Lifejackets, Lifebuoys, Immersion Suits and Pyrotechnics

Which rules apply: LSA Code, SOLAS III and the small-vessel codes

In short: Read first: LSA rules, liferafts and rescue boats. This topic covers the personal life-saving appliances (lifejackets, lifebuoys, immersion suits, anti-exposure suits, thermal protective aids) and the visual distress signals (rocket parachute flares, hand flares, smoke signals). The LSA Code says how each item must perform; SOLAS III or the vessel’s code of practice says how many to carry.

• LSA Code (IMO MSC.48(66)): chapter II = personal LSA (2.1 lifebuoys · 2.2 lifejackets · 2.3 immersion suits · 2.4 anti-exposure suits · 2.5 TPAs); chapter III = visual signals (3.1 rocket parachute flares · 3.2 hand flares · 3.3 buoyant smoke signals).
• SOLAS III: carriage on ships — e.g. lifebuoys (SOLAS III/7.1, III/32.1), lifejackets (III/7.2), rocket parachute flares (III/6.3), immersion suits on cargo ships (III/32.3).
• Small commercial vessels (under 24 m load line length): the SCV Code in MGN 280 (M), section 13 and Table 13.1. Numbers depend on the area category: 0 unrestricted · 1 up to 150 NM from a safe haven · 2 up to 60 NM · 3 up to 20 NM · 4 up to 20 NM, daylight and favourable weather · 5 up to 20 NM from a nominated departure point (NDP), daylight and favourable weather · 6 up to 3 NM from an NDP, daylight and favourable weather.
• Approval: lifejackets are SOLAS and/or MED (“wheelmarked”) approved; TPAs and pyrotechnics are MED approved. On small vessels, pyrotechnics are MED approved or comply with MSN 1676; hand-held smoke signals need neither (MGN 280 13.10).
• General rules for all LSA (LSA Code 1.2.2): highly visible colour, retro-reflective material where it helps detection (IMO A.658(16); on UK small vessels MGN 105 (M+F), MGN 280 13.1.1), marked with approval details.
• Expiry (LSA Code 1.2.3): items that age (flares, batteries, gas cylinders) carry an expiry date. Batteries with no expiry date are replaced every year.
• On the bridge: when you join, walk the deck with the LSA plan. Count lifejackets, lifebuoys and flares against the certificate, and read every expiry date.

Lifejackets

In short: One lifejacket for every person on board (100 %), each with a whistle, retro-reflective tape and a light. Inflatables need spares: +10 % or 2, whichever is greater. A suitable lifejacket for every person under 32 kg.

What a lifejacket must do (LSA Code 2.2)

• Fire: no burning or melting after being fully engulfed in flame for 2 s.
• Donning: at least 75 % of people who have never seen it put it on correctly in 1 min without help; after a demonstration, everyone in 1 min. It should fit one way only.
• Jump: from at least 4.5 m into the water without injury or the jacket coming off.
• Buoyancy and stability (calm fresh water): mouth of an unconscious person at least 120 mm clear of the water, body leaning back at least 20° from vertical; turns an unconscious person face-up in 5 s or less.
• Durability: buoyancy loss not more than 5 % after 24 h in fresh water.
• Whistle: firmly secured by a cord.
• Child lifejacket: same idea; help with donning allowed; marked with the height or weight range and the child symbol.
• Inflatable (2.2.2): at least 2 separate compartments; inflates automatically on immersion, with a single manual pull and an oral tube; still meets the rules if one compartment fails.
• Lifejacket light (2.2.3): white, at least 0.75 cd for at least 8 h; if flashing, 50–70 flashes per min and a manual switch.
• The lifejacket section was later revised (IMO MSC.207(81)): check the current consolidated LSA Code for the latest test figures.

How many, and servicing

• Ships: one for every person on board, plus extra for people on watch and at remote survival craft stations (SOLAS III/7.2).
• Small commercial vessels (MGN 280 13.4, Table 13.1): 100 % in every category.
  • Approved by MCA (DfT) or MED, or to BS EN 396 (150 N) / BS EN 399 (275 N).
  • All fitted with a whistle and retro-reflective material; a light if operating in categories 0, 1, 2 or 3.
  • Inflatable type: an extra 10 % or 2, whichever is greater. New ones: compressed-gas inflation (manual or automatic) with an oral top-up valve.
  • A suitable lifejacket for each person under 32 kg.
  • No more than 2 different types on board, to avoid confusion.
• Servicing (MGN 280 13.4.6): gas-inflated lifejackets are serviced within one month either side of the Compliance, Renewal and Intermediate examinations, and every year in between (manufacturer’s rules). The service certificate must be available for inspection. Owner or skipper does a weekly visual check.
• On the bridge: in an abandon-ship situation the crew don lifejackets and TPAs at muster. See musters and drills.

Lifebuoys

In short: A lifebuoy is the first thing thrown to a person in the water. Some carry a self-igniting light, some a self-activating smoke signal, some a buoyant line. Small commercial vessel: 2 lifebuoys if fewer than 16 persons, 4 if 16 or more; each marked with the vessel’s name.

What a lifebuoy must do (LSA Code 2.1)

• Size: outer diameter not more than 800 mm, inner diameter at least 400 mm.
• Buoyancy: inherently buoyant (no rushes, cork shavings, loose granules or air compartments that need inflating); supports at least 14.5 kg of iron for 24 h in fresh water.
• Mass: at least 2.5 kg — enough to release the light and smoke signal if they are on a quick release.
• Fire: no burning or melting after 2 s in flame.
• Drop test: survives a drop from its stowage height (lightest seagoing condition) or 30 m, whichever is greater.
• Grabline: at least 9.5 mm diameter, at least 4 × the outside diameter long, fixed at 4 equal points.
• Self-igniting light (2.1.2): water cannot put it out; white; steady at least 2 cd or flashing 50–70 per min; lasts at least 2 h.
• Self-activating smoke signal (2.1.3): highly visible smoke for at least 15 min floating in calm water; no flame or explosion; not swamped; keeps smoking 10 s fully under water.
• Buoyant line (2.1.4): non-kinking, at least 8 mm diameter, breaking strength at least 5 kN.

How many and where

• Cargo ships (SOLAS III/32.1), by length: under 100 m → 8 · 100–150 m → 10 · 150–200 m → 12 · 200 m and over → 14.
• Fittings (SOLAS III/7.1): at least one each side with a buoyant line (at least 30 m); at least half with self-igniting lights; at least 2 of those with self-activating smoke signals, quick-release from the bridge, on each side.
• Small commercial vessels (MGN 280 13.3, Table 13.1):
  • Fewer than 16 persons → 2 lifebuoys; 16 or more → 4.
  • In every category: 1 with a buoyant line; with 16 or more persons, 1 additional buoyant line.
  • Buoyant lines at least 18 m long.
  • Lights: categories 0–3 only (4, 5 and 6 need no lit lifebuoys). Motor vessels in 0–3: 1 with a light (2 if 16 or more persons).
  • Sailing vessels: a dan-buoy attached to one lifebuoy, with a light where required (categories 0–3).
  • Marked with the vessel’s name and one other identifier (port of choice, SSR number, home port).
  • A light horseshoe-type lifebuoy with no line needs a drogue, so the wind cannot blow it away.
• Number note: some carriage lists say “more than 16 persons → 4”; Table 13.1 of MGN 280 says 16 or more.
• On the bridge: in a man overboard, throw the bridge-wing lifebuoy (light and smoke) at once: it marks the spot by day and night.

Immersion suits, anti-exposure suits and TPAs

In short: Cold water kills faster than drowning. An immersion suit keeps a survivor warm in the water; an anti-exposure suit is a working suit for rescue boat crews; a TPA is a waterproof bag-suit for survivors in a survival craft. If immersion suits are provided for everyone on a small commercial vessel, only 2 TPAs are needed, for the injured.

Immersion suit (LSA Code 2.3)

• Unpacked and put on without help within 2 min (with any clothing and the lifejacket if worn together).
• No burning or melting after 2 s in flame.
• Covers the whole body except the face; hands covered too, unless gloves are fixed to it. Reduces free air in the legs.
• Jump from at least 4.5 m with no undue water entry; climb a 5 m vertical ladder; do abandon-ship duties; swim a short distance and board a survival craft.
• Turns a person face-up in 5 s or less (with lifejacket if worn together).
• Uninsulated suit: marked “wear with warm clothing”; after 1 h in water at 5 °C, body core temperature falls not more than 2 °C.
• Insulated suit: after 6 h in water at 0–2 °C, core temperature falls not more than 2 °C.
• A buoyant suit worn without a lifejacket needs its own light and whistle. If worn with a lifejacket, the lifejacket goes over the suit, and the wearer can put it on unaided.

Anti-exposure suit (LSA Code 2.4)

• For rescue boat crews and people working on deck in an evacuation.
• Inherent buoyancy at least 70 N; covers the body except head and hands (gloves and hood provided); on in 2 min.
• Pocket for a portable VHF; side field of vision at least 120°; light and whistle fitted.
• Wearer can jump 4.5 m feet first, swim at least 25 m, board a survival craft and operate a rescue boat.
• Thermal: in water at 5 °C, core temperature falls not more than 1.5 °C per hour after the first 0.5 h.

Thermal protective aid — TPA (LSA Code 2.5)

• Waterproof material with thermal conductance not more than 7,800 W/(m²·K): cuts both convective and evaporative heat loss.
• Covers the whole body of a person wearing a lifejacket, except the face.
• Put on unaided inside a survival craft or rescue boat; can be taken off in the water in 2 min or less if it hinders swimming.
• Works from –30 °C to +20 °C air temperature.
• It is for survivors already out of the water (or the injured), not a swimming suit. For the casualty’s cold injuries see environmental injuries.

How many

• Cargo ships: an immersion suit for every person on board (SOLAS III/32.3, since 2006). Rescue boat crews have an immersion or anti-exposure suit of the right size.
• Liferaft pack: TPAs for 10 % of the raft’s capacity or 2, whichever is greater (LSA Code 4.1.5.1).
• Small commercial vessels (MGN 280 13.5, Table 13.1):
  • TPAs for 100 % of persons in categories 0–5; they may be kept in the grab bag.
  • If immersion suits are provided for all on board, only 2 TPAs are needed, for injured persons. The suits may be non-insulated and must be compatible with the lifejackets.
  • Category 6: TPAs for all only from 1 November to 31 March with an open reversible liferaft; otherwise none.

Pyrotechnics: parachute flares, hand flares and smoke signals

In short: Rocket parachute flare = long range, high and bright, to raise the alarm. Red hand flare = pinpoints you when a rescuer is close. Orange smoke = daylight signal that also shows the wind to a helicopter. All three are recognised distress signals (COLREG Annex IV). Small vessel, category 0: 12 parachute, 6 hand, 2 smoke.

Performance (LSA Code chapter III)

• All three: water-resistant casing, instructions or diagrams printed on the casing, built-in means of ignition, no discomfort to the user. A hand flare must not drop burning residue into the survival craft.
• Compare: the lifebuoy smoke signal lasts 15 min; the buoyant smoke signal 3 min.

How many

• Ships: at least 12 rocket parachute flares, stowed on or near the navigating bridge (SOLAS III/6.3).
• Liferaft pack (SOLAS A pack): 4 rocket parachute flares · 6 hand flares · 2 buoyant smoke signals (LSA Code 4.1.5.1).
• Small commercial vessels (MGN 280 Table 13.1):

• Memory hook: “12 – 6 – 2” for an unrestricted small vessel (parachute – hand – smoke); within 150 NM the parachute flares drop to 6.

Using them

• Read the printed instructions before you need them: at night with cold hands there is no time.
• Fire a parachute flare to raise the alarm when a ship or the shore may see it; keep hand flares for when a rescuer is in sight, so they guide the last part of the search.
• Hold hand flares downwind and outboard, away from the body, the liferaft canopy and the buoyancy tubes.
• Use smoke in daylight; a helicopter crew reads the wind from it.
• Flares are for distress only. Out-of-date flares go back to an approved disposal point — never fire them for fun.
• Distress alerting by radio and beacon is in EPIRB and SART.