Emergency and life-saving equipment on ships
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1. Overview
All ships must carry certain emergency and life-saving equipment. This equipment must meet minimum standards and must be properly tested and serviced.
There are different requirements depending on the size and type of ship and where it operates.
Emergency and life-saving equipment include things like:
- lifeboats and liferafts
- lifebuoys
- lifejackets and attachments
- buoyancy apparatus
- emergency alarm systems and public address systems
- marine evacuation systems
- two-way VHF radiotelephone sets
- fire-fighting equipment
2. Life-saving equipment
Merchant ships
You can find information on the life-saving appliances that ships must carry in the Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances Regulations for Ships Other Than Ships of Classes III to VI(A)) Regulations 1999.
Passenger ships
There are different requirements for different types of passenger ships.
Download information about requirements for life-saving appliances on passenger ships on domestic voyages.
You must also read the amendments to these regulations.
Download information about which lifejackets must be carried on passenger ships.
Roll-on Roll-off (Ro-Ro) passenger ships
Ro-Ro passenger ships must be fitted with emergency equipment lockers for emergency situations.
Large commercial yachts
The Large Commercial Yacht Code includes rules on life-saving equipment for certain types of ship of less than 3,000 gross tonnage.
Small commercial vessel and pilot boats
The Small Commercial Vessels Code sets out rules on life-saving equipment for certain vessels of less than 24 metres.
Small passenger boats on inland waters
The Inland Waters Small Passenger Boat Code includes rules on life-saving equipment for inland vessels that carry no more than 12 passengers.
Pleasure craft
Some pleasure craft do not have to carry certain life-saving equipment. Download the regulations for pleasure craft.
3. Fire-fighting equipment
Ships must carry certain fire-fighting equipment on board.
Exemptions
Some ships are exempt from these regulations.
Fixed fire alarms and extinguishers
Download the rules on fixed fire-detection alarms and extinguishing systems.
Fixed gas fire-extinguishing systems
Download guidance on operating fixed gas fire-extinguishing systems.
Your crew must know how to use fixed gas fire-extinguishing systems safely.
Halon fire-fighting systems
It’s now illegal to use fire-fighting equipment that contains halons. Download information on the phasing out of halon fire-fighting systems.
4. Safe use of emergency equipment
All emergency life-saving equipment must be safe to use, and you must make sure that your crew know how to use it properly.
Lifejackets
All lifejackets must be regularly inspected. You’ll need to check the individual manufacturer’s instructions on how to do this.
Download general guidance on how to use and inspect inflatable lifejackets.
Immersion suits
Read information on the safe use of immersion suits and lifejackets.
Marine evacuation systems (MESs)
A marine evacuation system is an inflatable slide or escape chute which passengers can use to get into liferafts from the ship.
If your vessel has an MES, you must make sure that crew are properly trained in how to use it, and that all onboard lifejackets can be used safely with it.
Liferafts and Hydrostatic Release Units (HRUs)
Download guidance on the safe use of HRUs and liferafts.
Fuels and lubricating oils in lifeboat engines
In lifeboat engines, you must make sure that all fuels and lubricating oils are safe to use in low temperatures.
Download information on which fuels and oils are safe to use.
Retro-reflective material
You must check all retro-reflective material at regular intervals to make sure it’s effective. Download guidance on using and fitting retro-reflective material on life-saving appliances.
5. Servicing and testing emergency equipment
Life-saving appliance testing
Some life-saving equipment must be serviced regularly at an approved service station, like:
- inflatable liferafts
- inflatable boats
- rescue boats
- fast rescue boats
- inflatable lifejackets
- Hydrostatic Release Units (HRUs)
You can find details of independent lifeboat servicing and testing organisations on the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) database.
Emergency electrical systems
Download information on testing emergency electrical systems.
Fire equipment testing
All fire protection systems and equipment should be regularly tested and maintained so that they’re ready for immediate use when needed.
You must carry out monthly fire equipment testing and inspection to make sure that:
- all fireman’s outfits, fire extinguishers, fire hydrants, hoses and nozzles are in place and in good condition
- all escape routes are free of obstructions and properly maintained
- the public address system and ship’s alarms are working properly
- all fixed fire-fighting installation valves are set in the correct operating position
- dry pipe sprinkler systems are pressurised, where needed, and their gauges are working properly
- the sprinkler system pressure tank water levels are correct
- all sprinkler system pumps operate automatically on pressure loss in the systems
- all fire pumps are working properly
- all fixed gas fire extinguishing installations are free from leaks
Fixed bulk dry powder fire extinguishing systems
Download information on maintaining and testing fixed dry bulk power systems.
Seamless steel pressurised gas cylinders
Download information on testing seamless steel pressurised gas cylinders used for fire-fighting.
Portable fire extinguishers
Download information on how to carry out testing and maintenance of portable fire extinguishers.
6. Help and advice
You can contact the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) for further information on life-saving appliances.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)
Life-saving appliances enquiries
023 8032 9119
Marine Equipment Directive enquiries
023 8083 9636
Urgent advice
023 8032 9100
Monday to Sunday 24 hours a day
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) safety bulletin lists current safety alerts for technical, and health and safety matters, including information on known design faults and fake safety equipment.