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(NAR) VOL. 22 NO. 3, JULY - SEPTEMBER 2011

[ MARINA FLAG STATE ADMINISTRATION ADVISORY NO. 2011-06, March 01, 2011 ]

CARRIAGE OF IMMERSION SUITS ON PHILIPPINE REGISTERED CARGO SHIPS ENGAGED IN INTERNATIONAL VOYAGES



Pursuant to the provisions of Presidential Decree No. 474, Executive Order No. 125/ 125-A and the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) 1974, as amended, all shipowners/operators with Philippine registered cargo ships engaged in international trade (including those documented for domestic trade but temporarily deployed in the international trade) are advised to take note of the following rules and regulations on the requirements of immersion suits.

Requirements for Immersion Suits:

1.  An immersion suit of appropriate size and complying with the requirements of the International Life Saving Appliance (LSA) Code, as amended shall be provided for every person on board the ship including supernumerary.
2.  Two (2) additional immersion suits must be provided at the navigating bridge and two other additional immersion suits shall be provided at the machinery space.
3.  Aminimum of two (2) lifejackets and two (2) immersion suits shall be provided in areas where remotely located survival craft" are stowed Liferafts if loaded at the aft/forward end of the ship and at a distance of more than 100m from the closest survival craft, as required by SOLAS Regulation 111/31.1.4, should be regarded as "remotely located survival craft with regard to SOLAS Regulation 111/7212
4.  Immersion suits must be so placed as to be readily accessible and their position plainly indicated.
5.  The crew must be familiar with  the location of the immersion suits as well as the methods of donning them.
6.  Immersion suits shall be in addition to the life jackets required on board.

Inspection and Maintenance:

1.  The manufacturer's guide on the inspection and maintenance of the immersion suits must be followed to ensure that the immersion suits are kept in good condition and ready for use when necessary.
2.  The immersion suits shall be subjected to monthly shipboard inspection by the crew. The Guidelines for monthly shipboard inspection of immersion suits and anti-exposure suits by the ships' crew" under MSC Circular 1047 shall be followed.
3.  The immersion suits shall be subjected to inspection at an interval of three (3) years if the suit is less than ten (10) years otherwise, the interval shall be two (2) years. The "Guidelines for periodic testing of immersion and anti-exposure suit seams and closures" under MSC Circular 1114 shall be followed. The inspection may be delegated to Recognized Organization.

Carriage of Suits within Tropical Waters:

1.  For ships other than bulk carriers that are constantly engaged on voyages in warm climate, the requirements of immersion suit shall not apply.   In this context the Flag Administration considers a "voyage in warm climate" as voyages within the zone between the latitudes of 30 degrees N and 30 degrees S. No Exemption Certificate for this provision shall be required.

2.  All ships operating outside the limits stipulated in paragraph 1 shall be required to carry immersion suit regardless of the duration of the voyage.

For information and guidance.


Adopted: 01 March 2011


(SGD.) EMERSON L. LORENZO, CESO V
Administrator
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