Some Nishi-F FF-65 free-fall lifeboats have an aisle between the seats that is too narrow. The rules say it must be at least 480 mm wide. The class society DNV published a notice about this on 10 November 2026.
A free-fall lifeboat sits on a ramp at the stern of the ship. The crew get in, strap into their seats, and the boat slides and drops into the sea. The aisle between the seats is the path the crew use to reach their seats quickly.
Which lifeboats are affected
The notice covers the Nishi-F FF-65 model, made by Nishi-F Co., Ltd. of Japan. It is the version for 25 people, built from October 2010 onwards. DNV says that in these boats the clear aisle between seats may be less than 480 mm in some places.
The 480 mm rule is in paragraph 4.7.2.1 of the IMO Life-Saving Appliances (LSA) Code. The aisle must be clear from the floor to the top of the seats. It must have a non-slip surface and footholds, so crew can get in safely when the boat is ready to launch. This rule has applied since 1 July 2010.
How the problem was found
Nishi-F wrote to its customers on 21 January 2026. The company said port state control (PSC) inspectors in China had found the problem. PSC inspectors are officials who check foreign ships in their ports.
According to the manufacturer's information in the Liberian advisory, two places in the boat are about 5–10 mm too narrow. A third place is about 70–90 mm too narrow. The fix approved by the class society ClassNK uses brackets and spacers to move and angle the seats.
What the flag state and class societies say
Liberia's Marine Advisory 18/2026 Rev.1 is dated 7 August 2026. It asked owners, operators and masters to check if they have this lifeboat on board. If they do, they must get an approved repair plan from the maker. The repair had to be done by 1 October 2026.
The advisory also says some PSC authorities apply the 480 mm rule to the space between the driver's seats. That is the seat where the person who steers the boat sits. Liberia added this point in the revised advisory.
Surveyors will check the repair at the ship's next annual, periodical or renewal survey, and no later than 1 October 2027. This is the survey for the Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate.
DNV asks owners and managers to find out if the model is on board and measure the aisle. They should contact Nishi-F or an approved service company for the repair, and keep the papers on board. The class society ABS and Lloyd's Register have published similar notices. DNV and ABS also advise checking free-fall lifeboats of other makes.
What it means for crews
Know your lifeboat. The maker and model are on the boat's data plate and in the ship's safety equipment records. Ask the officer in charge of life-saving equipment if you are not sure.
Check the papers. If the ship has a Nishi-F FF-65, ask if the aisle was measured and fixed. Keep the service report and the measurements on board for PSC inspectors.
Other makes too. On ships with keels laid on or after 1 July 2010, measure the aisle in any free-fall lifeboat. If it is under 480 mm, the maker should give an approved repair plan.
Do not block the aisle. Keep bags, spare parts and stores out of the aisle. A clear path saves time when everyone must get in fast.
Practise getting in. In drills, walk to your seat and strap in with your lifejacket on. Report anything that makes it hard to pass, such as a loose seat or a slippery floor.
Report problems. If a problem cannot be fixed at once, the company should tell the class society and the flag state.
Officers often look after life-saving equipment. See 3rd Officer salaries on Crewboard and current 3rd Officer vacancies. Flag state and safety contacts are on our page of useful links for seafarers.
Cover photo: a free-fall lifeboat on a launch frame next to a waterfront building, April 2022. Illustrative photo. Photo: Richard Sutcliffe/geograph.org.uk via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
Sources: DNV: Nishi-F FF-65 free-fall lifeboats – verification of aisle passage width (10 Nov 2026), Liberia Maritime Authority: Marine Advisory 18/2026 Rev.1, Nishi-F FF-65 free-fall lifeboat (7 Aug 2026), Nishi-F Co., Ltd.: Letter to customers on FF-65 free-fall lifeboats (21 Jan 2026), ABS: Free-fall lifeboat passage width issue, Lloyd's Register: Class News 15/2026, product safety notice for Nishi-F FF-65 freefall lifeboats.
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