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

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Inflated boats

22.—(1) Where inflated boats are carried in pursuant to these Regulations the boats shall be stowed in the inflated condition.

(2) The lifting arrangements fitted on inflated boats shall comply with the requirements of Schedule 4, Part 2.

Lifebuoys

23.—(1) Lifebuoys shall comply with the requirements of Schedule 7, Part 2 of MSN 1676(M), except in those vessels described in paragraph (2).

(2) Lifebuoys carried in ships of less than 16.8 metres in length, of Classes VIII(1), VIII(A)(T), IX, IX(A), IX(A)(T), XI and XII, shall comply with the requirements of Schedule 7, Part 2 or part 3. Lifebuoys carried shall not be so mixed as to comprise at any one time lifebuoys complying with part 2 and lifebuoys complying with Part 3 of the said Schedule.

(3) If, in a ship described in paragraph (2), the lifebuoys shall comply with Schedule 7, Part 3, and the ship is one to which the provisions of regulations 18(3) or 21(4) apply, lifebuoys shall be carried equal in number to the total number of persons on board, but at no time less than two lifebuoys.

Lifebuoy lights, smoke signals and lines

24.—(1) Lifebuoys carried in ships (except ships of Classes IX(A) and IX(A)(T)) of less than 12.2 metres, in accordance with these Regulations, shall have attached to them self-igniting lights on the following scale:

(a) in ships of Classes I, II and II(A), on at least half the lifebuoys and in no case on less than six;

(b) in ships of Classes VII, VII(T), VIII, VIII(T), VIII(A), VIII(A)(T), IX and XI and in ships of Class VII(A) of 21.3 metres in length or over, on at least half the lifebuoys and in no case on less than two;

(c) in ships of Classes IX(A), IX(A)(T) and XII of 21.3 metres in length or over, on two lifebuoys; and

(d) in ships of Classes VII(A), IX(A), IX(A)(T) and XII of less than 21.3 metres in length, on one lifebuoy.

(2) (a) In every ship (except ships of Classes VII(A), IX(A), IX(A)(T) and XII of less than 21.3 metres in length) one lifebuoy on each side of the ship shall have attached to it a buoyant line of at least 27.3 metres in length.

(b) In ships of Classes VII(A), IX(A) and IX(A)(T), of less than 21.3 metres in length, one lifebuoy shall have attached to it a buoyant line of at least 18.3 metres in length.

(c) The lifebuoys having lines attached to them in compliance with this regulation shall not have self-igniting lights attached.

(3) Two of the lifebuoys to which self-igniting lights are attached in accordance with paragraphs (1)(a), (b) and (c) and the lifebuoy to which a self-igniting light is attached in accordance with paragraph (1)(d) shall be provided with a self-activating smoke signal complying with the requirements of Schedule 8, Part 5 of MSN 1676(M).

(4) Two of the lifebuoys provided with self-igniting lights in accordance with subparagraphs (1)(a), (b) and (c) and self-activating smoke signals in accordance with paragraph (3) shall be carried on each side of the ship and be capable of quick release from the navigating bridge.

Line-throwing appliances

25.  Ships of less than 12 metres in length need not comply with the requirements for throwing appliances contained in regulations 7(13), 8(16), 10(16), 11(13) and 20(7).

Retro-reflective material

26.  Life-saving appliances carried on ships of Classes I to XI inclusive, and ships of Class XII which proceed to sea, shall be fitted with retro-reflective material where it will, and the dimensions and location of the retro-reflective material shall be in accordance with Schedule 16 of MSN 1676(M).