening compliance standards across multiple dimensions, including operational parameters, safety structures, power configurations and inspection management.
The three core mandatory requirements of these new regulations must be strictly implemented by all cargo ships engaged in international voyages of 500 gross tonnes or more, as well as all types of passenger ships. Firstly, standardised control of the lowering speed of fully loaded lifeboats: the lowering speed is calculated using the formula S = 0.4 + 0.02H, with a maximum speed limit of 1.3 m/s. During renewal surveys, surveyors must conduct on-site measurements of the lowering speed. Older hydraulic winches commonly suffer from excessive lowering speeds; these must be replaced with high-precision hydraulic speed control valves in order to pass the survey. Secondly, lifeboat hooks must be fitted with a mandatory dual mechanical and electrical reset interlock mechanism; the hook must not bear the weight of the lifeboat until it is fully locked in place. This measure eliminates at source the risk of accidental lifeboat detachment during recovery operations. Any instance where the limit stop is blocked by paint, the wiring is damaged or the mechanism is inoperative shall be directly classified as a defect requiring rectification. Thirdly, the power supply for lowering rescue boats must be equipped with an independent energy storage system; it is strictly prohibited to rely solely on the ship’s main power supply for emergency lowering, with the exception of light-duty rescue boats weighing 700 kg or less; Furthermore, in accordance with SOLAS Regulation II-1/3-13, davits and winches are formally classified as statutory lifting equipment. Load tests and non-destructive testing must be carried out every five years, and records of the replacement and maintenance of critical components—such as hydraulic cylinders, slings and brakes—must be complete and traceable.
GB/T 16303-2024 ‘Free-fall Lifeboat Launching Systems’, which has been implemented simultaneously in China, has officially replaced the previous national standard. From 2027, all certificates of type approval issued under the previous standard will become invalid, and newly built vessels must be fitted with launching equipment that has been certified in accordance with the latest standards by classification societies such as CCS, DNV and LR. The trend towards technological iteration in the industry is clear: electric servo winches are gradually replacing traditional hydraulic equipment thanks to advantages such as precise and controllable lowering speeds, real-time load monitoring, automatic storage of operational data, and remote fault diagnosis; High-strength, corrosion-resistant alloy materials, modular integrated structures and online stress warning systems have become standard features of the new generation of launching systems. These are not only suited to the demanding operating conditions of specialised vessels such as LNG carriers and offshore wind farm maintenance vessels, but also significantly reduce the costs associated with corrosion prevention, maintenance and spare parts replacement during the vessel’s service life.
As a Taizhou-based specialist service provider with extensive experience in marine electromechanical systems and the inspection and retrofitting of lifesaving equipment, Taizhou Kailun Marine Electrical & Mechanical Co., Ltd. leverages the geographical advantages of the Yangtze River Delta’s shipbuilding industry. The company holds qualifications recognised by multiple classification societies for equipment maintenance, repair and technical retrofitting, and is able to provide shipping companies and shipowners with a one-stop solution for the commissioning of lowering speeds, the installation of hook safety interlocks, non-destructive testing of davits, electrification upgrades for ageing equipment, and one-stop solutions for annual inspection and maintenance. We accurately identify potential safety hazards in equipment, efficiently complete compliance rectifications, and mitigate the risk of detention by Port State Control (PSC). We would like to remind all shipowners that the current window for compliance upgrades is limited, and that the intensity of global maritime inspections continues to increase. We therefore recommend that you complete hazard assessments and upgrades for all shipboard lifesaving and launching equipment as soon as possible, strictly adhere to the minimum standards for maritime safety, and ensure the safety of both crew members and vessel operations.
Source: Taizhou Kailun Marine Electrical & Mechanical Co., Ltd.
References
1. International Maritime Organisation. Resolution MSC.554 (108) ‘Amendments to the International Life-Saving Appliance Code (LSA Code)’ [S]. Adopted in 2024; mandatory entry into force on 1 January 2026
2. SOLAS Convention, Regulation II-1/3-13: Provisions for the Statutory Survey of Ship’s Lifting Appliances
3. State Administration for Market Regulation, Standardisation Administration of China. GB/T 16303-2024 Ships and Marine Technology – Free-fall Lifeboat Launching Systems [S]. Published in 2024, to be implemented in 2025
In recent years, there have been numerous incidents worldwide involving lifeboats falling from great heights or accidentally becoming unhooked, resulting in casualties; the root causes of these accidents are largely attributed to design flaws in ageing launching systems, a lack of safety safeguards, and inadequate routine maintenance. Data from Port State Control (PSC) inspections at domestic coastal and international ports over the past two years shows that defects in lifeboat launching equipment have consistently ranked among the top causes of vessel detention. Common hazards include uncontrolled lowering speeds, failure of hook reset limiters, ageing of hydraulic speed control components, corrosion and failure of limit switches, and the continued use of slings beyond their service life. Once a detention defect is issued, the vessel is unable to depart port and operate normally, with economic losses per vessel ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of yuan. Furthermore, the company will be subject to enhanced scrutiny by maritime authorities, resulting in a significant increase in the frequency of subsequent route inspections. The introduction of these new regulations represents a systematic preventive measure adopted by the International Maritime Organisation in response to frequent safety incidents, tightening compliance standards across multiple dimensions, including operational parameters, safety structures, power configurations and inspection management.
The three core mandatory requirements of these new regulations must be strictly implemented by all cargo ships engaged in international voyages of 500 gross tonnes or more, as well as all types of passenger ships. Firstly, standardised control of the lowering speed of fully loaded lifeboats: the lowering speed is calculated using the formula S = 0.4 + 0.02H, with a maximum speed limit of 1.3 m/s. During renewal surveys, surveyors must conduct on-site measurements of the lowering speed. Older hydraulic winches commonly suffer from excessive lowering speeds; these must be replaced with high-precision hydraulic speed control valves in order to pass the survey. Secondly, lifeboat hooks must be fitted with a mandatory dual mechanical and electrical reset interlock mechanism; the hook must not bear the weight of the lifeboat until it is fully locked in place. This measure eliminates at source the risk of accidental lifeboat detachment during recovery operations. Any instance where the limit stop is blocked by paint, the wiring is damaged or the mechanism is inoperative shall be directly classified as a defect requiring rectification. Thirdly, the power supply for lowering rescue boats must be equipped with an independent energy storage system; it is strictly prohibited to rely solely on the ship’s main power supply for emergency lowering, with the exception of light-duty rescue boats weighing 700 kg or less; Furthermore, in accordance with SOLAS Regulation II-1/3-13, davits and winches are formally classified as statutory lifting equipment. Load tests and non-destructive testing must be carried out every five years, and records of the replacement and maintenance of critical components—such as hydraulic cylinders, slings and brakes—must be complete and traceable.
GB/T 16303-2024 ‘Free-fall Lifeboat Launching Systems’, which has been implemented simultaneously in China, has officially replaced the previous national standard. From 2027, all certificates of type approval issued under the previous standard will become invalid, and newly built vessels must be fitted with launching equipment that has been certified in accordance with the latest standards by classification societies such as CCS, DNV and LR. The trend towards technological iteration in the industry is clear: electric servo winches are gradually replacing traditional hydraulic equipment thanks to advantages such as precise and controllable lowering speeds, real-time load monitoring, automatic storage of operational data, and remote fault diagnosis; High-strength, corrosion-resistant alloy materials, modular integrated structures and online stress warning systems have become standard features of the new generation of launching systems. These are not only suited to the demanding operating conditions of specialised vessels such as LNG carriers and offshore wind farm maintenance vessels, but also significantly reduce the costs associated with corrosion prevention, maintenance and spare parts replacement during the vessel’s service life.
As a Taizhou-based specialist service provider with extensive experience in marine electromechanical systems and the inspection and retrofitting of lifesaving equipment, Taizhou Kailun Marine Electrical & Mechanical Co., Ltd. leverages the geographical advantages of the Yangtze River Delta’s shipbuilding industry. The company holds qualifications recognised by multiple classification societies for equipment maintenance, repair and technical retrofitting, and is able to provide shipping companies and shipowners with a one-stop solution for the commissioning of lowering speeds, the installation of hook safety interlocks, non-destructive testing of davits, electrification upgrades for ageing equipment, and one-stop solutions for annual inspection and maintenance. We accurately identify potential safety hazards in equipment, efficiently complete compliance rectifications, and mitigate the risk of detention by Port State Control (PSC). We would like to remind all shipowners that the current window for compliance upgrades is limited, and that the intensity of global maritime inspections continues to increase. We therefore recommend that you complete hazard assessments and upgrades for all shipboard lifesaving and launching equipment as soon as possible, strictly adhere to the minimum standards for maritime safety, and ensure the safety of both crew members and vessel operations.
Source: Taizhou Kailun Marine Electrical & Mechanical Co., Ltd.
References
1. International Maritime Organisation. Resolution MSC.554 (108) ‘Amendments to the International Life-Saving Appliance Code (LSA Code)’ [S]. Adopted in 2024; mandatory entry into force on 1 January 2026
2. SOLAS Convention, Regulation II-1/3-13: Provisions for the Statutory Survey of Ship’s Lifting Appliances
3. State Administration for Market Regulation, Standardisation Administration of China. GB/T 16303-2024 Ships and Marine Technology – Free-fall Lifeboat Launching Systems [S]. Published in 2024, to be implemented in 2025
