Glossary Term
LSA Code
The LSA Code (International Life-Saving Appliance Code) is the IMO code that sets technical requirements for life-saving appliances, such as lifejackets, lifebuoys, liferafts, lifeboats, rescue boats and launching appliances. It is mandatory under SOLAS chapter III.
In shipping, LSA stands for life-saving appliances. The code was adopted by IMO Resolution MSC.48(66) in June 1996 and has been mandatory under SOLAS chapter III since 1 July 1998. The two work together: SOLAS chapter III sets what a ship must carry and how it is used, while the LSA Code sets how each appliance must be built and how it must perform.
What the LSA Code covers
| Chapter | Subject |
|---|---|
| I | General: definitions and general requirements for life-saving appliances |
| II | Personal life-saving appliances: lifebuoys, lifejackets, immersion suits, anti-exposure suits and thermal protective aids |
| III | Visual signals |
| IV | Survival craft: liferafts and lifeboats |
| V | Rescue boats |
| VI | Launching and embarkation appliances, including marine evacuation systems |
| VII | Other life-saving appliances: line-throwing appliances, general alarm and public address system |
Approval and testing
SOLAS regulation III/4 requires life-saving appliances to be approved by the Administration, which makes sure they are tested to confirm that they meet SOLAS and the LSA Code. The tests are set out in IMO Resolution MSC.81(70), the revised recommendation on testing of life-saving appliances, as amended. It covers prototype tests and production and installation tests.
Maintenance is a separate set of rules. Since 1 January 2020, SOLAS regulation III/20 has made mandatory the requirements in Resolution MSC.402(96) for maintenance, thorough examination, operational testing, overhaul and repair of lifeboats, rescue boats, launching appliances and release gear.
Recent amendments
The LSA Code is amended from time to time by MSC resolutions, so the edition that applies depends on the date and the equipment concerned:
- 1 January 2024: amendments adopted by Resolutions MSC.459(101) and MSC.485(103), on launching and recovery arrangements and on free-fall lifeboats.
- 1 January 2026: amendments adopted by Resolution MSC.554(108), covering lifejacket performance in water, single-fall and single-hook release systems and lowering speed. They apply to appliances installed on or after 1 January 2026, with “installed” defined in the resolution by shipbuilding and equipment delivery criteria.
- 1 January 2026: amendments adopted by Resolution MSC.535(107) on ventilation of totally enclosed lifeboats. They apply to totally enclosed lifeboats installed on or after 1 January 2029, as defined in the resolution.
Questions about a particular appliance are answered from the consolidated text and the resolution itself.
The LSA Code and yachts
The LSA Code applies through SOLAS chapter III to the ships that chapter covers. Commercial yachts certified under a yacht code meet the life-saving appliance requirements of that code. The Red Ensign Group Yacht Code (July 2024 edition), for example, bases its life-saving appliance chapter on SOLAS principles and requires equipment accepted by the Administration as complying with the LSA Code and MSC.81(70), as amended. The same code also allows alternative and equivalent arrangements suited to yachts. For any yacht, the flag Administration decides which edition and which arrangements apply.
Before changing life-saving appliances during a refit, such as a rescue boat, davit or liferaft arrangement, confirm the applicable approval requirements with the flag Administration. Related entries: man overboard device, EPIRB and GMDSS.
FAQ
What does LSA stand for in shipping?
Life-saving appliances. The LSA Code is the International Life-Saving Appliance Code.
Is the LSA Code part of SOLAS?
It is a separate IMO code, but mandatory under SOLAS chapter III since 1 July 1998. SOLAS sets what must be carried; the LSA Code sets the technical requirements for the equipment.
What are the recent LSA Code amendments?
Amendments entered into force on 1 January 2024 (MSC.459(101) and MSC.485(103)) and on 1 January 2026 (MSC.554(108) and MSC.535(107)). Each resolution states which equipment it applies to and from when.
Does the LSA Code apply to yachts?
Not directly to every yacht. It applies through SOLAS chapter III to the ships that chapter covers. A commercial yacht certified under a yacht code, such as the REG Yacht Code, meets that code’s life-saving appliance requirements, which refer to LSA Code equipment standards. The flag Administration decides for a particular yacht.
What equipment does the LSA Code cover?
Lifebuoys, lifejackets, immersion and anti-exposure suits, thermal protective aids, visual signals, liferafts, lifeboats, rescue boats, launching and embarkation appliances, marine evacuation systems, line-throwing appliances and the general alarm and public address system.