NVIC 03-10: New SOLAS lifejacket and immersion suit requirements
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This Circular is Coast Guard guidance on SOLAS amendments for lifejacket and immersion suit approval and carriage, effective 1 July 2010. It explains the new test standards, buddy line and lifting strap fitting, and infant lifejacket carriage. It also says the Commandant found equipment meeting the IMO Resolutions equivalent under 46 CFR 159.005-7(c).
Applies toOwners and operators of ships subject to SOLAS, Coast Guard Officers in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI), and other involved parties are encouraged to use this Circular as a reference.
What it says
Effective 1 July 2010, the new SOLAS amendments require lifejackets to be approved to the new test standards in IMO Res. MSC.200(80) and Res. MSC.207(81).
NVIC 03-10 a.“lifejackets must be approved to the new test standards in IMO Res. MSC.200(80) and Res. MSC.207(81).”
Immersion suits must be approved to the new test standards in IMO Res. MSC.226(82).
NVIC 03-10 b.“immersion suits must be approved to the new test standards in IMO Res. MSC.226(82), which includes oral inflation during donning for suits which include inflatable head support;”
All new lifejackets and immersion suits must be fitted with a buddy line and lifting strap.
NVIC 03-10 c.“all new lifejackets and immersion suits must be fitted with a buddy line and lifting strap (IMO Res. MSC.207(81)); and”
All SOLAS passenger ships must carry approved infant lifejackets.
NVIC 03-10 d.“all SOLAS passenger ships must carry approved infant lifejackets.”
Lifejackets and immersion suits placed on board SOLAS ships on or after 1 July 2010 must be approved to the new requirements. Existing equipment need not be replaced, provided that it remains in serviceable condition.
NVIC 03-10 a.“Existing equipment need not be replaced, provided that it remains in serviceable condition.”
Pending new regulations, the Commandant has determined that equipment meeting the four listed IMO Resolutions is at least as effective as equipment meeting 46 CFR, Subchapter Q requirements, and is approved under 46 CFR 159.005-7(c).
NVIC 03-10 b.“is at least as effective as one that meets the requirements of 46 CFR, Subchapter Q.”
Lifejackets covered by the equivalency determination will be marked with approval number 160.155/200 or above, and immersion suits with approval number 160.171/200 or above.
NVIC 03-10 c.“The immersion suits to which that equivalency determination applies will be marked with approval number 160.171/200 or above.”
Coast Guard approved lifejackets and immersion suits that do not meet the four IMO Resolutions may continue to be used for all non-SOLAS applications.
NVIC 03-10 d.“may continue to be used for all non-SOLAS applications.”
Common questions
How many infant lifejackets must a SOLAS passenger ship carry on a voyage under 24 hours?
For voyages of less than 24 hours, a number of infant lifejackets equal to at least 2.5% of the number of passengers on board is to be provided.
“For passenger ships on voyages of less than 24 hours, a number of infant lifejackets equal to at least 2.5% of the number of passengers on board is to be provided;”
Do I have to replace existing lifejackets and immersion suits on SOLAS ships?
No. Existing equipment need not be replaced, provided that it remains in serviceable condition.
“Existing equipment need not be replaced, provided that it remains in serviceable condition.”
Is NVIC 03-10 legally binding?
No. The disclaimer says it does not replace or impose legally-binding requirements on any party.
“nor is it in itself intended to, nor does it, replace or impose legally-binding requirements on any party.”
Can old Coast Guard approved lifejackets still be used?
Yes, for non-SOLAS applications. Those that do not meet the listed IMO Resolutions may continue to be used for all non-SOLAS applications.
“may continue to be used for all non-SOLAS applications.”
The text of NVIC 03-10
U.S. Coast Guard, NVIC 03-10 (main body; enclosures not shown)
New SOLAS Requirements for Lifejackets and Immersion Suits Effective 1 JULY 2010
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Commandant United States Coast Guard 2100 2nd Street, S.W. Washington, DC 20593-7126 Staff Symbol: CG-5214 Phone: (202) 372-1392 Fax: (202) 372-1924 United States Coast Guard COMDTPUB P16700.4 NVIC 03-10 NOV 1 0 2010 NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPECTION CIRCULAR NO. 03-10 Subj: NEW SOLAS REQUIREMENTS FOR LIFEJACKETS AND IMMERSION SUITS EFFECTIVE 1 JULY 2010 Ref: (a) IMO Resolution MSC.200(80) (b) IMO Resolution MSC.201(81) (c) IMO Resolution MSC.207(81) (d) IMO Resolution MSC.226(82)
New SOLAS Requirements for Lifejackets and Immersion Suits Effective 1 JULY 2010 — PURPOSE. This Circular provides guidance with respect to the new International
Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) amendments adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and affecting the Life-Saving Appliances (LSA) Code and the Revised Recommendation on Testing of Life-Saving Appliances requirements for lifejacket and immersion suit approval and carriage, effective 1 July 2010.
New SOLAS Requirements for Lifejackets and Immersion Suits Effective 1 JULY 2010 — ACTION. All Coast Guard unit commanders, commanding officers, officers-in-
charge, deputy/assistant commandants, and chiefs of headquarters staff elements shall comply with the provisions of this Circular. Owners and operators of ships subject to the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS); Coast Guard Officers in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI); and other involved parties are encouraged to use this Circular as a reference to understand the new SOLAS requirements for lifejackets and immersion suits. This NVIC is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/nvic/. Within the Coast Guard, it will be distributed by electronic means only. Internet release is authorized. DISTRIBUTION SDL No. 156 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z A B 1 1 1 C 1 D 1 E 1 1 1 F G H
New SOLAS Requirements for Lifejackets and Immersion Suits Effective 1 JULY 2010 — DIRECTIVES AFFECTED. None.
DIRECTIVES AFFECTED. None.
New SOLAS Requirements for Lifejackets and Immersion Suits Effective 1 JULY 2010 — BACKGROUND. IMO recently adopted amendments to SOLAS, the Life-Saving
Appliances (LSA) Code, and the Revised Recommendation on Testing of Life-Saving Appliances (Res. MSC.81(70)) that impact approval and carriage of lifejackets and immersion suits on ships subject to SOLAS. These amendments include changes to donning and in-water performance testing of lifejackets and immersion suits, the addition of buddy line and lifting strap requirements, and new requirements for carriage of infant lifejackets. These amendments were formally accepted on 1 January 2010 for entry into force on 1 July 2010.
New SOLAS Requirements for Lifejackets and Immersion Suits Effective 1 JULY 2010 — DISCUSSION. Effective 1 July 2010, the new SOLAS amendments require that:
a. lifejackets must be approved to the new test standards in IMO Res. MSC.200(80) and Res. MSC.207(81). These revised requirements include evaluation of donning and in-water performance as compared to a reference test device for adult, child, and infant lifejackets; b. immersion suits must be approved to the new test standards in IMO Res. MSC.226(82), which includes oral inflation during donning for suits which include inflatable head support; c. all new lifejackets and immersion suits must be fitted with a buddy line and lifting strap (IMO Res. MSC.207(81)); and d. all SOLAS passenger ships must carry approved infant lifejackets. For passenger ships on voyages of less than 24 hours, a number of infant lifejackets equal to at least 2.5% of the number of passengers on board is to be provided; and for passenger ships on voyages of 24 hours or greater, infant lifejackets are to be provided for each infant on board (IMO Res. MSC.201(81)).
New SOLAS Requirements for Lifejackets and Immersion Suits Effective 1 JULY 2010 — IMPLEMENTATION.
a. The new SOLAS amendments require lifejackets and immersion suits placed on board SOLAS ships on or after 1 July 2010 to be approved to the new requirements. Existing equipment need not be replaced, provided that it remains in serviceable condition. b. SOLAS amendments do not automatically change existing Coast Guard regulations, and may vary from requirements imposed by those regulations. Coast Guard anticipates the eventual issuance of specific new regulations to implement the recent SOLAS lifejacket and immersion suit amendments. Pending those new regulations, the Commandant has determined that a lifejacket or immersion suit meeting the standards and requirements contained in IMO Resolutions MSC.200(80), MSC.201(81), MSC.207(81), and MSC.226(82) is at least as effective as one that meets the requirements of 46 CFR, Subchapter Q. Therefore, such lifejackets and immersion suits have equivalent performance characteristics and are approved by the Commandant, for purposes of 46 CFR, Subchapter Q, pursuant to 46 CFR 159.005-7(c). c. The lifejackets to which the Commandant's 46 CFR 159.005-7(c) equivalency determination applies will be marked with approval number 160.155/200 or above. The immersion suits to which that equivalency determination applies will be marked with approval number 160.171/200 or above. Equipment for which Coast Guard approval numbers have been assigned is listed in the Approved Equipment Listing of Coast Guard's CGMIX database, available at http://cgmix.uscg.mil/Equipment/Default.aspx. Markings on devices approved by other Administrations for use on foreign-flag SOLAS ships may vary and could include "SOLAS 2010", "MSC.207(81)" or "MSC.200(80)." d. Coast Guard approved lifejackets and immersion suits that do not meet the standards and requirements contained in IMO Resolutions MSC.200(80), MSC.201(81), MSC.207(81), and MSC.226(82) may continue to be used for all non-SOLAS applications.
New SOLAS Requirements for Lifejackets and Immersion Suits Effective 1 JULY 2010 — DISCLAIMER. This guidance explains how lifejackets and immersion suits may
comply with recent SOLAS amendments and be found equivalent to current Coast Guard regulatory requirements, pursuant to the Commandant's 46 CFR 159.005-7(c) equivalency determination. It therefore is intended to inform the public of the existence of that equivalency determination, but it is not a substitute for applicable legal requirements, nor is it in itself intended to, nor does it, replace or impose legally-binding requirements on any party. Alternative approaches to complying with existing Coast Guard regulations remain available and may be discussed by contacting the Chief, Lifesaving and Fire Safety Division (CG-5214), who is responsible for implementing this guidance, at 202-372-1392.
New SOLAS Requirements for Lifejackets and Immersion Suits Effective 1 JULY 2010 — CHANGES. This NVIC will be posted on the internet at
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/nvic/. Changes to the NVIC will be issued as necessary. Questions or suggestions for improvements to this NVIC should be submitted in writing to Commandant (CG-521).
New SOLAS Requirements for Lifejackets and Immersion Suits Effective 1 JULY 2010 — ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECT AND IMPACT CONSIDERATIONS. Environmental
considerations were examined in the development of this NVIC and have been determined to be not applicable.
New SOLAS Requirements for Lifejackets and Immersion Suits Effective 1 JULY 2010 — FORMS AND REPORTS. None
J. G. LANTZ Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards U. S. Coast Guard
Sections it refers to
The plain-English explanation on this page was written with AI from the regulation text above and checked automatically before publishing: every quote appears in the text, every number comes from it, and a second model confirmed each statement adds nothing the text doesn't say. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.