Marine safety service
Marine Evacuation System (MES)
Annual servicing, rotational deployment and inspection of marine evacuation systems (chute and slide MES) at approved stations under SOLAS III/20.8.
Overview
Marine evacuation system (MES) servicing
Marine evacuation system servicing keeps a ship’s MES ready to deploy, inflate and move large numbers of people from the embarkation deck into liferafts in minutes. An MES combines a passage, either a vertical chute or an inclined slide, with a boarding platform and associated liferafts, all packed in a stowage container on the ship’s side. They are found mainly on passenger ships, ro-ro passenger ferries and some high-speed craft, where the number of people to evacuate makes conventional davit-launched craft slow.
Because the system is packed and sealed for most of its life, the only real proof it works is servicing and full deployment. vslSafety coordinates the maker-approved station, the rotational deployment and the associated liferaft servicing around the ship’s schedule, which for ferries often means a short lay-up or refit window.
Regulatory requirements and who can do the work
- SOLAS regulation III/20.8.1 requires every marine evacuation system to be serviced at intervals not exceeding 12 months, extendable to 17 months by the Administration where impracticable, at an approved servicing station that is competent, has proper facilities and uses properly trained personnel.
- SOLAS regulation III/20.8.2 requires each MES to be deployed from the ship on a rotational basis at intervals agreed by the Administration, so that each system is deployed at least once every six years.
- SOLAS regulation III/19 requires drills on ships with MES to exercise deployment procedures up to the point just before actual deployment. Every MES party member should also, as far as practicable, take part in a full deployment of a similar system into water at intervals of not longer than two years, and in no case longer than three years; this can be linked to the rotational deployment.
- MES design and performance standards are set out in section 6.2 of the LSA Code, with testing guidance in resolution MSC.81(70). MES party members must be issued an immersion suit or anti-exposure suit under SOLAS regulation III/7.3.
- Flag Administrations often publish their own MES servicing and deployment guidance, and the approval of the rotational deployment plan rests with them.
MES servicing is normally carried out by, or under the accreditation of, the system manufacturer, since the packing of the chute or slide is specific to the design.
Servicing and deployment intervals
| Item | Requirement | Interval | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MES and associated liferafts | Service at approved station | Not exceeding 12 months (17 if extended) | SOLAS III/20.8.1 |
| Each MES on board | Rotational deployment from the ship | Interval agreed by flag; at least once every 6 years | SOLAS III/20.8.2 |
| MES party | Drill up to the point before deployment | With abandon ship drills | SOLAS III/19 |
| MES party members | Participation in a full deployment | Not longer than 2 years, never more than 3 | SOLAS III/19 |
| MES stowage and equipment | Inspection with the ship’s checklist | Monthly | SOLAS III/20.7 |
What the service includes
- Planning the service or rotational deployment with the operator and flag, including berth, weather limits and sea state
- External examination of the stowage container, doors, release and operating mechanisms and hydrostatic release units
- Removal of the packed passage and platform to the station, or deployment from the ship for the rotational test
- Inflation and pressure testing of the chute or slide, platform and liferafts, with inspection of fabric, seams and inflation systems
- Checks and servicing of gas cylinders, valves, bowsing lines and lights
- Servicing of the associated liferafts, including pack renewal and repacking
- Repacking, reinstallation and functional check of the stowage and release arrangements
- Recording of deployment times and any performance issues for the flag and the operator
MES types covered
The two main families are vertical chute systems, where evacuees descend through an enclosed fabric chute, and inclined slide systems, where they slide down to a floating platform. Larger passenger ships may carry several systems per side, each linked to multiple large-capacity liferafts. Common makes include Viking, Survitec (including the Marin Ark and RFD ranges) and Liferaft Systems Australia. Older systems may have limited station support, which should be checked when planning.
Common defects and PSC findings
- Servicing overdue or not carried out at a station approved for the make
- No evidence of rotational deployment within six years, or deployment not matching the agreed plan
- Stowage container damage, water ingress or corroded release mechanisms
- Operating instructions, signage or MES party training records missing
- Crew unable to describe or simulate the deployment procedure during a drill
- Defects found at deployment, such as slow inflation, platform instability or failed bowsing lines
Deployment trials can reveal problems that a packed system hides, which is why SOLAS sets the six-year limit without the extension option that applies to annual servicing.
Certificates and documents you receive
Expect a service certificate for each MES and its associated liferafts from the approved station, a rotational deployment report with timings and defects noted (often witnessed by the flag or class surveyor), updated HRU and cylinder records, and a list of parts renewed. Keep these with the passenger ship safety certificate records and the MES training records.
How to prepare the vessel
Rotational deployment requires a sheltered berth or anchorage, acceptable wind and sea state, permission from the port, a recovery plan and boats to support the platform and liferafts in the water. Book the station early, since specialist technicians and packing facilities are limited in many regions. Plan crew participation so MES party members can meet the two-year deployment training target, and combine the attendance with liferaft servicing and maritime safety training where useful.
Information needed for a quotation
- Vessel name, IMO number and flag
- Port, berth or lay-up location and available time window
- MES maker, model, serial numbers and number of systems
- Number and capacity of associated liferafts
- Scope: annual service, rotational deployment or both
- Date of last service and last deployment for each system
- Flag requirements for witnessing, and any class attendance
vslSafety coordinates a suitable maker-approved provider for the vessel’s port; final acceptance rests with flag, class and the attending surveyor.
Frequently asked questions
How often must a marine evacuation system be serviced?
SOLAS regulation III/20.8.1 requires each MES to be serviced at intervals not exceeding 12 months at an approved servicing station. Where this is impracticable, the flag Administration may extend the interval to 17 months. The associated liferafts are serviced at the same time. The service is separate from, but can be combined with, the rotational deployment.
What is MES rotational deployment?
SOLAS regulation III/20.8.2 requires each MES on board to be deployed from the ship in rotation, at intervals agreed with the flag Administration, so that every system is deployed at least once every six years. On a ship with several systems, one or more are deployed at each opportunity until all have been tested. The deployment demonstrates that the system works as installed, not just when packed.
How often do MES crew need deployment training?
Under SOLAS regulation III/19, every MES party member should, as far as practicable, take part in a full deployment of a similar system into water, either on board or ashore, at intervals of not longer than two years and in no case longer than three years. This training can be combined with the rotational deployments required by regulation III/20.8.2.
Can MES servicing be done while the ship is in service?
Often, yes. Stations can remove, service and reinstall systems during a port stay if the ship retains the required evacuation capacity, or supply exchange units where available. Rotational deployment usually needs a planned window with suitable weather and port permission, and many operators schedule it during refit or a lay-up period.
