PSC deficiency code 11117: Lifebuoys incl. provision and disposition
Area 11 Life-saving appliances
Code 11117 covers lifebuoys and how they are distributed around the ship: the number carried, their positions, the lights and smoke signals attached to some of them, the lifelines and the markings. Inspectors usually check them on the walk round the decks, comparing what they see with the fire and safety plan.
What the inspector looks at
- the number of lifebuoys and their positions match the safety plan
- lifebuoys can be cast loose quickly, without being tied or wired to the rail
- self-igniting lights fitted where required, with batteries in date
- the man overboard lifebuoys on the bridge wings, with light and self-activating smoke signal and a quick release
- buoyant lifelines of the required length on the designated lifebuoys
- marking with the ship's name and port of registry, and retro-reflective tape
- condition of the buoy itself: cracks, fading, waterlogged foam
Common findings
- Lifebuoy self-igniting light battery expired / light not working
- Smoke signal on bridge wing lifebuoy expired
- Lifebuoy secured to the rail with wire; cannot be released quickly
- Buoyant lifeline rotten / shorter than required
- Lifebuoy not marked with vessel's name and port of registry
- Retro-reflective tape missing or worn
- Lifebuoy missing from position shown on fire and safety plan
The rule behind it
SOLAS chapter III sets how many lifebuoys a ship carries and how they're distributed, with lights, smoke signals and lifelines on part of them (regulation 22 for passenger ships, regulation 32 for cargo ships). The LSA Code, chapter II, gives the requirements for the lifebuoy, its light, smoke signal and line. Regulation 20 of chapter III requires the appliances to be kept ready for use and inspected.
Action codes you are likely to see
Most lifebuoy findings are fixed on board quickly, so 10 or 17 are typical. An expired light or smoke signal usually gets 17 or 16, depending on whether spares are on board. Lifebuoys alone are rarely a ground for detention, though a ship with several missing or unusable lifebuoys, or with them part of a wider picture of neglected life-saving appliances, can be detained (30). See action taken codes.
How to close it
Replace expired lights and smoke signals from ship's spares or order them through the agent, and keep the delivery note or batch numbers. Renew lifelines and markings, remove wire lashings and refit proper quick-release brackets. Walk round with the safety plan to confirm every lifebuoy is where it's shown. Update the LSA inspection records and put copies with the Form B.