Overview
ISO 15516:2006 - Ships and marine technology: Launching appliances for davit‑launched lifeboats - specifies performance, design, construction, safety, maintenance and test requirements for davits and winches used to launch and recover davit‑launched lifeboats and rescue boats. Applicable to sea‑going ships (including fast rescue boats on ro‑ro passenger ships) and as a reference for inland vessels. It supersedes ISO 6067:1985 and aligns with SOLAS and IMO life‑saving appliance requirements. Not applicable to free‑fall lifeboat appliances.
Keywords: ISO 15516, davit‑launched lifeboats, launching appliances, lifeboat davits, lifeboat winch, SOLAS compliance
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope & applicability
- Covers davits, winches and associated loose gear for lifeboats and rescue boats (except free‑fall systems).
- Every provision generally applies to rescue boats unless stated otherwise.
- Performance
- Launch/recovery capability with ship trim up to 10° and list up to 20°; special provisions for certain tanker types with greater heel.
- Lowering speed formula: S = 0.4 + 0.02H (H = height from davit head to waterline); specified high/low limits for fully loaded and non‑loaded boats.
- Recovery speeds by power (examples): fully loaded rescue boat 0.3 m/s; light‑loaded lifeboat 0.05 m/s; fully loaded fast rescue boat 0.8 m/s. Unpowered winch recovery ≥ 0.005 m/s.
- Launching appliances must operate independently of ship power (gravity or stored mechanical power) for initial launch.
- Design & construction
- Classification of davits (gravity, mechanical stored‑power, etc.) and winches (powered - electric/hydraulic/pneumatic - or unpowered).
- Materials must withstand −30 °C to +65 °C and be corrosion/rot‑resistant for marine exposure.
- Structural members, loose gear and winch components must meet specified safety factors and material quality (avoid brittle materials).
- Safety, operation & maintenance
- Requirements for one‑person deck operation with clear visibility, remote actuation from the boat, icing resistance, damping for fast rescue boats and hand gears for powered winches.
- Prototype and production inspection codes, test methods for loose gear, winch and complete launching appliance.
- Testing & marking
- Specifies test methods, inspection regimes and marking requirements for traceability and survey.
Applications - who uses this standard
- Shipbuilders and naval architects designing lifeboat davit systems
- Lifesaving appliance manufacturers and winch/davit suppliers
- Shipowners, ship operators and safety officers ensuring SOLAS compliance
- Marine surveyors, classification societies and flag state authorities
- Maintenance teams and shipboard officers responsible for testing, servicing and inspections
Related standards
Practical value: Use ISO 15516 to ensure safe, reliable davit‑launched lifeboat systems, meet regulatory inspections, and reduce operational risk during launching and recovery operations.
