Section 3 Life-saving appliances

3.1.1 Life-saving appliances should be provided in accordance with Table 5.3.1 Life-saving appliances.

3.1.2 All equipment fitted should be of a type which has been accepted by the Administration as complying with IMO Lifesaving Appliances Code and IMO Resolution MSC.81(70).

3.1.3 Additional life-saving equipment which is provided should meet the requirements of Ch 5, 3.1 General requirements 3.1.2.

3.1.4 All life-saving equipment carried should be fitted with retro-reflective material in accordance with the recommendations of IMO Resolution A.658(16) as amended.

3.1.5 Liferaft embarkation arrangements should comply with the following:

• Where the distance between the embarkation deck and the top of the liferaft buoyancy tube exceeds 1 metre with the ACV in its lightest condition, an embarkation ladder is to be provided. A means for fastening is to be provided and ladders are to be readily available for use at all times.

3.1.6 Inflatable lifejackets, inflatable liferafts and hydrostatic release units other than a disposable hydrostatic release unit should be serviced, at intervals not exceeding 12 months unless extended service intervals have been approved by the Administration; at a manufacturers approved service station.

3.1.7 Maintenance of equipment should be carried out in accordance with the instructions for onboard maintenance.

3.1.8 The stowage and installation of all life-saving appliances is to be to the satisfaction of the Administration.

3.1.9 All life-saving appliances should be in working order and be ready for immediate use at the commencement of, and at all times during, the voyage.

3.2.1 Liferafts:

1. The liferafts carried must contain the necessary ’emergency pack’. For ACVs operating within 60 miles from a safe haven, liferafts provided may be equipped with a ’SOLAS B PACK’.

2. Light ACVs are permitted to use Valise type rafts if they can be stored in a protected area and are made ready for use when under way.

3. For Small ACV category the liferafts are to be stowed in glass reinforced plastic GRP containers and provision should be made for a 100 per cent capacity on either side of the ACV.

4. GRP containers containing liferafts should be stowed on the weather deck or in an open space and fitted with hydrostatic release units so that the liferafts will float free of the ACV and automatically inflate.

5. Liferaft approval includes approval of their stowage, launching and float-free arrangements.

6. For ACVs operating with reduced personnel aboard, attention is drawn to the dangers associated with the use of large capacity liferafts with small numbers of persons embarked.

7. ACVs expected to operate in soft sand and mud shall have mud escape equipment to allow all persons to walk over soft mud without becoming trapped.

3.2.2 Recovery of persons from the sea:

1. Means should be provided for the recovery of a person from the sea to the ACV and it should be assumed that the person is unconscious or unable to assist in the rescue.

2. The ACV should have sufficient mobility and manoeuvrability in a seaway to enable persons to be retrieved from the water. For assessing this ability it is not considered acceptable to retrieve persons over the stern of the ACV. The recovery location should be visible from the conning position at all times during the recovery, although this may be achieved by the use of remote controls where necessary.

3. The ACV should be provided with suitable equipment and/or arrangements to enable the person(s) to be recovered without further persons entering the water.

3.2.3 Lifejackets:

1. One adult SOLAS approved lifejacket should be provided for each person on board; in addition spare adult lifejackets sufficient for at least 10 per cent of the total number of persons on board or two adult SOLAS approved lifejackets for each person, whichever is the greater, should be provided. Each lifejacket should be fitted with a light and whistle.

2. If the adult lifejackets provided are not designed to fit persons weighing up to 140 kg and with a chest girth of up to 1,750 mm, a sufficient number of suitable accessories may be required to provide a lifejacket for each such person on board to allow them to be secured to such persons.

3. Included in the above-mentioned number of lifejackets, there should be at least two SOLAS approved inflatable lifejackets for the use of the crew on any rescue boat or inflatable boat carried on board.

4. One SOLAS approved child lifejacket or infant lifejacket should be provided for each child or infant on board.

3.2.4 Immersion suits:

1. One approved immersion suit should be provided for each person on board; these may be of the non-insulated type.

2. Due consideration should be given to the provision of appropriate immersion/ thermal protection for children and infants carried on board.

3. For cold water areas of operation, the insulated type should be carried on board. Reference to Resolution IMO MSC Circular 1046 should be made for assessment of thermal protection.

Due consideration will be given to the provision of immersion suits depending on the area of operation.

3.2.5 Life-buoys:

1. Lifebuoys with combined self-igniting light and self-activating smoke signals are to be provided port and starboard and should be capable of quick deployment from the navigating bridge.

2. The attached buoyant lifeline required on each of two of the lifebuoys is to have a minimum length of 30 metres.

3. Each lifebuoy should be marked with the ACV’s name and Port of Registry.

3.2.6 Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB):
An approved EPIRB should be installed in an easily accessible position ready to be manually released, capable of being placed in a survival craft and floating free if the ACV sinks. All EPIRBs should be registered with the Administration. EPIRBs are to be tested annually and serviced at not more than five yearly intervals by an approved shore-based maintainer.

3.2.7 Search and Rescue Radar Transponders (SART):
The SART is to be stowed in an easily accessible position so that it can rapidly be placed in any survival craft. Means should be provided in order that it can be mounted in the survival craft at a height of at least 1 metre above sea level.

3.2.8 General alarm:
For ACV machinery installations greater than 750kW a general alarm shall be provided. This alarm may consist of the ship’s whistle or siren providing it can be heard in all parts of the ACV.

3.2.9 Emergency Lighting:

1. Alleyways, internal and external stairways, and exits giving access to, and including, the muster and embarkation stations should be adequately lit.

2. Adequate lighting is to be provided in the vicinity of the survival craft, launching appliance(s) (when provided) and the over side area of sea in way of the launching position(s).

3.2.10 Life-saving signals and rescue poster:
When display space in the wheelhouse is restricted, the two sides of a SOLAS No2 poster (as contained in liferaft equipment packs) may be displayed in lieu of a SOLAS No 1 poster.

3.2.11 Portable VHF Radio:
Each ACV should carry a portable Very High Frequency (VHF) radio fitted with a Digital Selective Calling (DSC) facility, and charging facilities for the radio battery or batteries, or a spare battery or batteries. Arrangements should be made to protect the portable VHF and spare battery or batteries from water damage, e.g. waterproof cover.