MGN 464 (M+F) Life Saving Appliances:- Lifeboats & Rescue boats – Weight Increase from Water Ingress (link)
This Marine Guidance Notice refers to instances in which both lifeboats and rescue boats are being found to be overweight. The use of an overweight lifeboat or rescue boat impairs the ability of the equipment to function as designed and approved, and could lead to serious safety implications such as dangerous overloading of the launching appliances beyond their safe working load.
Inherently buoyant material filled compartments and airtight voids are commonly used in the construction of many lifeboats and rescue boats. Over time, these voids or inherently buoyant material spaces have been shown to experience problems of water ingress and retention which leaves the lifeboat or rescue boat overweight.
Weighing of a vessel’s lifeboat or rescue boat is encouraged in order to track weight increase, and halt it at the earliest opportunity. This notice provides guidance on the identification of overweight lifeboats and rescue boats, potential problems associated with them, and the actions to be taken if found on board.
Source: MCA