All items of lifeboat equipment, whether required by this
paragraph or elsewhere in section 4.4, shall be secured within the
lifeboat by lashings, storage in lockers or compartments, storage
in brackets or similar mounting arrangements or other suitable means.
However, in the case of a lifeboat to be launched by falls the boat-hooks
shall be kept free for fending off purposes. The equipment shall be
secured in such a manner as not to interfere with any abandonment
procedures. All items of lifeboat equipment shall be as small and
of as little mass as possible and shall be packed in a suitable and
compact form. Except where otherwise stated, the normal equipment
of every lifeboat shall consist of:
.1 except for free-fall lifeboats, 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;
.3 a buoyant bailer and two buckets;
.5 an operational compass which is luminous or
provided with suitable means of illumination. In a totally enclosed
lifeboat, the compass shall be permanently fitted at the steering
position; in any other lifeboat, it shall be provided with a binnacle
if necessary to protect it from the weather, and suitable mounting
arrangements;
.6 a sea-anchor of adequate size fitted with a
shock-resistant hawser which provides a firm hand grip when wet. The
strength of the sea-anchor, hawser and tripping line if fitted shall
be adequate for all sea conditions.
.7 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. On lifeboats to be launched by free-fall
launching, both painters shall be stowed near the bow ready for use.
On other lifeboats, one painter attached to the release device required
by paragraph 4.4.7.7 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;
.8 two hatchets, one at each end of the lifeboat;
.9 watertight receptacles containing a total of
3 l of fresh water as described in paragraph 4.1.5.1.19
for each person the lifeboat is permitted to accommodate, of which
either 1 l per person may be replaced by a desalting
apparatus capable of producing an equal amount of fresh water in 2
days, or 2 l per person may be replaced by a manually
powered reverse osmosis desalinator as described in paragraph 4.4.7.5
capable of producing an equal amount of fresh water in 2 days;
.10 a rustproof dipper with lanyard;
.11 a rustproof graduated drinking vessel;
.12 a food ration as described in paragraph 4.1.5.1.18 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;
.13 four rocket parachute flares complying with
the requirements of section 3.1;
.14 six hand flares complying with the requirements
of section 3.2;
.15 two buoyant smoke signals complying with the
requirements of section 3.3;
.16 one waterproof electric torch suitable for
Morse signalling together with one spare set of batteries and one
spare bulb in a waterproof container;
.17 one daylight signalling mirror with instructions
for its use for signalling to ships and aircraft;
.18 one copy of the life-saving signals prescribed
by regulation V/16 on a waterproof
card or in a waterproof container;
.19 one whistle or equivalent sound signal;
.20 a first-aid outfit in a waterproof case capable
of being closed tightly after use;
.21 anti-seasickness medicine sufficient for at
least 48 hours and one seasickness bag for each person;
.22 a jack-knife to be kept attached to the boat
by a lanyard;
.24 two buoyant rescue quoits, attached to not
less than 30 m of buoyant line;
.25 if the lifeboat is not automatically self-bailing,
a manual pump suitable for effective bailing;
.26 one set of fishing tackle;
.27 sufficient tools for minor adjustments to
the engine and its accessories;
.28 portable fire-extinguishing equipment of an
approved type suitable for extinguishing oil fires footnote;
.29 a searchlight with a horizontal and vertical
sector of at least 6° and a measured luminous intensity of 2500
cd which can work continuously for not less than 3 h;
.30 an efficient radar reflector, unless a survival
craft radar transponder is stowed in the lifeboat;
.31 thermal protective aids complying with the
requirements of section 2.5 sufficient
for 10% of the number of persons the lifeboat is permitted to accommodate
or two whichever is the greater; and
.32 in the case of ships engaged on voyages of
such a nature and duration that in the opinion of the Administration,
the items specified in paragraphs 4.4.8.12 and 4.4.8.26 are unnecessary,
the Administration may allow these items to be dispensed with.