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Safety & Lifesaving
Lifejackets, Lifebuoys and Immersion Suits
Lifejackets, Lifebuoys and Immersion Suits covers the personal lifesaving appliances on an offshore unit. That means SOLAS lifejackets, foam or inflatable, with their lights and whistles, lifebuoys with self-igniting lights and smoke signals, and insulated immersion suits. You buy them in batches, so the dates and approvals across the batch decide the value more than any single item.
What each item has to do
Each item has a defined job in the LSA Code. Lifejackets (section 2.2) keep a wearer's mouth clear of the water and turn an unconscious person face up. Lifebuoys (section 2.1) are thrown to a person overboard and mark the spot. Immersion suits (section 2.3) keep a person alive in cold water long enough for rescue. An insulated suit must limit the fall in body core temperature to no more than 2°C after 6 hours in calm water at 0°C to 2°C, and a wearer must be able to don it in 2 minutes.
Configurations
| Item | Variants | Points to note |
|---|---|---|
| Lifejackets | Inherently buoyant foam, or inflatable | Adult, child and infant sizes, larger-person range |
| Lifebuoys | Plain, with self-igniting light, with light and smoke signal | Quick-release types need enough mass to pull the light and signal free |
| Immersion suits | Insulated, or uninsulated worn with thermal clothing | Sizes, integral or separate lifejacket |
SOLAS chapter III regulation 32.3 requires an immersion suit for every person on board cargo ships. Check the MODU Code and your flag's rules for your unit, since many flags set the same standard offshore.
Key specifications
| Parameter | Why it matters | Typical units |
|---|---|---|
| Lifebuoy mass | At least 2.5 kg (5.5 lb), more for quick-release units with light and smoke | kg or lb |
| Lifebuoy drop height | Must survive a drop from its stowage height or 30 m (98 ft), whichever is greater | m or ft |
| Lifejacket light | At least 0.75 cd for at least 8 hours | Candela, hours |
| Suit thermal rating | Insulated or uninsulated, with tested immersion time | Hours |
| Approval | MED wheel mark, USCG or flag approval | Certificate number |
Standards and service intervals
- Inflatable lifejackets go to an approved station at intervals not over 12 months under SOLAS chapter III regulation 20.
- IMO MSC/Circ.1114 recommends an air pressure test of each immersion suit's seams and closures at intervals not over three years, and more often once the suit is over ten years old.
- MSC/Circ.1047 sets monthly onboard checks of immersion suits, covering zips, seals, lights and whistles.
- Flags set the final intervals and may shorten them for older suits, so check your flag's rule as well as the circular.
What expires and what fails
Lifebuoy self-igniting lights and smoke signals carry printed expiry dates and are replaced, not refurbished. Lifejacket light batteries, inflation cylinders and auto-inflation cartridges have marked dates too. Foam lifejackets lose buoyancy as the foam ages, and covers tear. Retro-reflective tape fades.
On immersion suits, look at:
- Seam tape lifting, especially at the crotch and shoulders
- Neoprene or PVC hardening and cracking at folds
- Zip teeth, slider and the waterproof seal
- Face seal and wrist seals for splits
- Suit light and buddy line
Seam adhesive ages in storage as well as in use. A used suit without pressure test records is a gamble.
Documentation to ask for
- Approval certificate for each model, and the standard it was built to
- Manufacture date for each item or batch
- Station service certificates for inflatable lifejackets
- Pressure test certificates for each immersion suit, by serial number
- Expiry dates of lights, signals, batteries and cylinders
Integration and compatibility
Lifebuoy quick-release brackets on the bridge wings or high decks are matched to the buoy mass and the light and smoke signal model. Some immersion suits are approved for use with a separate lifejacket, so pair the suit with a lifejacket model it was approved with. Check that lifejacket sizes cover your crew list, including larger people.
Choosing used, surplus or new
Unused surplus in the original packaging, with manufacture dates shown, is the safest option. Used foam lifejackets and lifebuoys can return to service after a check and new lights. Inflatable lifejackets that have missed a service, and any immersion suit without test records, are not worth reusing. Expired pyrotechnics have no value. Naventr can put your questions on dates and approvals to the Seller. VIKING and Survitec, which owns the Hansen Protection brand, are well-known makers of suits and lifejackets. For the craft these items go with, see life rafts.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How often do immersion suits need a pressure test?
IMO MSC/Circ.1114 recommends an air pressure test of seams and closures at intervals not over three years, and more often once a suit is over ten years old. Flag states set the exact interval, so check your flag's rule before relying on an older test certificate.
Can surplus lifejackets be used on an offshore rig?
Yes, if they carry an approval your flag accepts and are in good condition. Unused surplus in original packaging is safest. Inflatable lifejackets need a current service at an approved station, and every jacket needs an in-date light.
Do lifebuoy lights and smoke signals expire?
Yes, self-igniting lifebuoy lights and self-activating smoke signals carry printed expiry dates. They cannot be serviced or extended and must be replaced when the date passes, so check the dates on any used lifebuoy set.
Do immersion suits have a fixed service life?
IMO rules set no fixed service life for immersion suits, but suits need regular pressure tests and more frequent ones after ten years. Some makers state a service life in their manual. Check that and the manufacture date before buying used suits.
Looking for lifejackets, lifebuoys and immersion suits?
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