The Fishing Vessels (Safety Provisions) Rules 1975

General requirements for lifeboats

82.—(1) Lifeboats carried in any vessel to which these Rules apply shall comply with the requirements specified in Schedule 4 to these Rules.

(2) Subject to the provisions of paragraphs (3) and (4) below, the number of persons which such a lifeboat shall be deemed fit to accommodate shall be equal to the greatest whole number obtained by the formula v/x where “v” is the cubic capacity of the lifeboat in cubic metres determined in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 5 to these Rules and “x” is the volume in cubic metres for each person and which shall be 0.283 for a lifeboat of 7.3 metres in length or over and 0.453 for a lifeboat of 3.65 metres in length. For intermediate lengths of lifeboats the value of “x” shall be determined by interpolation.

(3) The number of persons which such a lifeboat is deemed fit to accommodate shall not exceed the number of adult persons wearing lifejackets for which there is proper seating accommodation arranged in such a way that the persons when seated do not interfere in any way with the use of the oars or the operation of other propulsion equipment.

(4) No such lifeboat shall be deemed fit to accommodate more than 60 persons unless it is a motor lifeboat.

(5) Every such lifeboat being a motor lifeboat shall in addition to complying with the requirements of Schedule 4 to these Rules comply with the following requirements:—

(a) it shall be fitted with a compression ignition engine and such engine and its accessories shall comply with the requirements of Schedule 6 to these Rules and shall be kept so as to be at all time ready for use;

(b) it shall be provided with sufficient fuel for 24 hours continuous operation at the speed and under the conditions specified in sub paragraph (d) below;

(c) it shall be capable of going astern;

(d) it shall be capable of going ahead in smooth water when loaded with its full complement of persons and equipment at a speed of 4 knots.