Overview
ISO 18079-4:2018 - Ships and marine technology: Servicing of inflatable life‑saving appliances - Part 4: Marine evacuation systems (MES) provides guidance and mandatory provisions for the servicing, inspection and testing of marine evacuation systems. Written as a companion to ISO 18079‑1 and informed by SOLAS Chapter III (Reg. 20.8), this part focuses on the safe upkeep of inflatable and rigid passages, floating platforms, inflation systems and associated survival craft used for rapid shipboard evacuation.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope and purpose: Provisions for servicing stations working on MES (including applicability to non‑SOLAS systems).
- Servicing procedures: Step‑by‑step requirements for inspections and tests to be carried out at every service in accordance with the manufacturer’s servicing manual.
- Major components covered:
- Container / stowage arrangement - visual inspection for damage, dampness, corrosion, winches and seals.
- Bowsing arrangements - inspection of lines, sheaves and winches.
- Passage - checks for both inflatable passages (pressure and seam checks, air aspirators) and rigid passages (covers, lines, zippers, elasticity of cords).
- Floating platform - floor and buoyancy inspection, pressure‑holding tests and seam integrity.
- Inflation system - gas cylinders, inlet/relief valves, hoses and associated hardware.
- Associated liferafts & structural components - follow ISO 18079‑2 and manufacturer guidance where components cannot be removed.
- Inflatable component tests: Defined test procedures including Working Pressure (WP), Necessary Additional Pressure (NAP) and Floor Seam (FS) tests (frequencies and methods referenced in Annex A and B).
- Record keeping: Detailed servicing records, deficiency records, condemnation documentation and rotational deployment records (Annexes C and D).
- Additional checks: Markings, dated items replacement, dry condition at repacking.
Applications and users
ISO 18079‑4:2018 is intended for:
- Servicing stations seeking certification or implementing consistent servicing protocols for MES.
- Shipowners and operators to maintain compliance with SOLAS and improve onboard safety.
- Manufacturers of marine evacuation systems to define servicing instructions and test methods.
- Maritime administrations and surveyors for regulatory oversight and inspection criteria.
- Safety managers and port state control inspectors assessing readiness of evacuation systems.
Practical applications include developing inspection checklists, establishing test schedules (WP/NAP/FS), training servicing personnel, and maintaining traceable servicing records for statutory compliance.
Related standards
- ISO 18079‑1 - General requirements for servicing of life‑saving appliances
- ISO 18079‑2 - Inflatable liferafts servicing
- SOLAS Chapter III (Reg. 20.8) - IMO requirements for annual servicing
Keywords: ISO 18079-4:2018, marine evacuation systems, MES servicing, SOLAS, inflatable passage, floating platform, WP test, NAP test, floor seam test, servicing stations.
