Life Saving Equipment Regulations

PART IRequirements for Existing Ships

General

• 1 For the purposes of this Schedule, in relation to a lifeboat or life raft,

  turning-out condition

  turning-out condition means a lifeboat or life raft that is fully equipped but manned only by its launching crew; (état de mise à l’eau sans passagers)

  working load

  working load and loaded condition mean the sum of the weight of the lifeboat or life raft, equipment, blocks and falls, and the number of persons with which the lifeboat or life raft is required to be lowered, each person being considered to weigh 75 kg. (charge pratiqueoucharge complète)

• • 2 (1) Lifeboat davits shall be either

    • (a) gravity type for a lifeboat weighing more than 2.29 t, or

    • (b) luffing or gravity type for a lifeboat weighing not more than 2.29 t in its turning out condition,

    but radial davits may be accepted in ships not over 45.7 m in length carrying not more than 12 passengers.

  • (2) Lifeboats weighing more than 2.29 t in loaded condition shall be served by steel wire rope falls together with winches, but alternative arrangements may be accepted in existing ships, and emergency boats shall be rapidly recoverable.

  • (3) Where mechanically powered appliances are fitted for the recovery of emergency boats, efficient hand gear shall also be provided.

• 3 At least two lifelines, each long enough to reach the water under all conditions of draught with the ship listed 15 degrees either way, shall be attached to each davit span.

Luffing Davits

• 4 Luffing type davits shall be such that the lifeboat in turning-out condition can be turned out against a 15 degree list, and shall have adequate fore and aft stability.

Gravity Davits

• • 5 (1) Where gravity type davits comprising arms mounted on rollers that engage with and travel down fixed inclined trackways are employed, the trackways shall be inclined at an angle of not less than 30 degrees to the horizontal when the vessel is upright.

  • (2) Gravity davits of types other than that referred to in subsection (1) shall be so designed that there is a positive turning out moment during the whole of the davit travel from the inboard to the outboard position when the vessel is listed up to 25 degrees either way.

  • (3) Where gravity type davits are fitted with electric motors for recovering the lifeboats, automatic cut-outs shall be fitted and arranged to operate before the davits come against the runway stops in order to avoid overstressing the wire rope falls or davits and limit switches shall be fitted as follows:

    • (a) on fixed motors, being motors built into the winch, limit switches shall be fitted for each davit arm but one only need be fitted if a compensating gear is incorporated in the arrangement of falls so that the loading in one fall cannot exceed that in the other as the arms reach the stowed position, and

    • (b) on semi-portable motors, being motors that can be readily moved from one winch to another but that are bolted in position when operating, and on fully portable motors, being motors that are held in position manually when operating, one only need be fitted if it is fitted at least 460 mm down the trackway from the stowed position, and preferably on the trackway farthest away from the winch operator,

    and in every case the push button control for the motor shall return automatically to the “off” position as soon as the pressure is released.

Radial Davits

• • 6 (1) Radial davits shall be fitted with means of preventing the davit heels from leaving their sockets.

  • (2) Radial davits shall be fitted with guys adequate to prevent fore and aft movement of the davits in the outboard position, with the lifeboat in loaded condition.

Stresses

• • 7 (1) The designed stress on the davit arms, when operating under maximum load and conditions of list, shall afford an adequate factor of safety having regard to the quality of the material used, the method of construction, and the live nature of the load to which the davits are subjected.

  • (2) Every davit or launching device shall be clearly marked with its safe working load.

Static Load Test

• 8 In the case of all davits made of cast steel or of wrought steel or other material fabricated by a welding process, each davit at full outreach shall be capable of withstanding a static load test of not less than 2.2 times that part of the working load supported by each arm.

Attachments at the Davit Head

• 9 The attachments at the davit head from which the blocks are suspended shall be capable of withstanding a proof load test of not less than 2 1/2 times the working load.

Blocks

• • 10 (1) Lifeboat blocks shall be of ample strength having regard to the working load upon the davits.

  • (2) Metal blocks shall be

    • (a) of ductile quality and adequate strength, and

    • (b) capable of withstanding a proof load test of not less than 2 1/2 times the working load on the davits,

    and no part of gear intended to bear the weight of a lifeboat shall be constructed of cast metal without the consent of the Board.

  • (3) Lower fall blocks shall be fitted with a ring or long link for attachment to the lifting hooks, unless the fitting of disengaging gear is adopted in lieu of standard lifting hooks.

  • (4) Wood blocks and rope falls, where permitted, shall comply with the requirements set out in the following table:

    Length of Boat (metres)	Ships other than non-self-propelled ships and ships making Home-Trade IV or Minor Waters II voyages			Non-self-propelled ships and ships making Home-Trade IV or Minor Waters II voyages
    	Block (mm)	Purchase	Circumference of falls (mm)	Block (mm)	Purchase	Circumference of falls (mm)
    Not over 9.1	330	Triple and Triple	95	305	Triple and Triple	90
    Not over 8.5	330	Triple and Triple	95	305	Triple and Triple	83
    Not over 8.2	305	Triple and Triple	90	280	Triple and Triple	75
    Not over 7.9	305	Triple and Triple	90	280	Triple and Triple	75
    Not over 7.6	305	Triple and Triple	83	280	Triple and Triple	75
    Not over 7.3	280	Triple and Triple	75	254	Triple and Triple	70
    Not over 7.0	280	Triple and Double	75	254	Triple and Triple	65
    Not over 6.7	254	Triple and Double	70	230	Double and Double	65
    Not over 6.4	254	Triple and Double	65	230	Double and Double	65
    Not over 6.1	230	Double and Double	65	203	Double and Double	65
    Not over 5.5	230	Double and Double	65	203	Double and Single	65
    Not over 4.9	203	Double and Double	65	203	Double and Single	65

Wire Ropes

• • 11 (1) The breaking tensile load of steel wire rope falls shall be not less than six times the working load.

  • (2) Wire rope falls shall be securely attached to the drum of the winch and the end attachments of the wires and other parts from which the lifeboat is to be suspended shall be capable of withstanding a proof load of not less than 2 1/2 times the working load.

  • (3) Where wire splices are used, they shall be capable of withstanding a proof test of not less than 2 1/2 times the working load unless sample splices of each size of wire when tested to destruction, give a factor of safety at the splice of not less than five.

Winches

• • 12 (1) Winch drums shall be arranged to keep the two falls separate and to enable them to be payed out at the same rate; leads of the wire ropes shall be such that they will wind evenly on the drums and the lead blocks shall be arranged at least 2.13 m from the winch drums.

  • (2) The brakes of the lifeboat winches shall be of robust construction and shall afford complete control and limitation of speed in the operation of lowering.

  • (3) The hand brake of a lifeboat winch shall be so arranged that it is normally in the “ON” position and returns to the “ON” position when the control handle is not being operated and the weight on the brake lever shall be sufficient to operate the brake effectively without additional pressure.

  • (4) The brake gear on lifeboat winches shall include means of automatically controlling the speed of lowering to ensure that the boat is lowered expeditiously without exceeding a rate of lowering consistent with safety and for this purpose the automatic brake shall be set to provide a speed of lowering of the lifeboat of between 18 and 36 m per minute.

  • (5) Ratchet gear shall be incorporated in the hand brake mechanism of lifeboat winches.

  • (6) Where practicable, the brake gear on a lifeboat winch shall be so situated as to enable the man operating the winch to observe the lifeboat during the whole process of launching into the water.

Lowering Tests

• • 13 (1) Where lifeboats and life rafts must be capable of being lowered fully loaded, each pair of davits and each launching device, including winches and brakes where fitted, shall be capable of safely lowering the lifeboat or life raft loaded with the required equipment and a distributed weight equal to the number of persons for which it measures plus 10 per cent of the total load, including blocks and falls.

  • (2) Winch brakes exposed to the weather shall be capable of withstanding the test prescribed in subsection (1) with the braking surface wet.

• 14 Where lifeboat falls other than steel wire rope are employed, they shall be durable, unkinkable, firmly laid, and pliable, and shall be able to pass freely through a hole 10 mm larger than the nominal diameter of the fall.

• 15 Life raft launching devices shall be

  • (a) capable of holding or lowering under control a fully loaded life raft;

  • (b) fitted with a release hook capable of being cocked at the launching station so that the life raft disengages immediately it is water borne;

  • (c) capable of rapid recovery of the fall; and

  • (d) placed in equal numbers on each side of the ship.

• • 16 (1) Where means of launching other than davits are employed, they shall be of adequate strength.

  • (2) An inspector shall witness a test and record the time taken in putting a boat out on either side of the ship by hand, and he shall satisfy himself as to the efficiency of the whole arrangement and the number of men employed in putting a boat out shall be not greater than the crew of the ship.

• 17 Where a lifeboat or boat must be capable of being launched, equipment for launching need not be provided if an inspector is satisfied that the lifeboat or boat can readily be man-handled into the water by the crew, without damage.

Bollards

• • 18 (1) Suitable bollards as shown in the following sketches or other equally effective appliances for lowering lifeboats shall be provided in all cases where cordage rope falls are used.

  • (2) For lifeboats not exceeding 6.1 m in length, horn cleats attached to the davits may be fitted in lieu of bollards.

  • (3) For lifeboats over 6.1 m but not exceeding 7.6 m in length, a double bollard may be fixed to each davit and for lifeboats over 7.6 m in length, bollards of the cruciform type shall be attached to the deck, and in the case of lifeboats not over 8.2 m in length the horizontal arms shall be not less than 127 mm in diameter, and shall be sufficiently long to take at least four turns of the largest rope with which they will be used.

  • (4) In the case of lifeboats over 8.2 m in length the horizontal arms of the bollard shall be 150 mm in diameter, and not less than 150 mm in length from the side of the column and ample lips or flanges shall be provided at ends of the arms to prevent the fall from jumping off and fair leads shall be fitted and be arranged to ensure that the lifeboat is not lifted during the process of swinging out.

    DAVIT BOLLARDS, CRUCIFORM TYPE

    GRAPHIC IS NOT DISPLAYED, SEE SOR/2001-179, S. 63

    DAVIT BOLLARDS

    GRAPHIC IS NOT DISPLAYED, SEE SOR/2001-179, S. 63

    DAVIT BOLLARDS, DECK TYPE

    GRAPHIC IS NOT DISPLAYED, SEE SOR/2001-179, S. 63

PART IIRequirements for New Ships

General Requirements for Survival Craft

• 1 In this Part, Pollution Convention means the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, signed at London on November 2, 1973, and the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto, signed at London on February 17, 1978, and any amendments, whenever made, to Protocol I, the Annexes or the Appendices to that Convention.

• 2 No material or component used in the construction or repair of launching devices shall

  • (a) deteriorate from the effects of weathering on board ship under conditions of normal stowage;

  • (b) deteriorate from contact with salt water; or

  • (c) be of cast metal.

• • 3 (1) A launching device shall be arranged so that the fully equipped survival craft it serves may be safely lowered against a trim of 10° and a list of 20°, both with the survival craft’s full complement and without it, by means of

    • (a) gravity; or

    • (b) stored mechanical power that is independent of the ship’s power supply.

  • (2) Notwithstanding the requirements of subsection (1), launching devices for the survival craft of an oil tanker, a chemical tanker or a liquefied gas tanker that has a final angle of heel greater than 20°, determined in accordance with Regulation 25(3)(c) of Annex I of the Pollution Convention, shall be capable of operating at the final angle of heel on the lower side of the ship.

  • (3) Recovery arrangements for a lifeboat or rescue boat shall be arranged so that the fully equipped lifeboat or rescue boat may be safely hoisted against a trim of 10° and a list of 20°, both with the full complement of the lifeboat or rescue boat and without it.

• 4 Every launching device shall be clearly marked with the safe working load for which it is designed.

• 5 Every launching mechanism for a launching device shall be arranged so that it may be activated by one person from a position on the ship’s deck and by one person from a position in any of the survival craft that it serves.

• 6 A launching device shall be constructed so that

  • (a) all parts requiring maintenance by the ship’s crew are readily accessible; and

  • (b) it is easily maintained.

• • 7 (1) The winch brakes of a launching device shall be capable of withstanding

    • (a) a static test with a proof load of not less than 1.5 times the maximum working load for which the device is designed; and

    • (b) a dynamic test at the maximum lowering speed with a proof load of not less than 1.1 times the maximum working load for which the device is designed.

  • (2) A launching device and its attachments, other than winch brakes, shall be capable of withstanding a static proof load of not less than 2.2 times the maximum working load for which the device is designed.

• 8 A launching device and its attachments and fittings shall be designed with a minimum factor of safety of

  • (a) 4.5 applied to all davit and winch structural members; and

  • (b) 6 applied to all falls, suspension chains, links, blocks, padeyes, fastenings and all other fittings used in connection with the equipment.

• • 9 (1) Falls shall be made of wire rope that is resistant to rotation and corrosion.

  • (2) Falls shall be long enough for survival craft to reach the water when the ship is in its lightest seagoing condition, is under 10° of trim and is listing 20°.

  • (3) Falls shall, in the case of a multiple-drum winch, be arranged so as to

    • (a) wind off each drum at the same rate when lowering; and

    • (b) wind on each drum evenly at the same rate when hoisting.

  • (4) Davit arms and falls that are recovered by power shall be fitted with safety devices that automatically cut off the power supply

    • (a) before the davit arms reach the stops, unless the power source is designed to prevent over-stressing; and

    • (b) when the power switch is released.

• • 10 (1) Every launching device shall be fitted with a hand gear for hoisting survival craft.

  • (2) Means shall be provided to prevent hand gear handles and wheels from rotating when survival craft are being lowered or hoisted by power.

• • 11 (1) Subject to subsection (2), the lowering speed of survival craft shall be at least the speed determined by the formula

    S = 0.4 + (0.02 × H)

    where

    S

    is the speed of lowering in metres per second, and

    H

    is the height in metres from the davit head to the waterline with the ship in its lightest seagoing condition.

  • (2) At no time shall the maximum lowering speed of a survival craft exceed 1.3 m/s.

• • 12 (1) A launching device shall be fitted with brakes capable of stopping the descent of, and securely holding, a survival craft loaded with its full complement and equipment.

  • (2) Launching device brake pads shall be protected from oil and from contact with salt water.

  • (3) A launching device that is fitted with manual brakes shall be designed so that the brake is always applied unless the operator, or a mechanism activated by the operator, holds the brake control in the “OFF” position.

• 13 Where a survival craft requires a launching device and is designed to float free, the float-free release of the survival craft from its stowed location shall be automatic.

• • 14 (1) A lifeboat free-fall launching device shall be

    • (a) arranged so that excessive forces are not experienced by the occupants of the lifeboat during launching;

    • (b) constructed as a rigid structure that causes the lifeboat to launch clear of, and be propelled away from, the ship;

    • (c) protected against corrosion; and

    • (d) where it uses an inclined plane, constructed so as to prevent incandescent friction or impact sparking during the launching of the lifeboat.

  • (2) Where a lifeboat uses a free-fall launching device, the lifeboat shall be capable of being launched and hoisted by a launching device using falls.

Additional Requirements for Life Rafts

• • 15 (1) The launching device of a davit-launched life raft shall be provided with

    • (a) a hand gear for the recovery of the falls only; and

    • (b) an automatic release hook that

      • (i) prevents the premature release of the life raft during lowering, and

      • (ii) releases the life raft once it is waterborne.

  • (2) The launching device of a davit-launched life raft shall not use gravity as a means of turning out the device.

  • (3) A free-fall launching device for a life raft shall be capable of

    • (a) launching the life raft when the ship is in a seaway, is under 10° of trim and is listing 20°;

    • (b) being activated by one person; and

    • (c) launching one life raft at a time.

Additional Requirements for Lifeboats

• • 16 (1) The launching device of a lifeboat shall be capable of hoisting the lifeboat with its crew and shall be designed to be activated by one person.

  • (2) The activation of the launching device shall be possible

    • (a) in the case of a free-fall launching device, from a position in the lifeboat; and

    • (b) in any other case, from a position on the ship’s deck and from a position in the lifeboat.

  • (2.1) The recovery arrangements of a lifeboat shall be designed to be activated by one person, and the activation shall be possible from a position on the ship’s deck and from a position in the lifeboat.

  • (3) The launching device and recovery arrangements of a lifeboat that are designed to be activated from a position on the ship’s deck shall be designed in such a way that the operator can see the lifeboat at all times during launching and hoisting.

  • (4) Where the launching device of a lifeboat, other than a totally enclosed lifeboat, employs more than one davit arm, it shall be fitted with a davit span that is provided with not less than two lifelines of such a length as to reach the water when the ship is in its lightest seagoing condition, is under 10° of trim and is listing 20°.

Additional Requirements for Rescue Boats

• • 17 (1) The launching device of a rescue boat shall

    • (a) be fitted with a power winch motor capable of hoisting the rescue boat loaded with its full complement and equipment at a rate of not less than 0.3 m/s;

    • (b) incorporate an on/off load release hook; and

    • (c) be designed to be activated by one person.

  • (2) The activation of the launching device shall be possible

    • (a) in the case of a free-fall launching device, from a position in the rescue boat; and

    • (b) in any other case, from a position on the ship’s deck and from a position in the rescue boat.

  • (2.1) The recovery arrangements of a rescue boat shall be designed to be activated by one person, and the activation shall be possible from a position on the ship’s deck and from a position in the rescue boat.

  • (3) The launching device and recovery arrangements of a rescue boat that are designed to be operated from a position on the ship’s deck shall be designed in such a way that the operator can see the rescue boat at all times during launching and hoisting.

Additional Requirements for Emergency Boats

• • 18 (1) A launching device used to lower and hoist an emergency boat

    • (a) may be manually powered;

    • (b) shall be operated from a position on the ship’s deck that has a clear range of visibility to the water at the side of the ship; and

    • (c) shall be capable of lowering and hoisting an emergency boat that is loaded with its equipment and a launching crew of at least two persons.

  • (2) Where the launching device of an emergency boat is strong enough to lower only the boat and its launching crew, the device shall be conspicuously marked with the words “LOWER WITH LAUNCHING CREW ONLY” and “N’ABAISSER QU’AVEC L’ÉQUIPAGE DE MISE À L’EAU”.

• 19 An emergency boat is not required to be provided with a launching device if it can be readily lowered by the launching crew into the water without damage.