Life saving appliances

(1) Every vessel to which these Regulations apply shall carry the followingLifesaving Merchant Ships (Registration) 48 (a) one lifejacket of an approved type for every person on board and in addition, where appropriate, a sufficient number of a type of lifejacket suitable for children. This requirement applies also to vessels less than 6 meters in length; (b) vessels up to 50 meters in length shall carry at least one (1) liferaft of an approved type, of sufficient aggregate capacity to accommodate the total number of persons on board; (c) vessels over 50 meters in length shall carry at least two (2) such liferafts. Liferafts may be substituted by rescue boats of an approved type. Inflatable life rafts shall be serviced every 12 months by a recognized agency; (d) vessels up to 10 meters in length shall carry at least one (1) lifebuoy; (e) vessels over 10 meters in length but less than 20 meters shall carry at least two (2) lifebuoys; (f) vessels over 20 meters in length shall carry at least four (4) lifebuoys. Lifebuoys shall be of an approved type, suitable for yachts and may be circular or of horseshoe type. At least one of the lifebuoys required by the above paragraphs shall have a 25-meter buoyant line and a self-igniting light; (g) vessels shall carry flares and distress signals of an approved type suitable for yachts as follows– (i) motor vessels– 4 parachute signals 6 hand flares Merchant Ships (Registration) 49 2 orange smoke signals; (ii) motor boats and sail boats shall carry at least half of the above number. (2) All distress signals shall be kept in a dry waterproof container and be stowed away from engine heat and not in a locker with sharp or heavy objects.