Number and capacity of survival craft

(1) Every ship to which this Part applies shall carry– (a) a lifeboat on each side or one capable or being launched on either side or freefall launched over the stern of the ship of such aggregate capacity as will accommodate the total number of persons the ship is certified to carry; and (b) a liferaft or liferafts capable of being launched on either side of the ship and of such aggregate capacity as will accommodate the total number of persons on board. Where the liferaft or liferafts cannot be readily transferred for launching on either side of the ship, the total capacity available on each side shall be sufficient to accommodate the total number of persons on board. Merchant Ships (Registration) 194 (2) “Capable of being launched on either side of the ship” and “can be readily transferred” shall be interpreted as stowed in a position providing for easy side-to-side transfer at a single open deck level. (3) Where the administration is satisfied that, owing to the size or configuration of the ship, compliance with the requirements of subregulation (1) is unreasonable or impracticable, cargo ships other than tankers may, in lieu of complying with the requirements of subregulation (1), carry on each side of the ship survival craft capable of being launched on either side of the ship and of such aggregate capacity as will accommodate the total number of persons the ship is certified to carry. However, one or more of such survival craft of such aggregate capacity as will accommodate at least the total number of persons the ships is certify to carry, shall be capable of being readily transferred from their stowage positions to both sides or from one side to the other side of the ship at open deck level for launching. (4) Every ship of 24m in length and over to which this Part applies shall, in addition to complying with the requirements of subregulation (1) and (2) as appropriate, carry at least one rescue boat unless at least one of the required survival craft is a lifeboat complying with the requirements for a rescue boat. (5) Each lifeboat and rescue boat shall be served by its own launching appliance. (6) Ships operating solely in restricted area III may replace the liferafts required by subregulation (1) or (2) with buoyant apparatus or lifebuoys sufficient for 100% of the total number of persons the ship is allowed to carry. (7) In the event of any one survival craft being lost or rendered unserviceable, there shall be sufficient survival craft available for use to accommodate the total number of persons on board. Merchant Ships (Registration) 195