Update: Errata for the LSA Code, 2010 Edition, has been published and is available to download here. The errata contains four minor changes to the text of the LSA Code.

This publication contains the three most important IMO instruments dealing with life-saving appliances, namely the International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code, the Revised Recommendation on Testing of Life-Saving Appliances and the Code of Practice for the Evaluation, Testing and Acceptance of Prototype Novel Life-Saving Appliances.

The International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code was adopted by IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) at its 66th session (June 1996) by resolution MSC.48(66). It provides international requirements for the life-saving appliances required by chapter III of the 1974 SOLAS Convention, including personal life-saving appliances, such as lifebuoys, lifejackets, immersion suits, anti-exposure suits and thermal protective aids; visual aids, such as parachute flares, hand flares and buoyant smoke signals; survival craft, such as life rafts and lifeboats; rescue boats; launching and embarkation appliances and marine evacuation systems line throwing appliances; and general alarm and public address systems.

The LSA Code was made mandatory by resolution MSC.47(66) under SOLAS regulation III/3.10, whereby regulation III/34 determines that all life-saving appliances and arrangements shall comply with its requirements. The LSA Code entered into force on 1 July 1998 and has been amended in accordance with SOLAS Article VIII as follows:

1. by the May 2006 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.207(81) and will enter into force on 1 July 2010;
   
2. by the December 2006 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.218(82) and entered into force on 1 July 2008; and
   
3. by the 2008 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.272(85) and will enter into force on 1 July 2010.
   

The consolidated text of the LSA Code in the present publication incorporates the above three sets of amendments, including the two sets entering into force on 1 July 2010, since they were deemed to have been accepted in accordance with the SOLAS amendment procedures on 1 January 2010, and will therefore automatically enter into force on 1 July 2010.