The Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances) (Amendment) Regulations 1991

PART I AMENDMENTS TO 1980 REGULATIONS

2.  The Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances) Regulations 1980(1) shall be amended in accordance with the following:—

(1) In regulation 1(2) the following definitions shall be inserted in the appropriate alphabetical order:—

““Free-fall launching” means that method of launching a survival craft whereby the craft with its complement of persons and equipment on board is released and allowed to fall into the sea without any restraining apparatus;

“Immersion suit” means a protective suit which reduces the body heat-loss of a person wearing it in cold water and complies with the requirements of Part I of Schedule 11 to the Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances) Regulations 1986(2);

“Lifeboat radiotelegraph installation” means an installation complying with paragraph 6.4.1 of Merchant Shipping Notice M No. 928 or any Merchant Shipping Notice amending or replacing it which is considered by the Secretary of State to be relevant from time to time;

“Lifejacket” means a lifejacket complying with the requirements of Part I or Part II of Schedule 13 to the Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances) Regulations 1980 or Part I or II of Schedule 10 to the Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances) Regulations 1986;

“Lifejacket light” means a light complying with the requirements of Part III of Schedule 10 to the Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances) Regulations 1986;

“Marine escape system” means a system complying with the requirements of Schedule 5 to the Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances) Regulations 1986;

“Portable radio equipment” means an installation complying with paragraph 6.4.2 of Merchant Shipping Notice No. M 928 or any Merchant Shipping Notice amending or replacing it which is considered by the Secretary of State to be relevant from time to time;

“Radar Transponder” means a radar transponder, for use in survival craft, the emissions of which are intended to facilitate location of a survival craft in search and rescue operations;

“Retro-reflective material” means a material, which reflects in the opposite direction a beam of light directed on it, and complies with Merchant Shipping Notice No. M 1444 or any Merchant Shipping Notice amending or replacing it which is considered by the Secretary of State to be relevant from time to time;

“Satellite EPIRB” means an emergency position-indicating radio beacon, being an earth station in the mobile-satellite service, the emissions of which are intended to facilitate search and rescue operations and is capable of:—

(a)

floating free if the ship sinks,

(b)

being automatically activated when afloat,

(c)

being manually activated, and

(d)

being carried by one person;

“Survival craft EPIRB” means an emergency position-indicating radio beacon, being a station in the mobile service, for carriage in survival craft, the emissions of which are intended to facilitate search and rescue operations;

“Thermal protective aid” means a bag or suit complying with the requirements of Part II of Schedule 11 to the Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances) Regulations 1986, made of waterproof material with low thermal conductivity;

“Two-way radiotelephone set” means a portable two-way VHF radiotelephone apparatus or a fixed VHF installation in survival craft for communication between survival craft, between survival craft and ship and between survival craft and rescue unit;

“Waterproofed” means protected as far as is practicable from the ingress of water;”.

(2) In regulation 2(1) in the definition of a “Class VI passenger ship” the words “exclusive of any smooth waters” should be replaced by the words “exclusive of any smooth or partially smooth waters”.

(3) In regulation 2(2);

(a) the definition of “partially smooth waters” shall be replaced by the following:—

• ““Partially smooth waters” means, as respects any period specified in the Schedule to the Merchant Shipping (Smooth and Partially Smooth Waters) Regulations 1987(3), the waters of the areas specified in Column 3 of that Schedule in relation to that period;”.

(b) the definition of “smooth waters” shall be replaced by the following:—

““Smooth waters” means any waters not being the sea or partially smooth waters and in particular means waters of any of the areas specified in column 2 of the Schedule to the Merchant Shipping (Smooth and Partially Smooth Waters) Regulations 1987;”.

(4) Regulation 3(5) shall be replaced by the following:—

“(5) (a) Every ship to which this regulation applies shall be provided with either the following equipment:—

ALTERNATIVE A

(i) at least the number of survival craft radio equipement determined in accordance with the following table:

No of persons ships certified to carry	Portable radio Equipment	Lifeboat Radiotelegraph Installation for Motor Lifeboats
13–199	1	—
200–1499	1	1
1500 or more	—	2 (1 on each side)

(ii) at least 3 waterproofed two-way radiotelephone sets of which at least one shall be portable, and

(iii) on each side of the ship, a survival craft EPIRB so stowed that it can be rapidly placed in any survival craft;

or:—

ALTERNATIVE B

(i) a satellite EPIRB capable of floating free if the ship sinks and of being automatically activated when afloat,

(ii) at least 3 waterproofed two-way radiotelephone sets of which at least one shall be portable, and

(iii) on each side of the ship, at least one radar transponder stowed in such a location that it can be rapidly placed in any survival craft or, alternatively, one radar transponder stowed in each survival craft.

(b) Notwithstanding ALTERNATIVE A above, every ship to which this regulation applies shall be provided with:—

(i) the satellite EPIRB prescribed in ALTERNATIVE B(i) on and after 1st August 1993, and

(ii) radar transponders as prescribed in ALTERNATIVE B(iii) on and after 1st February 1995.

(c) two-way radiotelephone sets prescribed in ALTERNATIVES A(ii) and B(ii) shall, on and after 1st February 1999, comply fully with performance standards adopted by the International Maritime Organiza tion (IMO) contained in IMO Resolution A.605(15) or any Resolution amending or replacing it which is considered by the Secretary of State to be relevant from time to time.”.

(5) Regulation 3(6) shall be replaced by the following:—

“(6) Every motor lifeboat carried in compliance with these Regulations shall be provided with the equipment specified in regulation 39(2) of these Regulations.”.

(6) After regulation 3(12)(b) the following new paragraph shall be inserted:—

“(c) Each lifejacket required to be carried by sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) shall be fitted with a lifejacket light.”.

(7) After regulation 3(13) the following new paragraph shall be inserted:—

“(14) Every ship to which this regulation applies shall carry for each lifeboat on the ship at least 3 immersion suits and, in addition, a thermal protective aid for every person to be accommodated in the lifeboats and not provided with an immersion suit. Immersion suits and thermal protective aids need not be carried for persons to be accommodated in totally or partially enclosed lifeboats or on a ship which is constantly engaged on voyages between the parallels of latitude of 20° north and south.”.

(8) Regulation 4(11) shall be replaced by the following:—

“(11) (a) Every ship to which this regulation applies shall be provided with either the following equipment:—

ALTERNATIVE A

(i) portable radio equipment; this equipment shall not be required if a lifeboat radiotelegraph installation is fitted in a lifeboat on each side of the ship or if the ship is engaged on voyages of such duration that in the opinion of the Secretary of State portable radio equipment is unnecessary,

(ii) at least 3 waterproofed two-way radiotelephone sets of which at least one shall be portable, and

(iii) on each side of the ship, a survival craft EPIRB so stowed that it can be rapidly placed in any survival craft;

• or:—

ALTERNATIVE B

(i) a satellite EPIRB;

(ii) at least 3 waterproofed two-way radiotelephone sets of which at least one shall be portable, and

(iii) on each side of the ship, at least one radar transponder stowed in such a location that it can be rapidly placed in any survival craft or, alternatively, one radar transponder stowed in each survival craft.

(b) Notwithstanding ALTERNATIVE A above, every ship to which this regulation applies shall be provided with:

(i) the satellite EPIRB prescribed in ALTERNATIVE B(i) on and after 1st August 1993, and

(ii) radar transponders as prescribed in ALTERNATIVE B(iii) on and after 1st February 1995.

(c) The two-way radiotelephone sets prescribed in ALTERNATIVES A(ii) and B(ii) shall, on and after 1st February 1999, comply fully with performance standards adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) contained in IMO Resolution A.605(15) or any Resolution amending or replacing it which is considered by the Secretary of State to be relevant from time to time.”.

(9) After regulation 4(16) the following new paragraph shall be inserted:—

“(17) Every ship to which this regulation applies shall carry for each lifeboat on the ship at least 3 immersion suits and, in addition, a thermal protective aid for every person to be accommodated in the lifeboats and not provided with an immersion suit. Immersion suits and thermal protective aids need not be carried for persons to be accommodated in totally or partially enclosed lifeboats.”.

(10) In regulation 11(4) the words “but under 1600 tons”, shall be deleted.

(11) Regulation 11(5) shall be deleted.

(12) Regulation 11(13) shall be replaced by the following:—

“(13) (a) Every ship to which this regulation applies shall be provided with either the following equipment:—

ALTERNATIVE A

(i) portable radio equipment; provided that this equipment shall not be required if a lifeboat radiotelegraph installation is fitted in a lifeboat on each side of the ship or if the ship is engaged on voyages of such duration that in the opinion of the Secretary of State portable radio equipment is unnecessary,

(ii) at least 3 waterproofed two-way radiotelephone sets of which at least one shall be portable, and

(iii) on each side of the ship, a survival craft EPIRB so stowed that it can be rapidly placed in any survival craft other than that required by paragraph (9);

• or:—

ALTERNATIVE B

(i) a satellite EPIRB,

(ii) in the case of a ship of 500 tons or over, at least 3 waterproofed two- way radiotelephone sets of which at least one shall be portable and in the case of a ship of under 500 tons, at least 2 waterproofed two- way radiotelephone sets of which at least one shall be portable, and

(iii) in the case of a ship of 500 tons or over, on each side of the ship at least one radar transponder, and in the case of a ship under 500 tons at least one radar transponder. Each radar transponder shall be stowed in such a location that it can be rapidly placed in any survival craft other than that required by paragraph (9) or, alternatively, one radar transponder shall be stowed in each survival craft other than that required by paragraph (9).

(b) Notwithstanding ALTERNATIVE A above, every ship to which this regulation applies shall be provided with:—

(i) the satellite EPIRB prescribed in ALTERNATIVE B(i) on and after 1st August 1993, and

(ii) a radar transponder or radar transponders as prescribed in ALTER NATIVE B(iii) on and after 1st February 1995.

(c) The two-way radiotelephone sets prescribed in ALTERNATIVES A(ii) and B(ii) shall, on and after 1st February 1999, comply fully with the performance standards adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) contained in IMO Resolution A.605(15) or any Resolution amending or replacing it which is considered by the Secretary of State to be relevant from time to time.”.

(13) In regulation 11(16) the following sentence shall be added:—

• “Such lifejackets shall be fitted with a lifejacket light.”.

(14) After regulation 11(17) the following paragraphs shall be inserted:

“(18) Every ship to which this regulation applies, except a ship which complies with either paragraphs (6)(b) or (8)(b) of this regulation, shall carry for each lifeboat on the ship at least 3 immersion suits and, in addition, a thermal protective aid for every person on board not provided with an immersion suit. Provided that immersion suits and thermal protective aids need not be carried if:—

(a) the lifeboats required under paragraph (2) and (8)(a) of this regulation are totally enclosed,

(b) a totally enclosed lifeboat capable of free-fall launching is carried in lieu of the lifeboats required under paragraph (2) and (8)(a) of this regulation, or

(c) the ship is constantly engaged on voyages between the parallels of latitude of 20° north and south.

(19) Every ship to which either paragraph (6)(b) or (8)(b) of this regulation applies shall be provided with an immersion suit for every person on board unless the ship is provided with davit-launched liferafts or a marine escape system, or is constantly engaged on voyages between the parallels of latitude 20° north and south.”.

(15) Regulation 12(5) shall be replaced by the following:—

“(5) (a) Every ship to which this regulation applies shall be provided with either the following equipment:—

ALTERNATIVE A

(i) survival craft radio equipment determined in accordance with the following table:

No of persons ships certified to carry	Portable radio Equipment	Lifeboat Radiotelegraph Installation for motor lifeboats
13–199	1	–
200–1499	1	1
155 or more	—	2 (1 on each side)

(ii) at least 3 waterproofed two-way radiotelephone sets of which at least one shall be portable, and

(iii) on each side of the ship, a survival craft EPIRB so stowed that it can be rapidly placed in any survival craft;

• or:—

ALTERNATIVE B

(i) a satellite EPIRB,

(ii) at least 3 waterproofed two-way radiotelephone sets of which at least one shall be portable, and

(iii) on each side of the ship, at least one radar transponder stowed in such a location that it can be rapidly placed in any survival craft or, alternatively, one radar transponder stowed in each survival craft.

(b) Notwithstanding ALTERNATIVE A above, every ship to which this regulation applies shall be provided with:—

(i) the satellite EPIRB prescribed in ALTERNATIVE B(i) on and after 1st August 1993, and

(iii) radar transponders as prescribed in ALTERNATIVE B(iii) on and after 1st February 1995.

(c) The two-way radiotelephone sets prescribed in ALTERNATIVES A(ii) and B(ii) shall, on and after 1st February 1999, comply fully with performance standards adopted by the International Maritime Organiza tion (IMO) contained in IMO Resolution A.605(15) or any Resolution amending or replacing it which is considered by the Secretary of State to be relevant from time to time.”.

(16) Regulation 12(6) shall be replaced by the following:—

“(6) Every motor lifeboat carried in compliance with these regulations shall be provided with the equipment specified in regulation 39(2) of these Regulations.”.

(17) In regulation 12(12) the following sentence shall be added:—

• “Such lifejackets shall be fitted with a lifejacket light.”.

(18) After regulation 12(13) the following new paragraph shall be inserted:—

“(14) Every ship to which this regulation applies shall carry for each lifeboat on the ship at least 3 immersion suits and, in addition, a thermal protective aid for every person on board not provided with an immersion suit. Immersion suits and thermal protective aids need not be carried for persons to be accommodated in totally or partially enclosed lifeboats or on a ship which is constantly engaged on voyages between the parallels of latitude of 20° north and south.”.

(19) In regulation 13(1):—

(a) “(5)” shall be deleted, and

(b) “and (17)” shall be replaced by “(17), (18) and (19),”.

(20) In regulation 16(1), “(5)” shall be replaced by “(4)”.

(21) In regulation 16(3), “Paragraphs (14), (15), (16) and (17)” shall be replaced by “Paragraphs (13)(a), (14), (15), (16), (17), (18) and (19)”.

(22) In regulation 17(1), “(5)” shall be replaced by “(4)”.

(23) In regulation 17(4), “Paragraphs (14), (15), (16) and (17)” shall be replaced by “Paragraphs (13)(a), (14), (15), (16), (17), (18) and (19)”.

(24) In regulation 18(2), “(5)” shall be deleted.

(25) In regulation 18(5), “Paragraphs (14), (15), (16) and (17)” shall be replaced by “Paragraphs (13)(a), (14), (15), (16), (17), (18) and (19)”.

(26) In regulation 22(6) the following sentence shall be added:—

• “Such lifejacket shall be fitted with a lifejacket light.”.

(27) After regulation 22(7) the following new paragraphs shall be added:—

“(8) (a) Every ship to which this regulation applies shall be provided with either the following equipment:—

ALTERNATIVE A

(i) at least 3 waterproofed two-way radiotelephone sets of which at least one shall be portable, and

(ii) on each side of the ship, a survival craft EPIRB so stowed that it can be rapidly placed in any survival craft;

• or:—

ALTERNATIVE B

(i) a satellite EPIRB,

(ii) in the case of a ship of 500 tons or over, at least 3 waterproofed two- way radiotelephone sets of which at least one shall be portable and in the case of a ship of under 500 tons, at least 2 waterproofed two-way radiotelephone sets of which at least one shall be portable, and

(iii) in the case of a ship of 500 tons or over, on each side of the ship at least one radar transponder, and in the case of a ship under 500 tons at least one radar transponder. Each radar transponder shall be stowed in such a location that it can be rapidly placed in any survival craft or, alternatively, one radar transponder shall be stowed in each survival craft.

(b) Notwithstanding ALTERNATIVE A above, every ship to which this regulation applies shall be provided with:—

(i) the satellite EPIRB prescribed in ALTERNATIVE B(i) on and after 1st August 1993, and

(ii) a radar transponder or radar transponders as prescribed in ALTERNATIVE B(iii) on and after 1st February 1995.

(c) The two-way radiotelephone sets prescribed in ALTERNATIVES A(i) and B(ii) shall, on and after 1st February 1999, comply fully with the performance standards adopted by the International Maritime Organization.

(9) Every ship to which this regulation applies shall carry for each lifeboat on the ship at least 3 immersion suits and, in addition, a thermal protective aid for every person on board not provided with an immersion suit. In the case of a ship which complies with paragraph (2)(b) of this regulation an immersion suit shall be carried for every person on board. Immersion suits and thermal protective aids need not be carried if:—

(a) totally enclosed lifeboats are carried,

(b) davit-launched liferafts are carried, or

(c) the ship is constantly engaged on voyages between the parallels of latitude of 20° north and south.”.

(28) After regulation 23(7)(b) the following new sub-paragraph shall be inserted:—

“(c) On every ship which proceeds to sea each lifejacket required to be carried by sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) shall be fitted with a lifejacket light.”.

(29) In regulation 34(1) after “IX(A)(T)” where it first occurs, there shall be added “of less than 12.2m”.

(30) After regulation 35 the following new regulation shall be inserted:—

“Retro-reflective material

35A.   Life-Saving appliances carried on ships of Classes I to XI inclusive and ships of Class XII which proceed to sea, shall be fitted with retro-reflective material where it will assist in detection, and the dimensions and location of the retro-reflective material shall be in accordance with Merchant Shipping Notice No. 1444 or any Merchant Shipping Notice amending or replacing it which is considered by the Secretary of State to be relevant from time to time.”.

(31) After regulation 36(1)(z) and before the proviso, the following new sub-paragraph shall be inserted:—

“(aa) thermal protective aids sufficient for 10% of the number of persons the lifeboat is permitted to accommodate or for two persons, whichever is the greater number.”.

(32) In regulation 36(1), after sub-paragraph (ii) of the proviso, the following new sub-paragraph shall be inserted:—

“(iii) In ships of Classes I, II, II(A), III, IV, and VI(A) such lifeboats shall not be required to carry the equipment specified in sub-paragraph (aa) of this paragraph.”.

(33) After regulation 36(6)(l) the following new sub-paragraph shall be inserted:—

“(m) thermal protective aids sufficient for 10% of the number of persons the lifeboat is permitted to accommodate or for two persons, whichever is the greater number.”.

(34) Regulation 39(1) shall be replaced by the following:—

“(1) In every ship of Classes I and VII(A) the following shall be complied with:—

(a) the lifeboat radiotelegraph installation in the motor lifeboats which are required to comply with regulations 3(5)(a)(i) and 12(5)(a)(i) shall comply with the following provisions:—

(i) it shall be installed in the cabin large enough to accommodate both the apparatus and the person using it,

(ii) the arrangements shall be such that the efficient operation of the transmitter and receiver shall not be impaired through interference from the engine of the motor lifeboat whether a battery is on charge or not, and

(iii) the radio battery shall not be used to supply power to any engine starting motor or ignition system;

(b) means shall be provided in the lifeboat for recharging batteries.”.

(35) Regulation 41(1)(p) shall be replaced by the following:—

“(p) a food ration complying with the requirements of Part III of Schedule 7 of the Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances) Regulations 1986, totalling not less than 10,000 kilojoules for each person the liferaft is permitted to accommodate; these rations shall be in airtight packaging and be stowed in a watertight container;”.

(36) After regulation 41(1)(t) the following new sub-paragraph shall be inserted:—

“(u) thermal protective aids sufficient for 10% of the number of persons the liferaft is permitted to accommodate or for two persons, whichever is the greater number.”.

(37) After regulation 41(1) the following new paragraph shall be inserted:—

“(1A) In ships of Class I such liferafts shall not be required to carry the equipment specified in sub-paragraph (u) of paragraph (1) of this regulation.”.

(38) In regulation 43(11)(c), “2(3)” shall be replaced by “12(3)”.

(39) Regulation 48(1) shall be replaced by the following:—

“(1) The portable radio equipment required to be carried in compliance with regulations 3(5), 4(11), 11(13) and 12(5) shall be kept in a suitable place ready to be moved into a survival craft in case of emergency.”.

(40) After regulation 51D the following new regulations shall be inserted:—

“Immersion suits

51E.   Immersion suits may be of the insulated or uninsulated type provided that immersion suits of the insulated type shall be carried on ships which make voyages:—

(a) north of latitude 65°N in the Atlantic Ocean;

(b) north of latitude 55°N in the Pacific Ocean;

(c) south of latitude 50°S, and

(d) east of longitude 10°E in the Kattegat and Baltic Sea between 1st December and 30th April, both dates inclusive.

Approval and replacement of life-saving appliances

51F.— (1) Life-saving appliances and arrangements required by these Regulations shall be of a type which has been approved by the Secretary of State.

(2) Such approval shall have been given pursuant to these Regulations or shall be given pursuant to the Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances) Regulations 1986 and shall be given in writing and shall specify the date when it is to come into force and the conditions (if any) on which it is given.

(3) Any item of the life-saving equipment marked with an expiry date shall, on that date, cease to be approved for the purpose of these Regulations.

Testing of survival craft release arrangements

51G.— (1) Liferaft automatic release hooks shall be serviced at intervals not exceeding 30 months and shall be proof tested at 200% safe working load at intervals not exceeding five years.

(2) Lifeboat disengaging gears shall be overhauled and shall be proof tested at 200% safe working load at intervals not exceeding five years.

(3) Such testing shall be carried out for the first time not later than 1st July 1995.”.

(41) In regulation 53 after “excursion” the following shall be inserted:—

• “or arrives within the territorial waters of the United Kingdom”.

(1)

S.I. 1980/538; relevant amendments are S.I. 1981/577 and 1986/1072.

(2)

S.I. 1986/1066.

(3)

S.I. 1987/1591.