Overview
ISO 17339:2018 specifies design, performance and prototype testing requirements for sea anchors used with survival craft (lifeboats and liferafts) and rescue boats. Developed as a companion to IMO life‑saving appliance guidance, the standard ensures sea anchors perform reliably to stabilize craft, control drift and improve survivability in abandonment and rescue operations.
Key Topics and Requirements
- Performance criteria: Sea anchors must develop minimum drag forces by craft type and speed (see ISO 17339 for the full table). They must remain stable when towed up to 3 knot and unfold with the mouth open immediately on deployment.
- Towing line: Must be inherently rot‑proof, at least 30 m long and minimum 8 mm diameter. Required breaking loads include 7.5 kN for liferafts up to 10 persons and 10.0 kN for larger liferafts and other survival craft, or a safety factor of 3 based on towing strain at 3 knot.
- Materials and construction: Materials must be rot‑proof, corrosion‑resistant, oil and fungal resistant, and stable across stowage and operational temperature ranges (stowage −30 °C to +65 °C; seawater −1 °C to +30 °C). Attachments must retain form on deployment.
- Prototype testing: Defined tests include material tests (fabric and structural webbing strength), corrosion testing of metal parts (per ISO 9227), temperature cycling, deployment tests, towing tests (minimum 1 km at 2 and 3 knot), and ultimate strength tests.
- Environmental durability: Requirements include resistance to sunlight deterioration and specified accelerated weathering and immersion exposures as part of material qualification.
Applications and Practical Value
- Ensures consistent, evidence‑based design and testing of sea anchors so equipment performs in real emergency scenarios.
- Helps manufacturers demonstrate compliance for product certification and acceptance by maritime administrations and classification societies.
- Supports shipowners, lifeboat and liferaft manufacturers, rescue boat designers and safety equipment testers in selecting and verifying sea anchors suitable for specific craft capacities.
- Reduces risk during abandonment by standardizing deployment, towing and material performance expectations.
Who Should Use This Standard
- Marine safety equipment manufacturers and suppliers
- Lifeboat and liferaft designers and test labs
- Classification societies and maritime administrations
- Ship operators and procurement teams specifying survival equipment
Related Standards
- IMO International Life‑Saving Appliance (LSA) Code (implementation context)
- ISO 9227 (salt spray corrosion tests)
- ISO 4892‑2 (xenon‑arc accelerated weathering)
- ASTM D471 and EN 590 (fuel/immersion references)
Keywords: ISO 17339:2018, sea anchors, survival craft, liferaft, lifeboat, rescue boat, prototype testing, drag force, towing line, deployment test, maritime safety.
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