Vasai, Maharashtra
A fleet order or a tender for life jackets is usually decided on the quote. Two quotes can name the same kind of jacket and still differ in buoyancy, approval and what arrives in the box. These eight checks make quotes comparable, whoever they come from.
1. Is it approved, and to what?
A jacket for a SOLAS ship needs type approval against the LSA Code, issued in India by the Directorate General of Shipping or an organisation it recognises, such as the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS). A jacket for a fishing boat, a ferry ghat or a flood team may be listed against EN ISO 12402 instead. Decide which your boats need before comparing prices; the SOLAS vs non-SOLAS guide explains the difference.
2. Does the certificate name this model?
Ask for the certificate’s issuing body, number and validity dates, and check that the model it names is the one quoted. A certificate for a different model, or one that has lapsed, does not cover the jackets on the invoice.
3. Buoyancy against user weight
Compare the buoyancy in newtons and the user-weight range on each quote, not the word “adult”. The sizes post explains both, and the table below lists MM’s range.
| Model | Buoyancy | PFD type | User weight | Size | Standards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saviour | 275 N | – | – | Adult | SOLAS LSA Code, BS EN ISO 12402:2020 |
| MMLJ | 240 N | I | Up to 140 kg | Adult | IRS Type Approval, SOLAS LSA Code |
| MMLJC | 90 N | I | Up to 43 kg | Child | BS EN ISO 12402:2020, PFD Type I, CE |
| SAILOR | 120 N | III | Up to 100 kg | Adult Universal | BS EN ISO 12402:2020, PFD Type III, CE |
| SEA HORSE | 70 N | III | Up to 70 kg | Adult Universal | BS EN ISO 12402:2020, PFD Type III, CE |
| SIGMA | 150 N | III | Up to 140 kg | Adult Universal | IRS Type Approval, SOLAS LSA Code, BS EN ISO 12402:2020, PFD Type III, CE |
| SOLDIER | Adjustable, 70–160 N | III | 60–130 kg (unequipped to heavily equipped) | Adult Universal | BS EN ISO 12402:2020, PFD Type III, CE |
| STELLAR | 120 N | III | Up to 95 kg | Adult Universal | BS EN ISO 12402:2020, PFD Type III, CE |
| STERN | 120 N | III | Up to 120 kg | Adult Universal | BS EN ISO 12402:2020, PFD Type III, CE |
| STERN WITH HEADREST | 120 N | III | Up to 120 kg | Adult Universal | BS EN ISO 12402:2020, PFD Type III, CE |
| SUMO | 150 N | III | Up to 140 kg | Adult Universal | BS EN ISO 12402:2020, PFD Type III, CE |
| SUMO WITH HEADREST | 150 N | III | Up to 140 kg | Adult Universal | BS EN ISO 12402:2020, PFD Type III, CE |
| MMWVCG | 78 N | V | Up to 56 kg | Adult Universal | SOLAS LSA Code, CE, PFD Type V |
| MMWV | 100 N | III | Up to 90 kg | Adult Universal | BS EN ISO 12402:2020, PFD Type III, SOLAS LSA Code, CE |
4. Sizes for the people who will wear them
Count adults, children and infants separately, and note any heavier wearers. A quote that prices one universal size for everyone may not fit the people who will actually wear the jackets.
5. Light, whistle and reflective tape
Check whether the light and whistle are fitted or extra, and the light’s battery date. SOLAS jackets carry a light of at least 0.75 cd for 8 hours and a whistle on a cord: see life jacket lights.
6. Labels you can show an inspector
Each jacket should carry a durable label with its model, size or user weight, and the standard or approval it meets. Ask how and where it is printed; an unreadable label is a failed inspection later.
7. Documents with the goods
Agree in the order which documents travel with the consignment: a copy of the certificate, the test report where one exists, and an invoice that names the model and the HSN code your accounts need.
8. Through GeM, or direct
Government buyers can order through the Government e Marketplace. The GeM guide explains how it works.
What to send with an enquiry
- The approval the jackets must carry, or the tender’s specification.
- Quantities by size, and the heaviest wearer’s weight.
- Whether lights, whistles or buddy lines are wanted.
- The delivery address and the date they are needed by.
Approvals named are as stated by MM Techno Plast; the certification register says which MM holds a certificate for. Request a quote with the list above, or message us on WhatsApp.