The Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances For Ships Other Than Ships Of Classes III To VI(A)) Regulations 1999

PASSENGER SHIPS

Ships of Class I

63.—(1) This regulation applies to ships of Class I.

(2) Every ship shall carry:

(a) on each side of the ship partially or totally enclosed lifeboats or sufficient aggregate capacity to accommodate one half of the total number of persons which the ship is certified to carry;

(b) lifeboats and inflatable or rigid liferafts together providing sufficient aggregate capacity to accommodate the total number of persons which the ship is certified to carry: provided that there shall never be less than sufficient lifeboats on each side of the ship to accommodate 37.5 per cent of the total number of persons which the ship is certified to carry; the inflatable or rigid liferafts shall be served by launching appliances equally distributed on each side of the ship; or

(c) in addition to the survival craft carried in compliance with subparagraph (a) or (b), inflatable or rigid liferafts of sufficient aggregate capacity to accommodate 25 per cent of the total number of persons which the ship is certified to carry. These liferafts shall be served by at least one launching appliance on each side of the ship (which may be the appliances provided to comply with subparagraphs (b)) or, if it is to be used on both sides, by appliances so approved.

(3) (a) (i) Every ship of less than 500 tons carrying less than 200 persons may, in lieu of carrying the lifeboats and liferafts required by paragraph (2), carry on each side of the ship liferafts of sufficient aggregate capacity to accommodate the total number of persons the ship is certified to carry.

(ii) If these liferafts cannot be readily launched on either side of the ship additional liferafts shall be provided so that the total capacity available on each side will accommodate 150 per cent of the total number of persons which the ship is certified to carry.

(iii) All liferafts shall be served by at least one launching appliance on each side of the ship.

(b) If the rescue boat required by paragraph (5)(b) is also a lifeboat it may be included in the aggregate capacity referred to in subparagraph (a).

(d) The number and arrangement of survival craft shall be such that in the event of any one survival craft being lost or rendered unserviceable, there shall still be sufficient survival craft available for use on each side of the ship to accommodate the total number of persons the ship is certified to carry.

(4) A marine evacuation system may be substituted for the equivalent capacity of liferafts and launching appliances required by paragraph (2)(b).

(5) (a) Every ship of 500 tons and over shall carry at least one rescue boat on each side of the ship.

(b) Every ship of less than 500 tons shall carry at least one rescue boat.

(c) A lifeboat may be accepted as a rescue boat provided it also complies with the requirements for a rescue boat.

(d) Every ship shall carry sufficient lifeboats and rescue boats to ensure that when evacuating the total number of persons the ship is certified to carry, a lifeboat or rescue boat should not need to marshal more than six liferafts.

(6) Each lifeboat and rescue boat shall be served by its own launching appliance.

(7) Every ship shall be provided with the following equipment—

(a) a satellite EPIRB;

(b) at least 3 waterproofed two-way VHF radiotelephone apparatus; and

(c) on each side of the ship, at least one radar transponder stowed in such a location that it can be rapidly placed in any survival craft or, alternatively, one radar transponder stowed in each survival craft.

(8) (a) Every ship shall carry at least the number of lifebuoys determined in accordance with the following table—

Length of ship in metres	Number of lifebuoys
Under 60	8
60 or more but less than 120	12
120 or more but less than 180	18
180 or more but less than 240	24
240 and over	30

(b) At least one lifebuoy on each side of the ship shall be fitted with a buoyant lifeline. Not less than 50 per cent of the total number of lifebuoys, and on every ship of less than 60 metres in length not less than 6 lifebuoys, shall be provided with self-igniting lights and not less than two of the lifebuoys provided with such lights shall also be provided with self-activating smoke signals and be capable of quick release from the navigating bridge.

(9) Every ship shall carry—

(a) for each person the ship is certified to carry, a lifejacket suitable for a person weighing 32 kilogrammes or more;

(b) a lifejacket suitable for a person weighing less than 32 kilogrammes for each such person on board or for 10 per cent of the number of passengers the ship is certified to carry, whichever is the greater;

(c) in addition to the lifejackets carried in compliance with subparagraphs (a) and (b), lifejackets suitable for persons weighing 32 kilogrammes or more for not less than 5 per cent of the total number of persons the ship is certified to carry; and

(d) a sufficient number of lifejackets for persons on watch and for use at remotely located survival craft stations.

(10) Included in the number of lifejackets required to be carried by paragraph (9) there shall be at least sufficient inflatable lifejackets for the crew of each rescue boat and, for those crew members whose emergency duties require it, a lifejacket which will not unduly hinder them during the execution of these duties.

(11) Each lifejacket required to be carried by paragraphs (9) and (10) shall be fitted with a lifejacket light complying with the requirements of Schedule 9, Part 1.

(12) Every ship shall carry, for every person assigned to crew a rescue boat or assigned to the marine evacuation system party, an immersion suit or an anti-exposure suit of an appropriate size and as specified in regulation 81.

(13) Every ship shall carry not less than 12 rocket parachute flares.

(14) Every ship shall carry a line-throwing appliance.

(15) Every ship shall be provided with:

(a) an emergency means for two-way communication (which may be fixed or portable equipment or both) between emergency control stations, assembly and embarkation stations and strategic positions on board. This may be the equipment carried to comply with paragraph (7);

(b) on ships fitted with a marine evacuation system communication between the embarkation station and the platform or the survival craft shall be ensured;

(c) a general emergency alarm system complying with Schedule 11, Part 1;

(d) a public address system complying with Schedule 11, Part 2; and

(e) lighting as specified in regulations 71(4) and (5) and 74(8).

(16) Every ship shall be provided with:

(a) posters or signs showing operating instructions on or in the vicinity of survival craft and their launching controls;

(b) a training manual in each crew messroom and recreation room or in each crew cabin;

(c) instructions for on-board maintenance of life-saving appliances or a shipboard planned maintenance programme which includes the maintenance of life-saving appliances; and

(d) on the bridge, a copy of the table “Life-Saving Signals and Rescue Methods, SOLAS No. 1” published by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

(17) (a) This paragraph applies to ro-ro passenger ships.

(b) Liferafts on ships shall:

(i) be served by marine evacuation systems complying with the requirements of Schedule 5, Part 1 or launching appliances complying with the requirements of Schedule 6, Part 3 equally distributed on each side of the ship;

(ii) be provided with float-free launching arrangements complying with the requirements of Schedule 4, Part 8;

(iii) be fitted with a semi-rigid boarding ramp capable of supporting a person weighing 100 kgs; and

(iv) either be an automatic self-righting liferaft or be a canopied reversible liferaft which is stable in a seaway and is capable of operating safely whichever way up it is floating. Alternatively, and providing the existing liferafts comply with Schedule 4, the ship shall carry automatic self-righting liferafts or canopied reversible liferafts, in addition to its normal complement of liferafts, of such aggregate capacity as will accommodate at least 50 per cent of the persons not accommodated in lifeboats. This additional liferaft capacity shall be determined on the basis of the difference between the total number of persons on board and the number of persons accommodated in lifeboats.

(c) Fast rescue boats

(i) At least one of the rescue boats provided pursuant to paragraph (5) shall be a fast rescue boat complying with the requirements of Schedule 2, Part 10 except that ships having a rescue boat that is substantially in compliance with Schedule 2, Part 10 shall not be required to replace their rescue boat:

(ii) each fast rescue boat shall be served by a suitable launching appliance complying with the requirements of Schedule 6, Part 1 and 2: such launching appliances shall take into account that the fast rescue boat is intended to be launched and retrieved even under severe adverse weather condition;

(iii) at least two crews of each fast rescue boat shall be trained, certificated and drilled regularly having regard to the Merchant Shipping (Training and Certification) Regulations 1997 including all aspects of rescue, handling, manoeuvring, operating these craft in various conditions, and righting them after capsize; and

(iv) if the arrangement or size of the ship is such as to prevent the fast rescue boat required by subparagraph (c)(i), the fast rescue boat may be installed in place of an existing lifeboat which is accepted as a boat for use in any emergency, provided that all of the following conditions are met:

(aa) the fast rescue boat installed is served by a launching appliance complying with the provisions of (c)(ii);

(bb) the capacity of the survival craft lost by the above substitution is compensated by the installation of liferafts capable of carrying at least an equal number of persons served by the lifeboat replaced;

(cc) such liferafts are served by the existing launching appliances or marine evacuation systems; and

(dd) every ship shall carry, for every person assigned to crew of a fast rescue boat, an immersion suit or anti-exposure suit of an appropriate size and complying with regulation 81.

(d) Means of rescue

(i) Each passenger ship shall be equipped with an efficient means of rescue complying with the requirements of Schedule 5, Part 3 for rapidly recovering survivors from the water and transferring survivors from rescue units or survival craft to the ship;

(ii) the means of transfer of survivors to the ship may be part of a marine evacuation system, or may be part of a system designed for rescue purposes;

(iii) if the inclined passage of a marine evacuation system is intended to provide the means of transfer of survivors to the deck of the ship, the inclined passage shall be equipped with handlines or ladders to aid in climbing up the inclined passage; and

(iv) a fast rescue boat launching and recovery appliance may be used as part of a means of rescue system.

(e) Lifejackets

• A sufficient number of lifejackets shall be stowed in the vicinity of the assembly stations so that passengers do not have to return to their cabins to collect their lifejackets.

(f) Helicopter emergency pick-up area

• A helicopter emergency pick-up area shall be provided on a ship complying with the requirements of IAMSAR.

Ships of Classes II and II(A)

64.—(1) This regulation applies to ships of Classes II and II(A).

(2) Every ship which is subdivided in accordance with the requirements of Schedule 2 of MSN 1698(M) shall carry:

(a) partially or totally enclosed lifeboats of sufficient aggregate capacity to accommodate at least 30 per cent of the total number of persons which the ship is certified to carry. Such lifeboats shall be equally distributed, as far as practicable, on each side of the ship; and

(b) inflatable or rigid liferafts of sufficient aggregate capacity that, together with the lifeboat capacity required by subparagraph (a), will accommodate the total number of persons which the ship is certified to carry; the liferafts shall be served by launching appliances equally distributed on each side of the ship.

(3) Every ship which is not subdivided in accordance with the requirements of Schedule 2, of MSN 1698(M) shall carry—

(a) on each side of the ship partially or totally enclosed lifeboats of sufficient aggregate capacity to accommodate 50 per cent of the total number of persons which the ship is certified to carry; or

(b) partially or totally enclosed lifeboats and inflatable or rigid liferafts together providing sufficient aggregate capacity to accommodate the total number of persons which the ship is certified to carry: provided that there shall never be less than sufficient lifeboats on each side of the ship to accommodate 37.5 per cent of the total number of persons which the ship is certified to carry; the liferafts shall be served by launching appliances equally distributed on each side of the ship.

(4) Every ship shall carry, in addition to the survival craft carried in compliance with paragraph (2) or (3), liferafts of sufficient aggregate capacity to accommodate 25 per cent of the total number of persons which the ship is certified to carry. These liferafts shall be served by at least one launching appliance on each side of the ship, which may be the appliance carried in compliance with subparagraph (2)(b) or (3)(b), or, if it is to be used on both sides, by appliances so approved.

(5) (a) (i) Every ship of less than 500 tons carrying less than 200 persons may, in lieu of carrying the lifeboats and liferafts required by paragraph (2), (3) or (4) carry on each side of the ship liferafts of sufficient aggregate capacity to accommodate the total number of persons the ship is certified to carry.

(ii) If these liferafts cannot be readily launched on either side of the ship additional liferafts shall be provided so that the total capacity available on each side will accommodate 150 per cent of the total number of persons which the ship is certified to carry.

(iii) All liferafts shall be served by at least one launching appliance on each side of the ship.

(b) If the rescue boat required by subparagraph (7)(b) is also a lifeboat it may be included in the aggregate capacity referred to in subparagraph (a).

(e) The number and arrangement of survival craft shall be such that in the event of any one survival craft being lost or rendered unserviceable, there shall still be sufficient survival craft available for use on each side of the ship to accommodate the total number of persons the ship is certified to carry.

(6) A marine evacuation system may be substituted for the equivalent capacity of liferafts and launching appliances required by paragraph (2)(b) or (3)(b).

(7) (a) Every ship of 500 tons and over shall carry at least one rescue boat on each side of the ship.

(b) Every ship of less than 500 tons shall carry at least one rescue boat.

(c) A lifeboat may be accepted as a rescue boat provided it also complies with the requirements for a rescue boat.

(d) Every ship which is subdivided in accordance with the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction: Ships of Classes I, II and II(A)) Regulations 1998 shall carry sufficient lifeboats and rescue boats to ensure that when evacuating the total number of persons the ship is certified to carry the lifeboat or rescue boat should not need to marshal more than 6 liferafts.

(8) Each lifeboat and rescue boat shall be served by its own launching appliance.

(9) Every ship shall be provided with the following equipment—

(a) a satellite EPIRB;

(b) at least 3 waterproofed two-way VHF radiotelephone apparatus; and

(c) on each side of the ship, at least one radar transponder stowed in such a location that it can be rapidly placed in any survival craft or, alternatively, one radar transponder stowed in each survival craft.

(10) (a) Every ship shall carry at least the number of lifebuoys determined in accordance with the following table:

Length of ship in metres	Number of lifebuoys
Under 60	8
60 or more but less than 120	2
120 or more but less than 180	18
180 or more but less than 240	24
240 and over	30

(b) At least one lifebuoy on each side of the ship shall be fitted with a buoyant lifeline. Not less than 50 per cent of the total number of lifebuoys, and on every ship of less than 60 metres in length not less than 6 lifebuoys, shall be provided with self-igniting lights and not less than two of the lifebuoys provided with such lights shall also be provided with self-activating smoke signals and be capable of quick release from the navigating bridge.

(11) Every ship shall carry:

(a) for each person the ship is certified to carry a lifejacket suitable for a person weighing 32 kilogrammes or more;

(b) a lifejacket suitable for a person weighing less than 32 kilograms for each such person on board or for 10 per cent of the number of passengers the ship is certified to carry, whichever is the greater;

(c) in addition to the lifejackets carried in compliance with subparagraphs (a) and (b) lifejackets suitable for persons weighing 32 kilograms or more for not less than 5 per cent of the total number of persons the ship is certified to carry; and

(d) a sufficient number of lifejackets for persons on watch and for use at remotely located survival craft stations.

(12) The lifejackets used in totally enclosed lifeboats shall not impede entry into the lifeboat or seating, including operation of the seat belts in the lifeboat.

(13) Included in the number of lifejackets required to be carried by paragraph (11) there shall be at least sufficient inflatable lifejackets for the crew of each rescue boat and, for those crew members whose emergency duties require it, a lifejacket which will not unduly hinder them during the execution of these duties.

(14) Each lifejacket required to be carried by paragraphs (11) and (13) shall be fitted with a lifejacket light complying with the requirements of Schedule 9, Part 1.

(15) Every ship shall carry, for every person assigned to crew a rescue boat or assigned to the marine evacuation system party, an immersion suit or an anti-exposure suit of an appropriate size and as specified in regulation 23.

(16) Every ship shall carry not less than 12 rocket parachute flares.

(17) Every ship shall carry a line-throwing appliance.

(18) Every ship shall be provided with:

(a) an emergency means for two-way communication (which may be fixed or portable equipment, or both) between emergency control stations, assembly and embarkation stations and strategic positions on board. This may be the equipment which is carried in compliance with paragraph (9);

(b) on ships fitted with a marine evacuation system, communication between the embarkation station and the platform or the survival craft;

(c) a general emergency alarm system, complying with the requirements of Schedule 11, Part 1;

(d) a public address system complying with the requirements of Schedule 11, Part 2; and

(e) lighting as specified in regulations 71(4) and (5) and 74(8).

(19) Every ship shall be provided with:

(a) posters or signs showing operating instructions, on or in the vicinity of survival craft and their launching controls;

(b) a training manual in each crew messroom and recreation room or in each crew cabin;

(c) instructions for on-board maintenance of life-saving appliances or a shipboard planned maintenance programme which includes the maintenance of life-saving appliances; and

(d) on the bridge, a copy of the table “Life-Saving Signals and Rescue Methods, SOLAS No. 1” published by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

(20) (a) This paragraph applies to ro-ro passenger ships.

(b) Liferafts on ships shall—

(i) be served by marine evacuation systems complying with the requirements of Schedule 5, Part 1 or launching appliances complying with the requirements of Schedule 6, Part 3 equally distributed on each side of the ship;

(ii) be provided with float-free launching arrangements complying with the requirements of Schedule 4, Part 8;

(iii) be fitted with a semi-rigid boarding ramp capable of supporting a person weighing 100 kgs; and

(iv) either be an automatic self-righting liferaft or be a canopied reversible liferaft which is stable in a seaway and is capable of operating safely whichever way up it is floating. Alternatively, and providing the existing liferafts comply with Schedule 4, the ship shall carry automatic self-righting liferafts or canopied reversible liferafts, in addition to its normal complement of liferafts, of such aggregate capacity as will accommodate at least 50 per cent of the persons not accommodated in lifeboats. This additional liferaft capacity shall be determined on the basis of the difference between the total number of persons on board and the number of persons accommodated in lifeboats.

(c) Fast rescue boats

(i) At least one of the rescue boats provided pursuant to paragraph (7) shall be a fast rescue boat complying with the requirements of Schedule 2, Part 10 except that ships having a rescue boat that is substantially in compliance with Schedule 2, Part 10 shall not be required to replace their rescue boat:

(ii) each fast rescue boat shall be served by a suitable launching appliance complying with the requirements of Schedule 6, Part 1 and 2: such launching appliances shall take into account that the fast rescue boat is intended to be launched and retrieved even under severe adverse weather condition;

(iii) at least two crews of each fast rescue boat shall be trained, certified and drilled regularly having regard to the Merchant Shipping (Training and Certification) Regulations 1997 including all aspects of rescue, handling, manoeuvring, operating these craft in various conditions, and righting them after capsize; and

(iv) if the arrangement or size of the ship is such as to prevent the installation of the fast rescue boat required by subparagraph (c)(i), the fast rescue boat may be installed in place of an existing lifeboat which is accepted as a boat for use in any emergency, provided that all of the following conditions are met—

(aa) the fast rescue boat installed is served by a launching appliance complying with the provisions of (c)(ii);

(bb) the capacity of the survival craft lost by the above substitution is compensated by the installation of liferafts capable of carrying at least an equal number of persons served by the lifeboat replaced;

(cc) such liferafts are served by the existing launching appliances or marine evacuation systems; and

(dd) every ship shall carry, for every person assigned to crew of a fast rescue boat, an immersion suit or anti-exposure suit of an appropriate size and complying with regulation 81.

(d) Means of rescue

(i) Each ro-ro passenger ship shall be equipped with an efficient means of rescue complying with the requirements of Schedule 5, Part 3 for rapidly recovering survivors from the water and transferring survivors from rescue units or survival craft to the ship;

(ii) the means of transfer of survivors to the ship may be part of a marine evacuation system, or may be part of a system designed for rescue purposes;

(iii) if the inclined passage of a marine evacuation system is intended to provide the means of transfer of survivors to the deck of the ship, the inclined passage shall be equipped with handlines or ladders to aid in climbing up the inclined passage; and

(iv) a fast rescue boat launching and recovery appliance may be used as part of a means of rescue system.

(e) Lifejackets

• A sufficient number of lifejackets shall be stowed in the vicinity of the assembly stations so that passengers do not have to return to their cabins to collect their lifejackets.

(f) Helicopter emergency pick-up area

• A helicopter emergency pick-up area shall be provided on a ro-ro ship complying with the requirements of IAMSAR.