The Fishing Vessels (Safety Provisions) Rules 1975

1.  Strength.

(a) Every davit serving a lifeboat which is required by Rule 96(1) of these Rules to be put into the water when loaded with its full complement of persons shall, together with its winch, falls, blocks and all other associated lowering gear, be of such strength that the lifeboat with its full equipment and manned by a launching crew of not less than two persons can be turned out and then safely lowered into the water from the embarkation position with its full complement of persons, when the vessel has a trim of up to 10 degrees and is listed up to 15 degrees either way.

(b) Every mechanically controlled single-arm davit shall, together with its winch, falls, blocks and all other associated lowering gear be of such strength and the operating gear shall be of such power that the lifeboat when fully equipped and manned with a launching crew of two members can be turned out and then safely lowered into the water with the vessel listed to 25 degrees.

(c) Every set of davits, davit or other means of launching to which a lifeboat, Class C boat or other boat is attached, other than a davit the strength of which is specified in sub-paragraph (a) or (b) above, shall, together with its winch, falls, blocks and all other associated lowering gear be of such strength that the lifeboat, Class C boat or other boat with its full equipment and manned by a launching crew of two members, can be turned out and then safely lowered into the water when the vessel has a trim of 10 degrees and is listed up to 15 degrees either way.

(d) Every set of davits, davit or other means of launching to which a lifeboat, Class C boat or other boat is attached, together with its winch and all associated hoisting gear shall be of such strength that the boat can be safely hoisted and stowed when loaded with its full equipment and at least two persons, and in addition, in the case of an emergency lifeboat, that it can be safely hoisted from the water to the embarkation deck at a speed of not less than 18 metres per minute when loaded with its full equipment and a distributed load of 1 tonne.