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Emergency Contingency Procedures ECP Lifeboat drill requirements |
Doc No.: ECP 04-02A
Revision: 02 Date: 12 Feb 2026 Issued by: DPA Approved by: MD |
1. Lifeboat Drill and Launching Minimum Requirements
Drill Requirements
Each abandon ship / lifeboat drill must include:
- Summoning of crew, supernumeraries including passengers and to muster stations with the ships alarms and by drill announcement on the public address or other communication system.
- Reporting to stations and preparing for the duties described in the muster list.
- Checking that crew, supernumeraries including passengers are suitably dressed and that lifejackets are correctly donned.
- Lowering of at least one lifeboat after any necessary preparation for launching.
- Different lifeboats are to be lowered at successive drills if practicable.
- For the purpose of drills, the vessel must be stopped in water, anchored, moored, etc. before lifeboats, rescue boats and fast rescue boats are swung out over the water.
- Starting and operating the lifeboat engine in ahead and astern direction.
- Operation of davits used for launching life rafts (if fitted).
- Instruction and the use of radio life-saving appliances.
- Testing of the emergency lighting used for mustering and abandonment.
- HSSEQ-04 shall be used for recording drills with required pictures in colour to be inserted with date/time stamped.
- Incase vessel need to be stopped en-route, required approval from charterers/owners or managers to be taken on email and recorded to reflect the stoppage was solely for drill purpose.
Summary of SOLAS Requirements
The table below simplifies SOLAS Chapter III – Regulation 19 requirements:
| Type of Lifeboat | Frequency | Requirement | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davit launched side lifeboats (Port and Starboard) | Once in 3 Months | To be launched and manoeuvred in water with assigned operating crew | Must be carried out during Abandon ship drill. |
| Freefall lifeboat | Once in 3 Months | To be lowered using secondary means and manoeuvred in water with assigned operating crew | Lowering by secondary arrangements. Must be carried out during Abandon ship drill. |
| Freefall lifeboat | Once in 6 Months | To be launched free fall and manoeuvred in water with assigned operating crew | Must be carried out during Abandon ship drill. Simulation is acceptable where it is not feasible to freefall launch. |
| Rescue boat/Fast rescue boat (Other than Lifeboat assigned as Rescue boat) | Every Month | To be launched and manoeuvred in water with assigned operating crew | Must be carried out during rescue boat drill. |
Note:
- SOLAS regulation III/19 as amended requires each lifeboat to be launched and manoeuvred in the water by its assigned operating crew, at least once every three months during an abandon ship drill. However, the regulation, whilst requiring each lifeboat to be manoeuvred in the water by its assigned operating crew, does not require the assigned operating crew to be on board when the lifeboat is launched.
- So far as practicable, rescue boat shall be lowered and manoeuvred every month but In any case, at least once in 3 months. This requirement does not apply to Lifeboat assigned as rescue boat.
- Manoeuvring means releasing of hooks and operating engines in water. Painter can be kept fast at all times as per master’s discretion.
- Refer to ECP 04-02B for recommended lifeboat launching procedures.