Division 2.—Lifeboats and Liferafts and Launching Gear.
Number of lifeboats to be carried on Class I. ships.
A Class I. ship shall be furnished on each side of the ship—
(a) with a lifeboat or lifeboats having an aggregate carrying capacity sufficient to accommodate half the number of persons that the ship is certified to carry; or
(b) with—
(i) a number of lifeboats having a carrying capacity sufficient to accommodate not less than thirty-seven and one-half per centum of the total number of persons that the ship is certified to carry; and
(ii) a number of liferafts having a carrying capacity which together with the carrying capacity of the lifeboats referred to in the last preceding sub-paragraph is sufficient to accommodate half the total number of persons that the ship is certified to carry.
Life boats—Class II. ships.
9.—(1.) Subject to this and the next succeeding regulation, a Class II. ship which has a gross registered tonnage of not less than 500 tons shall be furnished on each side of the ship with a lifeboat or lifeboats having an aggregate carrying capacity sufficient to accommodate the number of persons that the ship is certified to carry.
(2.) Subject to this regulation, a Class II. ship which has a gross registered tonnage of less than 500 tons shall—
(a) be furnished on each side of the ship with a lifeboat or lifeboats having an aggregate carrying capacity sufficient to accommodate the number of persons that the ship is certified to carry; or
(b) be furnished with one lifeboat with a carrying capacity sufficient to accommodate the number of persons that the ship is certified to carry.
(3.) Where a Class II. ship is furnished with one lifeboat in accordance with the last preceding sub-regulation, that lifeboat shall be carried in such a manner that it is able to be placed in the water on either side of the ship.
(4.) A Class II. ship that is less than one hundred and twenty feet in length and is propelled by mechanical means—
(a) shall be furnished with a lifeboat or lifeboats in accordance with the preceding provisions of this regulation; or
(b) shall be furnished with—
(i) a liferaft or liferafts having an aggregate carrying capacity sufficient to accommodate twice the number of persons that the ship is certified to carry; and
(ii) portable radiotelegraphy equipment in accordance with regulation 61 of these Regulations that is suitable for use in a liferaft.
Lifeboats—tankers.
10.—(1.) Subject to this regulation, a tanker which has a gross registered tonnage of not less than 3,000 tons shall be furnished with four lifeboats, two of which shall be carried amidships and two aft.
(2.) Subject to the next succeeding sub-regulation, where the ship referred to in the last preceding sub-regulation has no superstructure amidships, all the lifeboats shall be carried aft.
(3.) Where the Minister is satisfied that it is impracticable to carry four lifeboats aft, the Minister may, by instrument in writing, permit the ship to be furnished with one lifeboat on each side of the ship aft.
(4.) The lifeboats provided in accordance with the last preceding sub-regulation shall—
(a) not exceed twenty-six feet in length; and
(b) be stowed in such a manner that—
(i) the stern of the lifeboats are distant forward from the nearest part of any propeller by a distance being not less than one and one-half lengths of the lifeboat having the longer length; and
(ii) the lifeboats are as near to the level of the sea as is safe and practicable.
Emergency boats.
11.—(1.) A Class I. ship shall carry on each side of the ship an emergency boat, not exceeding twenty-eight feet in length, of an approved design.
(2.) An emergency boat shall be attached to davits and shall be kept ready for immediate use in an emergency.
(3.) An emergency boat is not required to be provided with skates or other apparatus to facilitate launching.
(4.) Where an emergency boat complies with the provisions of these Regulations in relation to lifeboats, the boat may be counted for the purpose of regulation 8 of these Regulations.
(5.) Where an emergency boat complies with the provisions of these Regulations in relation to motor lifeboats, the boat may be counted for the purpose of the next succeeding regulation.
Motor lifeboats.
12.—(1.) Subject to the next succeeding sub-regulation, a Class I. ship shall carry on each side of the ship at least one motor lifeboat.
(2.) Where the total number of persons, including crew, that a Class I. ship is certified to carry does not exceed thirty persons, one motor lifeboat shall be carried.
(3.) A Class II. ship, other than a tanker, which has a gross registered tonnage of not less than 1,600 tons shall carry one motor lifeboat.
(4.) A Class II. ship that is a tanker which has a gross registered tonnage of not less than 1,600 tons shall be furnished on each side of the ship with a motor lifeboat.
(5.) The Minister may grant in respect of a limited coast trade ship an exemption from carrying a motor lifeboat or motor lifeboats as required by this regulation.
Length of lifeboat.
13.—(1.) Subject to the next succeeding sub-regulation, a lifeboat shall be not less than twenty-four feet in length.
(2.) The Minister may, if satisfied that it is unreasonable or impracticable to require that a lifeboat be not less than twenty-four feet in length, permit a lifeboat having a length less than twenty-four feet to be carried but the length of the lifeboat shall not be less than sixteen feet.
Construction of lifeboats.
14.—(1.) The lifeboats provided in a ship shall comply with the provisions of Part I. of the Second Schedule.
(2.) The weight of a lifeboat when loaded with the number of persons included in the carrying capacity of the lifeboat as ascertained under the next succeeding regulation and its equipment shall not exceed 20 tons.
(3.) For the purposes of the last preceding sub-regulation, a person shall be deemed to weigh one hundred and sixty-five pounds.
Carrying capacity of lifeboats.
15.—(1.) For the purposes of this regulation, the prescribed number in relation to a lifeboat is the number, disregarding fractions, obtained by dividing the number of cubic feet in the lifeboat or, where the lifeboat is in full form or has fine ends, the number of cubic feet in the lifeboat if the effect of the full form or fine ends were omitted from the calculation of the number of cubic feet in the lifeboat—
(a) in respect of a lifeboat the length of which is twenty-four feet or more—by ten;
(b) in respect of a lifeboat the length of which is sixteen feet—by fourteen; and
(c) in respect of a lifeboat the length of which is between sixteen feet and twenty-four feet—by a number between ten and fourteen (inclusive) to be obtained by interpolation.
(2.) Subject to this regulation, the carrying capacity of a lifeboat is—
(a) the prescribed number for that lifeboat; or
(b) the number of adult persons that can be seated in the lifeboat in such a manner that the persons and their lifejackets do not interfere with the use of the oars or other propelling equipment,
(3.) Where the prescribed number for a motor lifeboat exceeds one hundred and fifty, the carrying capacity of that lifeboat is one hundred and fifty.
(4.) Where the prescribed number for a mechanically-propelled lifeboat exceeds one hundred, the carrying capacity of that lifeboat is one hundred.
(5.) Where the prescribed number for a lifeboat other than a motor lifeboat or a mechanically-propelled lifeboat exceeds sixty, the carrying capacity of that lifeboat is sixty.
(6.) For the purposes of this regulation, the capacity of a lifeboat in cubic feet shall be calculated in accordance with Part II. of the Second Schedule.
Lifeboat equipment.
16.—(1.) Subject to the next succeeding sub-regulation, a lifeboat provided in a ship shall be equipped as prescribed in the Third Schedule.
(2.) Where the Minister certifies that, having regard to the duration of a voyage of a ship, it is unnecessary for the articles of equipment specified in paragraphs (j), (r), (s), (w) or (z) of item 1 of Part I. of the
Third Schedule, the lifeboat rations specified in Part II. of the Third Schedule or a radar reflector specified in paragraph (u) of Part III. of the Sixth Schedule to be carried in the lifeboats on that ship, there is no requirement for the lifeboats in the ship to be equipped with those articles or rations.
(3.) Subject to the next succeeding sub-regulation, all items of equipment of a lifeboat that are not kept in lockers shall be lightly lashed within the lifeboat to ensure the security of the equipment but the lashing shall not interfere with the lifting hooks or prevent ready loading of, or impede ready entry into, the lifeboat.
(4.) The boat hooks of a lifeboat shall be kept free for fending off purposes.
(5.) In the case of a ship which is registered in Australia, such movable articles of the equipment of the lifeboat provided in the ship as may become flotsam shall be indelibly marked with the ship’s name or signal letters.
Numbering of lifeboats.
17.—(1.) Lifeboats attached to davits in a ship shall be identified by being numbered consecutively commencing from the forward lifeboats, each number being prefixed by the letter “P” for lifeboats on the port side, and the letter “S” for lifeboats on the starboard side.
(2.) The identifying number and letters of a lifeboat under this regulation shall be painted so as to be conspicuous on the bluff of each bow and on the inboard quarter of the lifeboat as stowed.
Marking of lifeboats.
18.—(1.) The dimensions of a lifeboat, its cubic capacity and its carrying capacity shall be clearly and permanently marked on the lifeboat.
(2.) The name and port of registration of the ship shall be clearly painted on each side of the bows of each lifeboat provided in the ship.
Stowage of lifeboats on Class I. ships.
19.—(1.) In this regulation, a reference to a ship is a reference to a Class I. ship.
(2.) The lifeboats provided in a ship shall be carried in such a manner as, in the opinion of a surveyor—
(a) will allow the lifeboats with a full complement of persons and equipment to be put into the water safely in not more than thirty minutes, even when the trim of the ship is ten degrees and the ship is listed fifteen degrees either way; and
(b) will not impede in any way—
(i) the rapid handling of another lifeboat, boat, liferaft or buoyant apparatus; or
(ii) the marshalling of passengers on board to their muster stations and their embarkation into the lifeboats.
(3.) A lifeboat shall not be carried—
(a) in the bow of a ship;
(b) near the propeller of a ship; or
(4.) Each lifeboat provided in a ship shall be attached to a separate set of davits.
(5.) Lifeboats shall not be carried on more than one deck of a ship unless adequate measures are taken to prevent the lifeboats on a lower deck being fouled by those carried on a deck above.
Stowage of lifeboats on Class II. ships.
20.—(1.) In this regulation, a reference to a ship is a reference to a Class II. ship.
(2.) Subject to regulation 10 of these Regulations and to this regulation, a lifeboat provided in a ship shall be carried in such a manner as, in the opinion of a surveyor—
(a) will allow the lifeboats with a full complement of persons and equipment to be put into the water safely in not more than thirty minutes, even when the trim of the ship is ten degrees and the ship is listed fifteen degrees either way; and
(b) will not impede in any way the rapid handling of another lifeboat, boat, liferaft or buoyant apparatus.
(3.) A lifeboat shall not be carried—
(a) in the bow of a ship;
(b) near the propeller of a ship; or
(4.) A lifeboat provided in a ship shall be stowed so that, so far as it is practicable, the lifeboat is capable of being launched down the straight side of the ship.
(5.) Each lifeboat provided in a ship shall be attached to a separate set of davits.
Winches and falls.
21.—(1.) Subject to the next succeeding sub-regulation, a lifeboat provided in a Class I. ship and a Class II. ship shall be served by wire-rope falls and winches of an approved design.
(2.) Where the Minister is satisfied that manilla-rope falls or falls of other material, having regard to the height of the lifeboat above the water when the ship is at her lightest sea-going draft or such other circumstances as he thinks fit, are adequate, he may permit manilla-rope falls or falls of other material, with or without winches, to be fitted.
(3.) Subject to the next succeeding sub-regulation, an emergency boat provided in a Class I. ship shall be served by—
(a) wire-rope falls; and
(b) winches of an approved design, capable of recovering the boat quickly.
(4.) Where the Minister is satisfied that manilla-rope falls or falls of other material, having regard to the height of the emergency boat above the water when the ship is at her lightest sea-going draft or such other circumstances as he thinks fit, are adequate, he may permit manilla-rope falls or falls of other material to be fitted.
(5.) The falls serving a lifeboat or emergency boat shall be long enough to reach the water when the ship is at her lightest sea-going draft and listed to fifteen degrees either way.
(6.) Lower-fall blocks of falls serving a lifeboat shall be fitted with a suitable ring or long link for attaching to the lifting hooks of a lifeboat or emergency boat unless the disengaging gear prescribed by the Fourth Schedule is fitted.
(7.) Where the disengaging gear prescribed by the Fourth Schedule is not fitted to lifeboats and emergency boats, means shall be provided for speedily detaching the falls from those boats.
Lifelines.
In a ship, two lifelines which are long enough to reach the water when the ship is at her lightest sea-going draft and listed to fifteen degrees either way shall be fitted to the davit span of each lifeboat.
Attachment of falls.
Where, in a ship, a lifeboat is attached to a set of davits, the falls shall be attached to the lifeboat ready for service and the points of attachment of the falls to the lifeboat shall be so situated, at a height above the gunwales, as to ensure stability when lowering the lifeboat.
Launching against adverse list.
Each lifeboat, other than an emergency lifeboat, shall be furnished with a set of skates or other apparatus to facilitate launching the lifeboats against a list of fifteen degrees either way.
Apparatus to keep lifeboats alongside ship.
A ship shall be furnished with means for bringing and holding lifeboats against the ship’s side whilst persons are being embarked.
Types of davits.
26.—(1.) Subject to the next succeeding sub-regulation, in a ship that is—
(a) a Class I. ship; or
(b) a Class II. ship which has a gross registered tonnage of not less than 500 tons,
the davits shall be—
(c) if the weight of the lifeboats is not more than two and one-quarter tons when fully equipped and manned for launching—of a luffing type or the gravity type; or
(d) if the weight of the lifeboats is more than two and one-quarter tons when fully equipped and manned for launching—of the gravity type.
(2.) In a Class II. ship, being a tanker, which has a gross registered tonnage of not less than 1,600 tons, the davits provided in the ship shall be of the gravity type.
(3.) In a Class II. ship which has a gross registered tonnage of less than 500 tons, the davits shall be of the luffing type or the gravity type.
Placing of davits.
Subject to regulations 10, 19 and 20 of these Regulations, the davits for the lifeboats with which a ship is provided shall be placed in such a manner as the Minister directs.
Construction of davits and launching gear.
The davits with which a ship is fitted and the lifeboat launching gear shall be constructed in accordance with—
(a) the requirements prescribed by the Fifth Schedule; and
(b) such other requirements as are specified in writing by the Minister.
Number of liferafts to be carried on Class I. ships.
29.—(1.) Subject to the next succeeding sub-regulation, a Class I. ship shall be furnished with a liferaft or liferafts having an aggregate carrying capacity sufficient to accommodate twenty-five per centum of the total number of persons that the ship is certified to carry.
(2.) Where a Class I. ship has a sub-division factor of 0.33 or less, the Minister may, by instrument in writing, authorize buoyant apparatus having an aggregate carrying capacity sufficient to accommodate twenty-five per centum of the total number of persons that the ship is certified to carry to be substituted for both the liferaft or liferafts specified under the last preceding sub-regulation and the buoyant apparatus specified in regulation 41 of these Regulations.
(3.) The carrying capacity of liferafts provided in a ship under the provisions of sub-paragraph (ii) of paragraph (b) of regulation 8 of these Regulations shall be additional to the carrying capacity prescribed by this regulation.
Number of liferafts to be carried on Class II. ships.
30.—(1.) A Class II. ship which has a gross registered tonnage of not less than 1,000 tons shall be furnished with a liferaft or liferafts having an
aggregate carrying capacity sufficient to accommodate one-half of the total number of persons that the ship is certified to carry.
(2.) A Class II. ship which has a gross registered tonnage of not less than 500 tons but less than 1,000 tons shall be furnished with a liferaft or liferafts having an aggregate carrying capacity sufficient to accommodate seventy-five per centum of the total number of persons that the ship is certified to carry.
(3.) A Class II. ship which has a gross registered tonnage of less than 500 tons shall be furnished with a liferaft or liferafts having an aggregate carrying capacity sufficient to accommodate the total number of persons that the ship is certified to carry.
(4.) The last preceding sub-regulation does not apply to a Class II. ship of less than one hundred and twenty feet in length if the ship is furnished with a liferaft or liferafts and equipment in accordance with paragraph (b) of sub-regulation (4.) of regulation 9 of these Regulations.
Carrying capacity of rigid liferafts.
31.—(1.) Subject to the next succeeding sub-regulation, the carrying capacity of a rigid liferaft provided in a ship is a number of persons that is equal to the number, disregarding fractions, obtained by dividing by four the area in square feet of the deck of the liferaft.
(2.) For the purposes of calculating in square feet the area of a deck of a rigid liferaft, the area of a liferaft not complying with the provisions of paragraph (b) of Part II. of the Sixth Schedule shall be disregarded.
Marking of rigid liferafts.
32.—(1.) The name and port of registration of the ship to which a rigid liferaft belongs shall be clearly marked on it.
(2.) The carrying capacity of a rigid liferaft shall be clearly and permanently marked on it.
Stowage of liferafts on Class I. ships.
33.—(1.) Subject to this regulation, liferafts provided in a Class I. ship shall be stowed in such a manner as, in the opinion of a surveyor—
(a) will allow the liferafts to be put into the water safely and in not more than thirty minutes, even when the trim of the ship is ten degrees and the ship is listed fifteen degrees either way and, where approved launching devices are provided, with a full complement of persons;
(b) will enable the liferafts that are not attached to launching devices to float free in the event of the ship sinking; and
(c) will not impede—
(i) the rapid handling of another liferaft, lifeboat, boat, or buoyant apparatus; and
(ii) the marshalling of passengers on board to their muster stations and embarkation into the liferafts.
(2.) Liferafts that are to be launched from approved launching devices shall not be carried in a Class I. ship—
(a) in the bow of the ship;
(b) near the propeller of the ship; or
(3.) A liferaft provided in a Class I. ship shall be stowed so that, as far as it is practicable, the liferaft is capable of being launched down the straight side of the ship.
Stowage of liferafts—Class II. ships.
34.—(1.) Subject to this regulation, liferafts provided in a Class II. ship shall be carried in such a manner as, in the opinion of a surveyor—
(a) will allow the liferafts to be put into the water safely and in not more than thirty minutes, even when the trim of the ship is
ten degrees and the ship is listed fifteen degrees either way and, where approved launching devices are provided, with a full complement of persons;
(b) will enable the liferafts that are not attached to launching devices to float free in the event of the ship sinking; and
(c) will not impede the rapid handling of another liferaft, lifeboat, boat or buoyant apparatus.
(2.) Liferafts that are to be launched from approved launching devices shall not be carried in a Class II. ship—
(a) in the bow of the ship;
(b) near the propeller of the ship; or
(3.) A liferaft provided in a Class II. ship shall be stowed so that, as far as it is practicable, the liferaft is capable of being launched down the straight side of the ship.
Number of persons to be carried on inflatable liferafts.
35.—(1.) Subject to the next succeeding sub-regulation, the carrying capacity of an inflatable liferaft provided in a ship is a number of persons that is equal to—
(a) the number, disregarding fractions, obtained by dividing by three and two-fifths the volume in cubic feet of the main buoyancy tubes (other than buoyancy tubes which form arches and thwarts) when the liferaft is inflated; or
(b) the number, disregarding fractions, obtained by dividing by four the area in square feet of the floor of the liferaft (including any thwarts, if fitted) when the liferaft is inflated,
(2.) Where the smaller of the numbers ascertained in accordance with paragraph (a) or (b) of the last preceding sub-regulation for an inflatable liferaft exceeds twenty-five, the carrying capacity of that liferaft is twenty-five persons.
(3.) An inflatable liferaft provided in a ship shall have a carrying capacity of not less than six persons.
Marking of inflatable liferafts.
36.—(1.) The carrying capacity of an inflatable liferaft shall be clearly and permanently marked on the liferaft and on the valise or other container in which the liferaft is contained.
(2.) Each inflatable liferaft shall be marked with a serial number and the manufacturer’s name.
Inflatable liferafts to be inspected.
The survey of an inflatable liferaft shall be carried out—
(a) at the place at which it was manufactured; or
(b) at an approved place.
Equipment of liferafts.
A liferaft shall be equipped and provided with rations as prescribed by Part III. of the Sixth Schedule.
Stowage of equipment on a liferaft.
Equipment of a rigid liferaft shall be so stowed as to be readily available whichever way up the liferaft is floating.
Approved launching devices.
40.—(1.) Where liferafts are carried in a Class I. ship in accordance with paragraph (b) of regulation 8 of these Regulations, the ship shall be furnished with approved launching devices sufficient in number to enable all the liferafts carried in the ship to be launched into the water in not more than thirty minutes in calm conditions with the number of persons that they are permitted to carry under these Regulations and with their equipment.
(2.) If, in the opinion of a person authorized for the purposes of this regulation by the Minister, the number of approved launching devices with which a ship is furnished in pursuance of the last preceding sub-regulation is not sufficient to enable that sub-regulation to be complied with, the authorized person may require the ship to be furnished with such additional number of launching devices as he considers necessary.
(3.) Launching devices furnished under sub-regulation (1.) of this regulation shall be distributed on the ship in relation to the liferafts with not less than one launching device on each side of the ship.