Life-saving appliances

(1) All vessels shall be provided with sufficient lifeboats of adequate construction on each side, to accommodate all persons on board, plus liferaft capacity to accommodate 50% of the personnel on board, or, alternatively, the following arrangements may apply, as followsMerchant Ships (Registration) 27 (a) on each side of the ship one or more inflatable liferaft of sufficient aggregate capacity to accommodate the total number of persons on board, each liferaft being of approximately the same capacity; (b) a liferaft, which can readily be placed in the water on either side of the ship, of sufficient capacity to accommodate at least one-half of the total number of persons on board, except that when the liferafts required at paragraph (a) above can be readily placed in the water on either side of the ship, consideration may be given to a relaxation from this requirement; (c) in new ship, where the distance from the embarkation deck to the water in the lightest seagoing condition exceeds 4.5 meters, the rafts required at paragraph (a) above shall be of the davit-launched type and at least one launching appliance shall be provided on each side of the ship for every two (2) rafts; (d) an accepted lifeboat, Class C boat or inflatable boat (the rescue boat), in each case fitted with an accepted engine and capable of being launched on one side of the ship. (2) For vessels undertaking coastwise trade, only throw overboard inflatable liferafts sufficient for all persons on board need to be provided on each side of the ship. (3) Lifeboats shall generally not be less than 7.3 m. (24 ft.) in length except where, owing to the vessel’s size this is impracticable, then a minimum of 4.9 m (16 ft.) length could be accepted. Lifeboats shall be attached to davits of approved type. Merchant Ships (Registration) 28 (4) Lifeboats, liferafts and launching gear shall be of an approved design and meeting SOLAS requirements applicable according to the date of construction of the vessel. Skates or other suitable means shall be provided to facilitate launching. (5) Lifeboat equipment and provisions shall be inspected or renewed as required annually. Inflatable liferafts equipment and provisions shall be inspected or renewed as required every 12 months. (6) Equipment for lifeboats fitted to vessels undertaking unrestricted trade shall be as follows– (a) a single-banked complement of buoyant oars, two spare buoyant oars, and a buoyant- steering oar; one set and a half of thole pins or crutches, attached to the lifeboat by lanyard or chain; a boat hook; (b) two plugs for each plug hole (except where proper automatic valves are fitted attached to the lifeboat by lanyards or chains); a bailer and two buckets; (c) a rudder attached to the lifeboat and a tiller; (d) a lifeboat which is not self-righting, a lifeline becketed round the outside of the lifeboat; means to enable persons to cling to the lifeboat if upturned, in the form of bilge keels or keel rails, together with grab lines secured from gunwale to gunwale under the keel; (e) a locker conspicuously marked as such, suitable for the stowage of small items of Merchant Ships (Registration) 29 (f) two hatchets, one at each end of the lifeboat; (g) on an enclosed lifeboat, a lamp (not oil burning) shall be fitted to provide illumination for not less than 122 hours; (h) tools for minor adjustments to the engine; (i) a searchlight capable of 3 hours of continuous working; (j) a compass in a binnacle; (k) a sea anchor; (l) two painters of sufficient length and size. One shall be secured to the forward end of the lifeboat with strap and toggle so that it can be released, and the other shall be firmly secured to the stem of the lifeboat and be ready for use; (m) a portable fire extinguisher for extinguishing oil fires; (n) four parachute distress rocket signals; (o) two buoyant smoke signals; (p) a first-aid outfit; (q) a waterproof electric flashlight suitable for signalling in the Morse Code together with one spare set of batteries and one spare set of bulbs in a water proof container; (r) a daylight-signalling mirror; (s) a jack-knife attached to the boat by a lanyard; Merchant Ships (Registration) 30 (t) two light buoyant-heaving lines; (u) a manual pump; (v) a whistle; (w) a set of fishing tackle; (x) a cover of highly-visible color capable of protecting the occupants against injury by exposure; (y) a copy of the lifesaving signal table; (z) means to enable persons in the water to climb into the lifeboat (short ladder) (aa) six hand flares; (bb) six doses of anti-seasickness medicine and one seasickness bag for each person; (cc) an efficient radar reflector; (dd) thermal protection aids for 10% of the persons, but no less than 2 (may be omitted if vessel operates in tropical waters only); (ee) three tin openers. Vessels undertaking coastal of coastwise trade may omit item (i) above. (7) All liferafts shall have the following equipment– (a) one buoyant rescue quoit, attached to at least 30 meters (100 ft.) of buoyant line; Merchant Ships (Registration) 31 (b) for liferafts which are fit to accommodate not more than 12 persons, one safety knife and one bailer; for liferafts which are fit to accommodate 13 persons or more, two safety knifes and two bailers; (c) two sponges; (d) two sea anchors, one permanently attached to the liferaft and one spare; (e) two paddles; (f) one repair outfit capable of repairing punctures in buoyancy compartments; (g) one topping-up pump or bellows; (h) three safety tin openers; (i) a first-aid outfit; (j) one waterproof electric flashlight suitable for signalling in the morse code together with one spare set of batteries and one spare bulb in a water-proof container; (k) one daylight signaling mirror and one signaling whistle; (l) four parachute distress rocket signals; (m) six hand-held distress flare signals; (n) one set of fishing tackle; (o) six anti-seasickness tablets for each person which the liferaft is permitted to accommodate; Merchant Ships (Registration) 32 (p) instructions (printed in the crew’s native language and in English language) on how to survive in the liferaft; (q) one copy of the lifesaving signal table; (r) thermal protective aids for 10% of the number of persons the liferaft is permitted to accommodate or two, whichever is the greater. (8) Each lifeboat and liferaft shall– (a) be provided with 1/ 2 kg (1 lb.) of approved rations for each person it is certified to carry. Rations are to be packed in airtight containers stowed in a watertight box. Rustproof dippers and drinking vessels shall be provided; The above requirements do not apply to lifeboats of ships engaging in coastwise trade. (b) carry watertight receptacles containing 3 liters (6 pints) of fresh water for each person the lifeboat is certified to carry; The quantity of water may be reduced by one half in ships engaging in coastal or coastwise trade. (c) carry watertight receptacles containing 1½ liters (3 pints) of fresh water for each person the liferaft is certified to carry; The quantities of water indicated in paragraphs (b) and (c) may be reduced by ½ liter per person if they are replaced by a suitable de-salting apparatus capable of producing an equal amount of fresh water. Merchant Ships (Registration) 33 (9) All items of lifesaving equipment shall be readily available for use in an emergency. All boats and rafts shall be stowed so that they can be put in the water quickly and safely even if the ship is listed 20 degrees and with 10 degrees trim. They shall be stowed clear of the vessel’s propeller where practicable. (10) All liferafts shall be stowed in float-free positions. Where they are secured to prevent movement in inclement weather, they shall be fitted in their securing arrangements of a hydrostatic release to allow the rafts to rise to the surface if carried down by a sinking ship. (11) Detailed instructions for operating and survival in liferafts shall be conspicuously displayed in the crew accommodations and on the bridge. (12) All lifeboats and rescue boats shall be preferably of a highly visible color (e.g., orange), and have the name of the parent ship, port of registry, principal dimensions and carrying capacity clearly marked on both bows. (13) Every lifeboat or rescue boat shall be attached to a set of davits. Davits for lifeboats and liferafts. (14) All gravity davits shall be so designed that there is a positive turning out moment during the whole of the davit travel from the inboard stowed position to the outboard position under the conditions of list and trim specified above. For this purpose, the turning out load of the boat shall be taken as the weight of the boat with the addition of the equipment by excluding the launching crew. (15) When luffing-type davits are installed the operating gear shall be such as to enable the lifeboats to be turned out quickly and in full control under the above specified conditions of list and trim, fully equipped and manned by the launching crew only, from the inboard to the outboard position. The force needed on the crank handle should not exceed 20 kg. (44 lbs.) Merchant Ships (Registration) 34 and the radius of the crank handle should not exceed 40 cm. (16 in.) (16) Mechanically controlled single arm davits may be used for rescue boats and liferafts only. The turning-out gear shall enable the boat to be turned out quickly and under full control from inboard to outboard position under the above specified conditions of list and trim. Steps to locate the arm at the inboard and outboard positions shall be provided. The force needed on the crank handle shall not exceed 20 kg (44 lbs.) and the radius of the crank handle shall not exceed 30 cm (12 in.). The direction of rotation of the crank handle to turn out the arm shall be clearly marked. Acceptable means of releasing the boat or raft shall be provided. (17) Davits, falls, blocks and associated lowering gear shall be of sufficient strength so that a boat with its full equipment and manned by a launching crew of not less than two persons or a liferaft with its full equipment and complement can be turned out and then safely lowered to the water from the embarkation deck when the ship has the conditions of list and trim as specified above. (18) Winches shall be efficient hand-gear for the recovery of lifeboats and where davits are recovered by the action of the falls by power, an automatic stop shall be installed in order to prevent the gear from being overstressed when the davits meet with the stops. (19) A rope ladder shall be provided in way of each set of davits secured to boat deck and capable of reaching light water line. Boat and raft preparation and overboard lights shall be provided with supplies from emergency sources. (20) All vessels shall carry approved-type lifejackets for all personnel on board plus 10% extra. They shall be of a highly Merchant Ships (Registration) 35 visible color and not be adversely affected by oil or oil products. All lifejackets shall be fitted with a non-corrosive whistle attached to a cord and be equipped with a light. (21) All lifejackets shall be stowed in readily accessible places on board the ship, and if stowed on weather decks they shall be in racks and/or labeled lockers in suitably protected locations. Lifebuoys. (22) All vessels shall be provided with six lifebuoys as follows– (a) one on each side of the bridge in quick-release chutes fitted with self-activating light-and- smoke signals; (b) one on each side about amidships provided with a 27.5m (15 fathom) buoyant line and fitted in clips/ brackets; (c) one on each side about at aft end of open deck nearest to the waterline in clips or brackets; (d) one on each side with self-igniting lights; (e) lifebuoys shall be of an approved-type and of circular shape with an inside diameter of 46 cm (18 in.), fitted with a grab line securely sized, and shall be marked in block letters with the name and port of registry of the ship. (23) All vessels shall carry 6 parachute distress rocket signals capable of producing a single bright red star at a high altitude; and in addition, at least 6 hand-held flares. Distress signals. (24) All distress signals shall be of robust construction, be contained in a water-resistant casing and have instructions or diagrams illustrating the use of the rocket parachute flare printed on its casing. Merchant Ships (Registration) 36 (25) All pyrotechnic distress signals shall be renewed within the period required by the approved documents. (26) Where rocket signals are provided that are not of the hand-held type it shall be necessary for two firing brackets to be fitted, one on each side of the ship, to provide a means of launching. (27) No hand-flares shall be allowed on oil tankers or other ships carrying oil products. Instead, these vessels shall be provided with 12 parachute distress rockets. (28) All ships operating on unrestricted trade shall have a line throwing appliance with two lines and two projectiles capable of throwing a line over a minimum distance of 230 meters (250 yards). (29) The line-throwing appliances shall be of an accepted type and manufacture. The rockets and cartridges shall be renewed as required by the approved document. (30) Life-saving appliances shall be clearly labelled in the predominant language of a ship’s personnel and in the English language or by means of self-explanatory graphic designs. (31) All life-saving appliances shall be of an approved type. Appliances approved by the government of a country subscribing to the SOLAS 74 Convention shall generally be accepted by IMMARBE.