November 13, 2009
The SOLAS amendments with respect to buddy lines and lifting loops on SOLAS life jackets and immersion suits are effective 1 July 2010.
The amendments do not fully define specific test criteria for buddy lines and lifting loops. The criteria for buddy lines is captured in the US comments in the ISO document No. 569 (see USMA web site) on the last two pages (7 & 8). It differs from the ISO criteria by what the upper limit is to agree with the UL criteria for separation of the buddy line. (more…)
November 13, 2009
Effective 1 July 2010, SOLAS requires infant jackets for passenger ships. The text below is taken from the IMO MSC 80 June 2006 Report (see US Marine Safety Association web site).
March 18, 2008
In November 2007, VADM James C. Card, Ret. completed an independent assessment and analysis of the Coast Guard’s Marine Safety program. Below is taken from the introduction and gives a brief over view of the document:
Recently, Congress and the industry have criticized the Coast Guard because they believe Coast Guard Marine Safety performance and service have deteriorated. Many point to the Coast Guard’s increased role in Maritime Security and its move to the Department of Homeland Security as primary reasons for the deterioration. Coast Guard Marine Safety professionals also have concerns about the Coast Guard’s lack of focus on Marine Safety as an important mission.
The results gathered in this report show that concerns and suggestions fall into six major categories. Listed by priority they are: Strategy; Leadership; People; Policy; Customer Focus; and Organization.
Here is the link to the rest of the document Coast Guard Marine Safety Analysis
January 28, 2008
The ISAF Offshore Special Regulations for 2008/2009, effective January 1, 2008, have been released with modifications made to Appendix A, parts 1 & 2, concerning liferafts. The text appears below (more…)
