Immersion & Survival Suit Inspection in Umm Lajj.

Immersion and survival suit inspection

Immersion suit inspection checks that the survival suits carried on board will keep a person dry and warm in cold water, and will stay watertight when it matters. An immersion suit is a one-piece protective suit that reduces heat loss for a person in cold water, while an anti-exposure suit is a lighter protective suit usually worn by rescue boat crews and MES parties. Both depend on seams, zips and face or wrist seals that can deteriorate unseen while the suit sits in its bag.

vslSafety coordinates technicians and approved facilities to inspect, air-pressure test, repair and certify suits, and arranges compliant replacements where suits are condemned, so the ship’s count and sizes match the safety plan.

Regulatory requirements and who can do the work

• SOLAS regulation III/32.3, amended by resolution MSC.152(78), requires an immersion suit of appropriate size complying with section 2.3 of the LSA Code for every person on board a cargo ship, with additional suits at remotely located watch and work stations. Ships built before 1 July 2006 had to comply by the first safety equipment survey after that date. Ships constantly engaged in warm climates may be exempted by the Administration.
• SOLAS regulation III/7.3 requires an immersion suit (LSA Code 2.3) or anti-exposure suit (LSA Code 2.4) for every person assigned to crew the rescue boat or to the MES party.
• MSC/Circ.1047 gives guidelines for the monthly shipboard inspection of immersion and anti-exposure suits by the crew, linked to SOLAS regulation III/20.7.
• MSC/Circ.1114 gives guidelines for periodic testing of seams and closures by air pressure test at intervals not exceeding three years, or more frequently for suits over ten years old.
• Some flag Administrations make MSC/Circ.1114 testing mandatory or set their own schedules, and makers may specify additional servicing. Testing is recommended at a shore facility able to make repairs to the maker’s standard, although it may be done on board with suitable equipment.

Inspection and testing intervals

Item	Requirement	Interval	Reference
Immersion and anti-exposure suits	Crew inspection of suit, zip, seals, lights and whistle	Monthly	SOLAS III/20.7; MSC/Circ.1047
Immersion suit seams and closures	Air pressure test and repair	Not exceeding 3 years	MSC/Circ.1114
Suits over 10 years old	Air pressure test	More frequently than 3 years	MSC/Circ.1114
Suit lights	Replace before expiry	Maker’s expiry date	Maker
All suits	Examined at safety equipment survey	Annual	Flag and class

What the service includes

• Count and size check against crew numbers, remote stations, rescue boat crew and MES party
• Visual inspection of fabric, seams, face seal, wrist seals, boots and gloves for tears, cracking or delamination
• Zip inspection and lubrication with the maker’s recommended product
• Air pressure test of seams and closures at 0.7 to 1.4 kPa using a soapy water solution, following MSC/Circ.1114
• Marking and repair of leaks to the maker’s instructions, then retesting
• Checking and renewal of lights, whistles, buddy lines, lifting loops and retro-reflective tape
• Cleaning, drying, correct folding and labelling of the suit and bag with the test date
• Condemnation and replacement of suits that cannot be repaired

Suit types covered

Technicians handle insulated and uninsulated immersion suits, suits designed to be worn with or without a lifejacket, universal-size and sized suits, anti-exposure suits for rescue boat crews, and thermal protective aids from survival craft inventories. Common makes include Viking, Survitec, Hansen Protection, Lalizas and several Asian manufacturers.

Common defects and PSC deficiencies

• Zips stiff, corroded or damaged, and face or wrist seals cracked
• Seams leaking or delaminating, especially on older suits
• No record of the three-yearly air pressure test where the flag requires it
• Suits missing lights or with expired lights and batteries
• Wrong sizes for the crew, or no suits at remote watch stations
• Suits stored wet or badly folded, leading to mould and fabric damage

Personal life-saving appliances are checked during port State control inspections and form part of the SOLAS chapter III deficiency area, which made up 9.3% of Paris MoU deficiencies in 2024.

Certificates and documents you receive

You will receive an inspection and test report listing each suit by serial number, size and location, the test pressure and result, repairs made and the next test due date, together with a certificate from the testing facility or technician. Where suits are condemned, the report explains why, and replacement suits come with their type approval documents.

How to prepare the vessel

Collect the suits from cabins and stations, or give access to all stowage points. Testing at a shore facility generally needs one to three days depending on quantity and repairs, so keep enough suits on board, or arrange temporary replacements, to meet the carriage requirement while in port. Combining the work with lifejacket inspection, rescue boat servicing or chemical suit inspection can reduce attendance cost.

Information needed for a quotation

• Vessel name, IMO number and flag
• Port, berth or anchorage, ETA and ETD
• Number of immersion and anti-exposure suits, with maker, model and sizes
• Manufacturing dates, which indicate suits over ten years old
• Date of the last air pressure test
• Whether testing should be on board or at the shore facility
• Whether replacement suits or lights should be quoted

vslSafety coordinates a suitable provider at the vessel’s port; final acceptance rests with flag, class and the attending surveyor.

Frequently asked questions

How often must immersion suits be pressure tested?

MSC/Circ.1114 recommends an air pressure test of seams and closures at intervals not exceeding three years, and more frequently for suits over ten years old. The circular is guidance, but several flag Administrations make it mandatory for their ships, so check your flag’s requirements. Monthly crew inspections under MSC/Circ.1047 continue between tests.

Can immersion suits be tested on board?

MSC/Circ.1114 recommends testing at a shore facility that can make repairs to the maker’s standard, but it allows testing on board where suitable equipment is available. Mobile technicians often test on board, then take only failed suits ashore for repair. Retesting after repair should be recorded, and the ship must keep enough serviceable suits on board while any are ashore.

How many immersion suits must a cargo ship carry?

SOLAS regulation III/32.3 requires an immersion suit of appropriate size for every person on board a cargo ship, and additional suits at watch and work stations that are remote from the main stowage. Ships constantly trading in warm climates may be exempted by their flag. Rescue boat crew and MES party members also need an immersion or anti-exposure suit under regulation III/7.3.

What is the difference between an immersion suit and an anti-exposure suit?

An immersion suit, covered by LSA Code section 2.3, is designed to protect a person in cold water after abandoning ship. An anti-exposure suit, covered by section 2.4, is designed for rescue boat crews and MES parties who need freedom of movement to work, and provides a lower level of thermal protection. SOLAS regulation III/7.3 allows either for those roles.

When should an immersion suit be condemned?

A suit should be replaced when leaks cannot be repaired to the maker’s standard, the fabric or seals are brittle or cracked, the zip no longer closes properly, or the suit no longer meets its approved condition. The testing facility records the reason for condemnation, and the ship should obtain an approved replacement of the correct size before the next voyage.