Bulletin No.: 15/1998


Date (Y-M-D): 1998-11-02
 

Subject: Personal Locator Lights

An amendment to the International Maritimes Organization ( IMO ) SOLAS Convention, Chapter III came into effect on July 1, 1998. This amendment brings the standards prescribed in the Life-Saving Appliance ( LSA ) Code into force and requires that Personal Locator Lights ( PLL ) be white and have a luminous intensity of 0.75 cd in all directions of the upper hemisphere.

Marine Abandonment Immersion Suit Systems and Lifejackets carried aboard Class I, IX, X and XI vessels are required to be fitted with PLL . Most of the locator lights available on the market today do not comply with the new IMO "all directions" and white light requirements. In order to alleviate the confusion caused by this situation, a "phased-in" approach will be adopted regarding PLL affixed on equipment required on Safety Convention Ships. Owners of ships, that are not Safety Convention ships, are strongly encouraged to follow these prescriptions, or at least, when the immersion suit or lifejacket lights would normally be replaced, replace them with lights that comply with paragraph 2.2.3 of the LSA Code. This will enable the shipping industry to introduce, and in the future to replace, lifejacket lights to the new IMO specification within a realistic timeframe. Such lights currently must meet the standards prescribed by Schedule XI of the Life Saving Regulations.

Existing Marine Abandonment Immersion Suit Systems and Lifejackets

Lights not complying fully with paragraph 2.2.3 of the LSA Code and fitted on Marine Abandonment Immersion Suit Systems and Lifejackets on board Safety Convention:

  • Passenger ships prior to 1 July 1998 will be accepted until the immersion suit or lifejacket light would normally be replaced or until the first periodical survey after 1 July 2002, whichever is the earliest.
  • Ro-ro passenger ships prior to 1 July 1998 will be accepted until the date of the first periodical survey after 1 July 1998.
  • Cargo ships prior to 1 July 1998 will be accepted until the immersion suit or lifejacket light would normally be replaced or until the first periodical survey after 1 July 2001, whichever is the earliest.

Marine Abandonment Immersion Suit Systems and Lifejackets Manufactured after July 1 1998

PLL fitted on such devices shall comply with the IMO requirement to be of equal intensity in all directions of the upper hemisphere. However, the dead line for meeting the white light requirement (par. 2.2.3.1.4 of the LSA code) is extended until July 1, 1999.

Keywords:                                  Questions concerning this bulletin should be addressed to:

1. Personal Locator Light ( PLL )
2. All directions
3. Upper hemisphere
AMSEB
France Belzile
(613)991-3123
Transport Canada
Marine Safety
Tower C, Place de Ville
11th Floor, 330 Sparks Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N8
 
 

To add or change your address, contact us at: marinesafety@tc.gc.ca

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