The Fishing Vessels (Safety Provisions) Rules 1975

Stowage and handling of inflatable boats

97.—(1) A mechanical appliance for the launching and recovering of inflatable boats shall be provided in every vessel to which these Rules apply which carries an inflatable boat in compliance with these Rules. Such appliance shall be capable of launching and recovering the inflatable boat when the vessel is upright or listed up to 15 degrees towards the side on which the appliance is fitted.

(2) The working load of every such appliance shall be taken to be the sum of the weights of:—

(a) the inflatable boat and its full equipment;

(b) the blocks and falls;

(c) a launching crew of two persons at 75 kilogrammes each;

(d) a weight of 60 kilogrammes or the weight of the engine together with its fuel tank and at least sufficient fuel for three hours operation, whichever is the greater.

(3) In association with the working load defined in paragraph (2) above every such appliance shall be designed to have a factor of safety of 5 when the vessel is upright and 4.5 when the vessel has a trim of 10 degrees and is listed 15 degrees to either side.

(4) Every such appliance shall be tested to a static load of 2.2 times the working load.

(5) Blocks provided with every such appliance shall be proof tested to 2.5 times the working load and falls shall have a factor of safety of 6.0.

(6) Every such appliance shall be—

(a) capable of recovering the inflatable boat and bringing it on board with an injured man and one crew member;

(b) readily available and not stowed or used for any other purpose while the vessel is at sea;

(c) provided with suitable means for manual operation;

(d) satisfactorily tested after installation.

(7) Every such appliance shall be provided with a winch when the inflatable boat is situated more than 4.6 metres above the lightest sea-going waterline. The winch shall be adequate for the lowering operation and shall be tested to 1.5 times the working load. The brake gear of the winch shall include means for automatically controlling the lowering speed to not less than 18 metres per minute or greater than 36 metres per minute.