On 1 January 2026 a set of amendments to the International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code entered into force. They were approved by the IMO Maritime Safety Committee at its 107th session in 2023 and cover three areas: the lowering speed of survival craft and rescue boats, the in-water performance of lifejackets, and single fall and hook systems on lifeboats and rescue boats.

Orange totally enclosed lifeboat stowed in its davit on the side of a merchant ship

What changed

According to the IMO’s MSC 107 summary, the committee approved draft LSA Code amendments on lowering speed, lifejacket in-water performance and single fall and hook systems. SAFETY4SEA reports that the changes touch Chapter II (lifejackets), Chapter IV (lifeboats and rescue boats fitted with single fall and hook systems) and Chapter VI (lowering speed of fully loaded survival craft and rescue boats).

The same source explains that the amendments apply to life-saving appliances installed on or after 1 January 2026, meaning equipment with a contractual delivery date or an actual delivery to the ship after that date. Existing equipment is not automatically affected, but the new standards are the benchmark that manufacturers and class societies will now work to. Separately, SAFETY4SEA’s 2026 regulatory agenda notes new ventilation design standards for totally enclosed lifeboats, with phased installation dates running to 2029.

Why release hooks and lowering speed matter

Release gear and davit control are where lifeboat accidents happen. Accidental hook release during launching or recovery, or a boat that descends too fast or too slowly, can injure the people inside it. That is why these two topics were prioritised. The MAIB investigation into the lifeboat that fell from RRS Sir David Attenborough found a heavily corroded interlock and an installation that did not follow the manufacturer’s instructions, which we covered in our earlier article on corrosion.

A practical checklist for owners and managers

Know what you have. List the lifeboats, rescue boats, davits and lifejackets on each vessel with their delivery or installation dates, so you can see which fall under the new provisions.
Read the manufacturer’s current instructions. Release gear and davit manuals are being revised. Make sure the latest revision is on board and that the crew has been briefed.
Test the launching appliance, not just the boat. Check the lowering and recovery function, brakes, limit switches and interlocks during the periodic tests, and record what you find.
Inspect release hooks carefully. Corrosion, wear, and missing or damaged safety features should be dealt with before the next drill, not after it.
Do not defer maintenance. Suspended maintenance on critical equipment was one of the contributing factors in the RRS Sir David Attenborough report.

How Berth Marine can help

We carry out tests and controls of lifeboats and davits in line with SOLAS and IMO guidelines, and we can check your launching appliances and release gear before a survey or an audit. See our lifeboat and davit service page, or send us your vessel details and we will confirm what we can attend.

This article is a summary for information only. Always confirm the exact requirements with your flag State and class society.