(a) Each survival craft must be:

(1) Secured to the vessel by a painter with a float-free link permanently attached to the vessel except that a float-free link is not required if the vessel operates only on waters not as deep as the length of the painter;

(2) Stowed so that when the vessel sinks the survival craft floats free and, if inflatable, inflates automatically;

(3) Stowed in a position that is readily accessible to crew members for launching, or else provided with a remotely operated device that releases the survival craft into launching position or into the water;

(4) Stowed in a way that permits manual release from its securing arrangements;

(5) Ready for immediate use so that crew members can carry out preparations for embarkation and launching in less than 5 minutes;

(6) Provided with means to prevent shifting;

(7) Stowed in a way that neither the survival craft nor its stowage arrangements will interfere with the embarkation and operation of any other survival craft at any other launching station;

(8) Stowed in a way that any protective covers will not interfere with launching and embarkation;

(9) Fully equipped as required under this part; and

(10) Stowed, as far as practicable, in a position sheltered from breaking seas and protected from damage by fire.

(b) A hydrostatic release unit when used in a float-free arrangement must be approved under approval series 160.062 or 160.162 or a standard specified by the Commandant.

(c) A mechanical, manually operated device to assist in launching a survival craft must be provided if:

(1) The survival craft weighs more than 90.7 kilograms (200 pounds); and

(2) The survival craft requires lifting more than 300 vertical millimeters (one vertical foot) to be launched.

[CGD 85-080, 61 FR 911, Jan. 10, 1996, as amended by CGD 97-057, 62 FR 51047, Sept. 30, 1997; CGD 85-080, 62 FR 51350, Sept. 30, 1997; 62 FR 64305, Dec. 5, 1997]

(a) In addition to meeting § 117.130, each life float and buoyant apparatus must be stowed as required under this section.

(b) The float-free link required by § 117.130(a)(1) must be:

(1) Certified to meet § 160.073 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant:

(2) Of proper strength for the size of the life float or buoyant apparatus as indicated on its identification tag; and

(3) Secured to the painter at one end and to the vessel on the other end.

(c) The means used to attach the float-free link to the vessel must:

(1) Have a breaking strength of at least the breaking strength of the painter;

(2) If synthetic, be of a dark color or of a type certified to be resistant to deterioration from ultraviolent light; and

(3) If metal, be corrosion resistant.

(d) If the life float or buoyant apparatus does not have a painter attachment fitting, a means for attaching the painter must be provided by a wire or line which:

(1) Encircles the body of the device;

(2) Will not slip off;

(3) Has a breaking strength that is at least the strength of the painter; and

(4) If synthetic, is of a dark color or is of a type certified to be resistant to deterioration from ultraviolet light.

(e) If the vessel carries more than the one life float or buoyant apparatus in a group with each group secured by a single painter:

(1) The combined weight of each group of life floats and buoyant apparatus must not exceed 181 kilograms (400 pounds);

(2) Each group of life floats and buoyant apparatus is considered a single survival craft for the purposes of § 117.130(c) of this part;

(3) Each life float and buoyant apparatus must be individually attached to the painter by a line meeting § 117.175(e)(3)(ii), (iii), and (iv) of this part and long enough that each life float or buoyant apparatus can float without contacting any other life float or buoyant apparatus in the group; and

(4) The strength of the float-free link under paragraph (b)(2) of this section and the strength of the painter under § 117.175(e)(3)(ii) of this part must be determined by the combined capacity of the group of life floats and buoyant apparatus.

(f) Life floats and buoyant apparatus must not be stowed in tiers more than 1,220 millimeters (4 feet) high. When stowed in tiers, the separate units must be kept apart by spacers.

(a) A launching appliance described in paragraph (c) of this section, or a marine evacuation system approved under approval series 160.175, must be provided for each inflatable liferaft and inflatable buoyant apparatus when either—

(b) An embarkation ladder, approved in accordance with § 160.017 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant, must be at each embarkation station if the distance from the embarkation deck to the vessel's lightest operating waterline is more than 3,050 millimeters (10 feet).

(c) Each launching appliance for a davit-launched liferaft must include an automatic disengaging apparatus approved under 46 CFR part 160, subpart 160.170 and be either—

(1) A davit approved under 46 CFR part 160, subpart 160.132 for use with a liferaft, with a winch approved under 46 CFR part 160, subpart 160.115 for use with a liferaft; or

(2) A launching appliance approved on or before November 10, 2011 under approval series 160.163.

[CGD 85-080, 61 FR 911, Jan. 10, 1996, as amended at 62 FR 51350, Sept. 30, 1997; 62 FR 64305, Dec. 5, 1997; USCG-2010-0048, 76 FR 62973, Oct. 11, 2011]

(a) General. Each item of survival craft equipment must be of good quality, and efficient for the purpose it is intended to serve. Unless otherwise stated in this section, each item of equipment carried, whether required under this section or not, must be secured by lashings, stored in lockers, compartments, brackets, or have equivalent mounting or storage arrangements that do not:

(1) Reduce survival craft capacity;

(2) Reduce space available to the occupants;

(3) Interfere with launching, recovery, or rescue operations; or

(4) Adversely affect seaworthiness of the survival craft.

(b) Inflatable liferafts. Each inflatable liferaft must have one of the following equipment packs as shown by the markings on its container:

(1) Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) B Pack; or

(2) SOLAS A Pack.

(c) Inflatable buoyant apparatus. Each inflatable buoyant apparatus must be equipped in accordance with the manufacturer's approved servicing manual.

(d) Life floats. Each life float must be fitted with a lifeline, pendants, two paddles, a painter, and a light.

(e) Buoyant apparatus. Each buoyant apparatus must be fitted with a lifeline, pendants, a painter, and a light.

(f) Equipment specifications for life floats and buoyant apparatus. The equipment required for lifefloats and buoyant apparatus must meet the following specifications:

(1) Lifeline and pendants. The lifeline and pendants must be as furnished by the manufacturer with the approved life float or buoyant apparatus. Replacement lifelines and pendants must meet the requirements in § 160.010 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant.

(2) Paddle. Each paddle must be of at least 1,220 millimeters (4 feet) in length, lashed to the life float to which they belong, and buoyant.

(3) Painter. The painter must:

(i) Be of at least 30.5 meters (100 feet) in length, but not less than three times the distance between the deck where the life float or buoyant apparatus it serves is stowed and the lightship waterline of the vessel;

(ii) Have a breaking strength of at least 680 kilograms (1,500 pounds), except that if the capacity of the life float or buoyant apparatus is 50 persons or more, the breaking strength must be at least 1,360 kilograms (3,000 pounds);

(iii) Be of a dark color if synthetic, or of a type certified to be resistant to deterioration from ultraviolet light; and

(iv) Be stowed in such a way that it runs out freely when the life float or buoyant apparatus floats away from a sinking vessel.

(4) Light. The light must be a floating waterlight approved under approval series 161.010 or a standard specified by the Commandant. The floating waterlight must be attached around the body of the life float or buoyant apparatus by a 10 mm (3/8 inch) lanyard, resistant to deterioration from ultraviolet light, and at least 5.5 meters (18 feet) in length.

(g) Other survival craft. If survival craft other than inflatable liferafts, life floats, inflatable buoyant apparatus, and buoyant apparatus are carried on the vessel, such as lifeboats or rigid liferafts, they must be installed, arranged, and equipped as required in subchapter H (Passenger Vessels) of this chapter for passenger vessels on the same route.

[CGD 85-080, 61 FR 911, Jan. 10, 1996, as amended at 62 FR 51351, Sept. 30, 1997; 62 FR 64305, Dec. 5, 1997]