Regulation 17 - General requirements for lifeboats

  (1) Construction of lifeboats

• (a) All lifeboats shall be properly constructed and shall be of such form and proportions that they have ample stability in a seaway and sufficient freeboard when loaded with their full complement of persons and equipment. All lifeboats shall have rigid hulls and shall be capable of maintaining positive stability when in an upright position in calm water and loaded with their full complement of persons and equipment and holed in any one location below the waterline, assuming no loss of buoyancy material and no other damage.

• (b) All lifeboats shall be of sufficient strength to enable them to be safely lowered into the water when loaded with their full complement of persons and equipment.

• (c) Hulls and rigid covers shall be fire-retardant or non-combustible.

• (d) Seating shall be provided on thwarts, benches or fixed chairs fitted as low as practicable in the lifeboat and constructed so as to be capable of supporting the number of persons each weighing 100 kg for which spaces are provided in compliance with the requirements of paragraph (2)(b)(ii).

• (e) Each lifeboat shall be of sufficient strength to withstand a load, without residual deflection on removal of that load:

  • (i) in the case of boats with metal hulls, 1.25 times the total mass of the lifeboat when loaded with its full complement of persons and equipment; or

  • (ii) in the case of other boats, twice the total mass of the lifeboat when loaded with its full complement of persons and equipment.

• (f) Each lifeboat shall be of sufficient strength to withstand, when loaded with its full complement of persons and equipment and with, where applicable, skates or fenders in position, a lateral impact against the vessel's side at an impact velocity of at least 3.5 m/s and also a drop into the water from a height of at least 3 m.

• (g) The vertical distance between the floor surface and the interior of the enclosure or canopy over 50% of the floor area shall be:

  • (i) not less than 1.3 m for a lifeboat permitted to accommodate nine persons or less;

  • (ii) not less than 1.7 m for a lifeboat permitted to accommodate 24 persons or more;

  • (iii) not less than the distance as determined by linear interpolation between 1.3 m and 1.7 m for a lifeboat permitted to accommodate between 9 and 24 persons.

  (2) Carrying capacity of lifeboats

• (a) No lifeboat shall be approved to accommodate more than 150 persons.

• (b) The number of persons which a lifeboat shall be permitted to accommodate shall be equal to the lesser of:

  • (i) the number of persons having an average mass of 75 kg, all wearing lifejackets, that can be seated in a normal position without interfering with the means of propulsion or the operation of any of the lifeboat's equipment; or

  • (ii) the number of spaces that can be provided on the seating arrangements In accordance with figure 1. The shapes may be overlapped as shown, provided footrests are fitted and there is sufficient room for legs and the vertical separation between the upper and lower seat is not less than 350 mm.

• (c) Each seating position shall be clearly indicated in the lifeboat.

  (3) Access into lifeboats

• (a) Every vessel lifeboat shall be so arranged that it can be boarded by its full complement of persons in not more than 3 min from the time the instruction to board is given. Rapid disembarkation shall also be possible.

• (b) Lifeboats shall have a boarding ladder that can be used on either side of the lifeboat to enable persons in the water to board the lifeboat. The lowest step of the ladder shall be not less than 0.4 m below the lifeboat's light waterline.

• (c) The lifeboat shall be so arranged that helpless people can be brought on board either from the sea or on stretchers.

• (d) All surfaces on which persons might walk shall have a non-skid finish.

  (4) Lifeboat buoyancy

 All lifeboats shall have inherent buoyancy or shall be fitted with inherently buoyant material which shall not be adversely affected by seawater, oil or oil products, sufficient to float the lifeboat with all its equipment on board when flooded and open to the sea. Additional inherently buoyant material, equal to 280 N of buoyant force per person shall be provided for the number of persons the lifeboat is permitted to accommodate. Buoyant material, unless in addition to that required above, shall not be installed external to the hull of the lifeboat.

  (5) Lifeboat freeboard and stability

 All lifeboats, when loaded with 50% of the number of persons the lifeboat is permitted to accommodate seated in their normal positions to one side of the centreline, shall have a freeboard, measured from the waterline to the lowest opening through which the lifeboat may become flooded, of at least 1.5% of the lifeboat's length or 100 mm, whichever is the greater.

  (6) Lifeboat propulsion

• (a) Every lifeboat shall be powered by a compression ignition engine. No engine shall be used for any lifeboat if its fuel has a flashpoint of 43°C or less (closed cup test).

• (b) The engine shall be provided with either a manual starting system, or a power starting system with two independent rechargeable energy sources. Any necessary starting aids shall also be provided. The engine starting systems and starting aids shall start the engine at an ambient temperature of 15°C within 2 min of commencing the start procedure unless, in the opinion of the Administration having regard to the particular voyages in which the vessel carrying the lifeboat is constantly engaged, a different temperature is appropriate. The starting systems shall not be impeded by the engine casing, thwarts or other obstructions.

• (c) The engine shall be capable of operating for not less than 5 min after starting from cold with the lifeboat out of the water.

• (d) The engine shall be capable of operating when the lifeboat is flooded up to the centreline of the crankshaft.

• (e) The propeller shafting shall be so arranged that the propeller can be disengaged from the engine. Provision shall be made for ahead and astern propulsion of the lifeboat.

• (f) The exhaust pipe shall be so arranged as to prevent water from entering the engine in normal operation.

• (g) All lifeboats shall be designed with due regard to the safety of persons in the water and to the possibility of damage to the propulsion system by floating debris.

• (h) The speed of a lifeboat when proceeding ahead in calm water, when loaded with its full complement of persons and equipment and with all engine-powered auxiliary equipment in operation, shall be at least 6 knots and at least 2 knots when towing a 25–person liferaft loaded with its full complement of persons and equipment or its equivalent. Sufficient fuel, suitable for use throughout the temperature range expected in the area in which the vessel operates, shall be provided to run the fully loaded lifeboat at 6 knots for a period of not less than 24 h.

• (i) The lifeboat engine, transmission and engine accessories shall be enclosed in a fire-retardant casing or other suitable arrangements providing similar protection. Such arrangements shall also protect persons from coming into accidental contact with hot or moving parts and protect the engine from exposure to weather and sea. Adequate means shall be provided to reduce the engine noise. Starter batteries shall be provided with casings which form a watertight enclosure around the bottom and sides of the batteries. The battery casings shall have a tight fitting top which provides for necessary gas venting.

• (j) The lifeboat engine and accessories shall be designed to limit electromagnetic emissions so that engine operation does not interfere with the operation of radio life-saving appliances used in the lifeboat.

• (k) Means shall be provided for recharging all engine-starting, radio and searchlight batteries. Radio batteries shall not be used to provide power for engine starting. Means shall be provided for recharging lifeboat batteries from the vessel's power supply at a supply voltage not exceeding 55 V which can be disconnected at the lifeboat embarkation station.

• (l) Water-resistant instructions for starting and operating the engine shall be provided and mounted in a conspicuous place near the engine starting controls.

  (7) Lifeboat fittings

• (a) An lifeboats shall be provided with at least one drain valve fitted near the lowest point in the hull, which shall automatically open to drain water from the hull when the lifeboat is not waterborne and shall automatically close to prevent entry of water when the lifeboat is waterborne. Each drain valve shall be provided with a cap or plug to close the valve, which shall be attached to the lifeboat by a lanyard, a chain, or other suitable means. Drain valves shall be readily accessible from inside the lifeboat and their position shall be clearly indicated.

• (b) All lifeboats shall be provided with a rudder and tiller. When a wheel or other remote steering mechanism is also provided the tiller shall be capable of controlling the rudder in case of failure of the steering mechanism. The rudder shall be permanently attached to the lifeboat. The tiller shall be permanently installed on, or linked to, the rudder stock; however, if the lifeboat has a remote steering mechanism, the tiller may be removable and securely stowed near the rudder stock. The rudder and tiller shall be so arranged as not to be damaged by operation of the release mechanism or the propeller.

• (c) Except in the vicinity of the rudder and propeller, a buoyant lifeline shall be becketed around the outside of the lifeboat.

• (d) Lifeboats which are not self-righting when capsized shall have suitable handholds on the underside of the hull to enable persons to cling to the lifeboat. The handholds shall be fastened to the lifeboat in such a way that, when subjected to an impact sufficient to cause them to break away from the lifeboat, they break away without damaging the lifeboat.

• (e) An lifeboats shall be fitted with sufficient watertight lockers or compartments to provide for the storage of the small items of equipment, water and provisions required by paragraph (8). Means shall be provided for the storage of collected rainwater.

• (f) Every lifeboat to be launched by a fall or falls shall be fitted with a release mechanism complying with the following requirements.

  • (i) the mechanism shall be so arranged that all hooks are released simultaneously;

  • (ii) the mechanism shall have two release capabilities as follows:

    • (1) a normal release capability which will release the lifeboat when it is waterborne or when there is no load on the hooks;

    • (2) an on-load release capability which will release the lifeboat with a load on the hooks. This release shall be so arranged as to release the lifeboat under any conditions of loading from no-load with the lifeboat waterborne to a load of 1.1 times the total mass of the lifeboat when loaded with its full complement of persons and equipment. This release capability shall be adequately protected against accidental or premature use;

  • (iii) the release control shall be clearly marked in a colour that contrasts with its surroundings;

  • (iv) the mechanism shall be designed with a factor of safety of 6 based on the ultimate strength of the materials used, assuming the mass of the lifeboat is equally distributed between the falls.

• (g) Every lifeboat shall be fitted with a release device to enable the forward painter to be released when under tension.

• (h) Every lifeboat which is fitted with a fixed two-way VHF radiotelephone apparatus with an antenna which is separately mounted shall be provided with arrangements for siting and securing the antenna effectively in its operating position.

• (i) Lifeboats intended for launching down the side of a vessel shall have skates and fenders as necessary to facilitate launching and prevent damage to the lifeboat.

• (j) A manually controlled lamp visible on a dark night with a clear atmosphere at a distance of at least 2 miles for a period of not less than 12 h shall be fitted to the top of the cover or enclosure. If the light is a flashing light, it shall initially flash at a rate of not less than 50 flashes per minute over the first 2 h of operation of the 12 h operating period.

• (k) A lamp or source of light shall be fitted inside the lifeboat to provide illumination for not less than 12 h to enable reading of survival and equipment instructions; however, oil lamps shall not be permitted for this purpose.

• (l) Unless expressly provided otherwise, every lifeboat shall be provided with effective means of bailing or be automatically self-bailing.

• (m) Every lifeboat shall be so arranged that an adequate view forward, aft and to both sides is provided from the control and steering position for safe launching and manoeuvring.

  (8) Lifeboat equipment

 All items of lifeboat equipment, whether required by this paragraph or elsewhere in this chapter, with the exception of boat-hooks which shall be kept free for fending off purposes, shall be secured within the lifeboat by lashings, storage in lockers or compartments, storage in brackets or similar mounting arrangements or other suitable means. The equipment shall be secured in such a manner as not to interfere with any abandonment procedures. An items of lifeboat equipment shall be as small and of as little mass as possible and shall be packed in a suitable compact form. Except where otherwise stated, the normal equipment of every lifeboat shall consist of:

• (i) sufficient buoyant oars to make headway in calm seas. Thole pins, crutches or equivalent arrangements shall be provided for each oar provided. Thole pins or crutches shall be attached to the boat by lanyards or chains;

• (ii) two boat-hooks;

• (iii) a buoyant bailer and two buckets;

• (iv) a survival manual;^footnote

• (v) a binnacle containing an efficient compass which is luminous or provided with suitable means of illumination. In a totally enclosed lifeboat, the binnacle shall be permanently fitted at the steering position; in any other lifeboat, it shall be provided with suitable mounting arrangements;

• (vi) a sea-anchor of adequate size fitted with a shock-resistant hawser and a tripping line which provides a firm hand grip when wet. The strength of the sea-anchor, hawser and tripping line shall be adequate for all sea conditions;

• (vii) two efficient painters of a length equal to not less than twice the distance from the stowage position of the lifeboat to the waterline in the lightest seagoing condition or 15 m, whichever is the greater. One painter attached to the release device required by paragraph (7)(g) shall be placed at the forward end of the lifeboat and the other shall be firmly secured at or near the bow of the lifeboat ready for use;

• (viii) two hatchets, one at each end of the lifeboat;

• (ix) watertight receptacles containing a total of 3 l of fresh water for each person the lifeboat is permitted to accommodate, of which 1 l per person may be replaced by a de-salting apparatus capable of producing an equal amount of fresh water in two days;

• (x) a rustproof dipper with lanyard;

• (xi) a rustproof graduated drinking vessel;

• (xii) a food ration totalling not less than 10,000 kJ for each person the lifeboat is permitted to accommodate; these rations shall be kept in airtight packaging and be stowed in a watertight container;

• (xiii) four rocket parachute flares complying with the requirements of regulation 29;

• (xiv) six hand flares complying with the requirements of regulation 30;

• (xv) two buoyant smoke signals complying with the requirements of regulation 31;

• (xvi) one waterproof electric torch suitable for Morse signalling together with one spare set of batteries and one spare bulb in a waterproof container;

• (xvii) one daylight signalling mirror with instructions for its use for signalling to ships and aircraft;

• (xviii) one copy of the life-saving signals prescribed by regulation V/16 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, on a waterproof card or in a waterproof container;

• (xix) one whistle or equivalent sound signal;

• (xx) a first-aid outfit in a waterproof case capable of being closed tightly after use;

• (xxi) six doses of anti-seasickness medicine and one seasickness bag for each person;

• (xxii) a jack-knife to be kept attached to the boat by a lanyard;

• (xxiii) three tin-openers;

• (xxiv) two buoyant rescue quoits, attached to not less than 30 m of buoyant line;

• (xxv) a manual pump;

• (xxvi) one set of fishing tackle;

• (xxvii) sufficient tools for minor adjustments to the engine and its accessories;

• (xxviii) portable fire-extinguishing equipment suitable for extinguishing oil fires;

• (xxix) a searchlight capable of effectively illuminating a light-coloured object at night having a width of 18 m at a distance of 180 m for a total period of 6 h and of working for not less than 3 h continuously;

• (xxx) an efficient radar reflector, unless a survival craft radar transponder is stowed in the lifeboat;

• (xxxi) thermal protective aids complying with the requirements of regulation 26 sufficient for 10%, of the number of persons the lifeboat is permitted to accommodate or two, whichever is greater;

• (xxxii) in the case of vessels engaged on voyages of such a nature and duration that, in the opinion of the Administration, the items specified in subparagraphs (xii) and (xxvi) are unnecessary, the Administration may allow these items to be dispensed with.

  (9) Lifeboat markings

• (a) The dimension of the lifeboat and the number of persons which it is permitted to accommodate shall be marked on it in clear permanent characters.

• (b) The name and port of registry of the vessel to which the lifeboat belongs shall be marked on each side of the lifeboat's bow in block capitals of the Roman alphabet.

• (c) Means of identifying the vessel to which the lifeboat belongs and the number of the lifeboat shall be marked in such a way that they are, as far as practicable, visible from above.

Figure 1 Seating arrangements