Life Saving Equipment Regulations

• 1 (1) Lifebuoys and lifebuoy equipment that are carried on the following classes of ships shall meet the requirements of this section and sections 3 and 4:

  • (a) Class I ships;

  • (b) Class II ships that are Safety Convention ships; and

  • (c) Class IX ships.

• (2) At least one lifebuoy that has a buoyant lifeline attached to it shall be carried on each side of the ship.

• (3) A lifebuoy that has a buoyant lifeline attached to it shall not have a self-igniting light or a self-activating smoke signal attached to it.

• (4) At least one lifebuoy that has a self-igniting light and a self-activating smoke signal attached to it shall be

  • (a) located on each wing of the navigating bridge of the ship; and

  • (b) arranged so that it may be released clear of the side of the ship by a quick-release device.

• (5) The remainder of the self-igniting lights and self-activating smoke signals shall be attached to lifebuoys and equally distributed, insofar as it is practicable, on both sides of the ship.

• (6) Any remaining lifebuoys shall be equally distributed, insofar as it is practicable, on both sides of the ship, with at least one in the vicinity of the stern.

• 2 (1) Lifebuoys and lifebuoy equipment that are carried on the following classes of ships shall meet the requirements of this section and sections 3 and 4:

  • (a) Class II ships that are not Safety Convention ships;

  • (b) Class III ships;

  • (c) Class IV ships;

  • (d) Class V ships;

  • (e) Class VII ships;

  • (f) Class X ships; and

  • (g) Class XI ships.

• (2) Buoyant lifelines shall be attached to lifebuoys that are equally distributed, insofar as it is practicable, on each side of the ship.

• (3) A lifebuoy that has a buoyant lifeline attached to it shall not have a self-igniting light or a self-activating smoke signal attached to it.

• (4) At least one lifebuoy that has a mass of not less than 4 kg and not more than 6 kg shall

  • (a) have attached to it

    • (i) a self-igniting light and a self-activating smoke signal, or

    • (ii) if the ship is engaged on a sheltered waters voyage, an inland voyage, limited to 25 nautical miles from shore, or a near coastal voyage, Class 2, limited to five nautical miles from shore, a self-igniting light that is visible by day and night;

  • (b) where the ship is 25 m or over in length, be located, insofar as it is practicable, on each wing of the navigating bridge of the ship; and

  • (c) be arranged so that it may be released clear of the side of the ship by a quick-release device.

• (5) The remainder of the self-igniting lights and self-activating smoke signals shall be attached to lifebuoys and equally distributed, insofar as it is practicable, on both sides of the ship.

• (6) Any remaining lifebuoys shall be equally distributed, insofar as it is practicable, on both sides of the ship, with at least one in the vicinity of the stern.

3 A lifebuoy

• (a) shall not be permanently secured in any way; and

• (b) shall be stowed so that it is readily available for immediate deployment.

4 Buoyant lifelines that are attached to lifebuoys shall

• (a) be non-kinking;

• (b) have a length that is at least the greater of

  • (i) 30 m, and

  • (ii) twice the height that the lifebuoy is stowed above the waterline of the ship when the ship is in its lightest seagoing condition;

• (c) have a diameter of not less than 8 mm;

• (d) have a breaking strength of not less than 5 kN; and

• (e) be capable of floating for a period of at least six hours.