LSA & FFA: what SIRE 2.0 inspectors ask and find
Life-saving and fire-fighting equipment is inspected for condition and records: inspection intervals, expiry dates and crew who know how to use it.
Do this before the inspector arrives: Check immersion suits, pyrotechnics and the fireman's radios.
What the inspector wants to see
- LSA and FFA inspection records
- Immersion suits and lifejackets as required
- Pyrotechnics in date
Questions inspectors ask about LSA & FFA
What lifebuoy faults are commonly found?
Buoyant line tied up and not ready for use, and the lifebuoy light attached to the lifeline instead of the buoy body.
Where must liferaft launching instructions be posted?
Under the emergency lighting. A C/O doing monthly inspections who was unaware of this was flagged.
Which safety items are often missed during safety rounds?
Water inside the forward liferaft light, a rescue harness blocked by closed grating, no non-skid on forecastle/poop, faded IMO symbols.
What is checked in lifeboat and rescue boat stores?
Condition and expiry of food rations, water and pyrotechnics.
Where are the radar reflector and SART mounted in the survival craft?
Be ready to demonstrate rigging the radar reflector and the SART mounting point.
What do you need to know about the lifeboat air support bottles?
Their pressure, how it is regulated, and the final pressure at which air is released into the boat.
There are 36 LSA & FFA questions in NilObs, with spaced repetition so the ones you miss come back. Practise them free.
Real LSA & FFA observations, and how to avoid them
Pyrotechnics on the bridge and in both lifeboats were not stowed in watertight containers; corrected before the inspector left.
Avoid it: Keep all pyrotechnics in approved watertight containers and check this during LSA inspections.
Interviewee admitted not noticing that the bridge and lifeboat pyrotechnics were outside approved watertight containers.
Avoid it: Add 'pyrotechnics in watertight container' as a specific line on the LSA inspection checklist.
Sea anchor ropes and other gear inside the free-fall lifeboat were left unlashed and could shift during launch.
Avoid it: After any lifeboat maintenance, re-secure all loose equipment before leaving the boat.
Interviewee said the free-fall lifeboat equipment had not been re-lashed after routine maintenance.
Avoid it: Make 're-stow and lash all items' the final step of every lifeboat maintenance job.
Same finding recorded as a learning gap: lifeboat equipment was left unsecured after routine maintenance work.
Avoid it: Use a close-out check after lifeboat work so a second person confirms all gear is secured.
Interviewee thought the ship's self-buoyant immersion suits had to be worn with a lifejacket, showing unfamiliarity with the type carried.
Avoid it: Know whether your immersion suits are buoyant types and whether a lifejacket is needed with them.
Water-resistant engine starting and operating instructions were not posted near the boat engine controls; fitted before the inspector left.
Avoid it: Make sure lifeboat and rescue boat engines have durable starting instructions posted at the controls.
The starboard lifeboat's suspension blocks were not seated on the davit horns, leaving a gap of about 5 cm; corrected during the inspection.
Avoid it: After recovering the lifeboat, check the suspension blocks are fully seated on the davit horns.
Who answers for LSA & FFA
Chief Officer, Third Officer, Fourth Engineer, Deck Cadet, Bosun, Able Seaman, Ordinary Seaman, Steward / Messman, Training Officer. NilObs picks the questions and the daily drill for your role.
Rehearse LSA & FFA before your next inspection.
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