Acceptance of SOLAS Immersion Suits Until the Proposed Vessel Construction and Equipment Regulations are Completed

Transport Publication - TP 13585 E

Details:
Marine Safety Management System - Policy
Number:
TP 13585 E (Online Manual)

PDF Version

 

 

1 Policy Objective

 

 

1.1 To enhance safety by providing greater choices for marine immersion suits for use on Canadian vessels by allowing an interim acceptance of SOLAS immersion suits until the proposed Vessel Construction and Equipment Regulations are completed.

1.2 To eliminate duplication and reduce effort expended by industry and Transport Canada by replacing repeated case-by-case application to the Marine Technical Review Board (MTRB) with a single policy.

2 Policy Statement   

2.1 Immersion suits meeting the conditions listed in 2.2 and approved in accordance with the procedures included in TP 14612, Procedures for Approval of Life-Saving Appliances and Fire Safety Systems, Equipment and Products, shall be accepted for use on Canadian vessels.

2.2 The immersion suit must:

  • meet the requirements of Resolution MSC.48(66) and Resolution MSC.81(70);
  • be approved as an insulated immersion suit;
  • be approved for use without a separate lifejacket;
  • comply with the Canadian Modifications set out in the standard TP 14475, Canadian Life Saving Appliance Standard, Part I, Chapter 1, Subsection 1.2.1,Canadian modifications to general requirements”and Part II, Section 15,Marking.

3 Scope

3.1 This policy applies to all Canadian vessels required by regulation to carry approved marine immersion suits.

4 Authority

4.1 This policy falls under the overall administrative authority of the Director General, Marine Safety and Security, and the Marine Safety and Security Executive (MSSE) committee has approved this policy for general application.

5 Responsibility/ further information

5.1 The Executive Director, Domestic Vessel Regulatory Oversight, is accountable for the development, approval and maintenance of this policy.

5.2 The Regional Directors, Marine Safety and Security, are responsible for implementation of this policy.

5.3 Comments or queries related to this policy and its application should be addressed to:

6 Related Documents

6.1 TP 14475, Canadian Life Saving Appliance Standard

6.2 TP 14612, Procedures for Approval of Life-Saving Appliances and Fire Safety Systems, Equipment and Products

6.3 Tier I Policy on Acceptance of an alternative regulatory regime for inspection, construction and safety equipment

6.4 TP 15211, Canadian Supplement to the SOLAS Convention

7 Background

7.1 As prescribed by the Life Saving Equipment Regulations, Transport Canada has in the past only accepted for carriage on Canadian vessels immersion suits approved to CAN/CGSB 65.16, Marine Immersion Suits.

7.2 In an effort to align with international standards and as a result of consultation with stakeholders during the drafting of the proposed Life Saving Appliance Regulations, to be part of the proposed Vessel Construction and Equipment Regulations, Transport Canada will include the acceptance of SOLAS immersion suits.

7.3 As an interim step Transport Canada already accepts, through the MTRB, SOLAS immersion suits within the scope of the Tier I Policy on Acceptance of an Alternative Regulatory Regime for Inspection, Construction and Safety Equipment and the standard TP15211, Canadian Supplement to the SOLAS Convention. Requests outside of the scope of the Tier I Policy have also been accepted by the MTRB on a case-by-case basis.

7.4 In anticipation of the changes to the regulations, both vessel operators and immersion suit manufacturers have requested that interim means be provided for increased options in marine immersion suits without the need to apply to the MTRB.

8 Date of Application 

8.1 This policy is effective as of April 14, 2014.

9 Date for Review or Expiry 

9.1 This policy will be due for review upon the coming into force of the proposed Vessel Construction and Equipment Regulations or in five years, whichever is earlier.

10 RDIMS Reference

10.1 The English version of this document is saved in RDIMS under reference number 9098449.

10.2 La version française du présent document est dans le SGDDI et porte le numéro de référence  9383120.

10.3 This is the first approved and finalized revision of the English version of this document.

11 Keywords

  • Life Saving
  • Immersion Suit
  • Survival Suit
  • SOLAS
  • Thermal protection