The Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances For Passenger Ships Of Classes III To VI(A)) Regulations 1999

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Ships of Class VU.K.

7.—(1) [F1Subject to regulation 4B(1) (application),] this regulation applies to ships of Class V, and

(a)only paragraphs (2) and (3) apply to ships which operate within Category A waters only and which comply with the standard of survivability specified in Table 1(5) or Table 2(7) (heel test);

(b)only [F2paragraphs (4) to (7)] apply to ships which operate within Category A and B waters; and

(c)only paragraphs (8) to (11) apply to ships which operate within Category A, B and C waters.

(2) Every ship to which this paragraph applies shall carry–

(a)in addition to the requirements of subparagraph (b), lifebuoys to support 10 per cent of the total number of persons which the ship is certified to carry, each lifebuoy being capable of supporting two persons; and

(b)at least the number of lifebuoys determined in accordance with the following table–

Number of passengers for which the ship is certified to carry	Number of lifebuoys
not more than 250	4
more than 250	8

At least one lifebuoy on each side of the ship shall be fitted with a buoyant lifeline and not less than 50 per cent of the total lifebuoys shall be provided with self-igniting lights: except that self-igniting lights need not be provided on ships which operate only between sunrise and sunset.

(3) Every such ship shall be provided with:

(a)suitable arrangements for the recovery of persons from the water; and

[F3(b)a general emergency alarm system, or a public address system which can be used for broadcasting a general emergency alarm and which complies with the requirements of Merchant Shipping Notice No. 1676(M) as amended by Merchant Shipping Notice No. 1757(M);]

(4) (a) Every ship to which this paragraph applies shall carry the appliances specified in column (4) of the capacity specified in column (5) in relation to a ship specified in columns (1) to (3) of the following table–

(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)
Type of ship	Number of passengers ship is certified to carry	Standard of survivability ship complies with	Life-Saving Appliances (LSA)	Minimum aggregate percentage of LSA for the total number of persons the ship is certified to carry
i New passenger ship	Not more than 50	Table 1, (6) (one-compartment standard)	Liferafts or open reversible liferafts	60
			OR *buoyant apparatus	60
ii New passenger ship	Not more than 50	Table 1, (7) (Buoyancy Test)	Liferafts or open reversible liferafts	100
			OR *buoyant apparatus	60
iii New passenger ship	More than 50 but not more than 250	Table 1, (8) (one-compartment standard)	†Lifeboats, liferafts or open reversible liferafts	60
			OR *buoyant apparatus	60
iv New passenger ship	More than 250	Table 1, (9) (two-compartment standard)	†Lifeboats, liferafts or open reversible liferafts	60
			OR *buoyant apparatus	60
v Existing passenger ship	Not more than 50	Table 2, (8) (one-compartment standard)	Liferafts or open reversible liferafts	60
			OR *buoyant apparatus	60
vi Existing passenger ship	Not more than 50	Table 2, (9) (Buoyancy Test)	Liferafts or open reversible liferafts	100
			OR *buoyant apparatus	100
vii Existing passenger ship	Not more than 50	Table 2, (10) (Heel Test)	Liferafts or open reversible liferafts	50
			AND *buoyant apparatus	50
viii Existing passenger ship	More than 50 but not more than 250	Table 2, (11) (one-compartment standard)	†Lifeboats, liferafts or open reversible liferafts	60
			OR *buoyant apparatus	60
ix Existing passenger ship	More than 50 but not more than 250	Table 2, (12) (Buoyancy Test)	†Lifeboats, liferafts or open reversible liferafts	100
			OR *buoyant apparatus	100
x Existing passenger ship	More than 50 but not more than 250	Table 2, (13) (Heel Test)	†Lifeboats, liferafts or open reversible liferafts	50
			AND *buoyant apparatus	50
xi Existing passenger ship	More than 250	Table 2, (14) (two-compartment standard)	†Lifeboats, liferafts or open reversible liferafts	60
			OR *buoyant apparatus	60
xii Existing passenger ship	More than 250	Table 2, (15) (one-compartment standard)	†Lifeboats, liferafts or open reversible liferafts	100
			OR *buoyant apparatus	100
xiii Existing passenger ship	More than 250	Table 2, (16) (Buoyancy Test)	†Lifeboats, liferafts or open reversible liferafts	50
			AND *buoyant apparatus	50

* The Buoyant Apparatus shown in columns (4) and (5) may be substituted by lifebuoys F4..., with each such lifebuoy being suitable to support two persons.
† Lifeboats, where fitted, shall be served by their own launching appliances and be capable of launching and recovery.

(b)Where liferafts are carried they shall, as far as practicable, be equally distributed on each side of the ship.

(5) Suitable arrangements shall be provided on board for the recovery of persons from the water.

(6) Every ship shall carry–

[F5(za)subject to regulation 4B(1) (application), for each person on board one of the following—

(i)a lifejacket suitable for a person weighing 32 kilogrammes or more;

(ii)a lifejacket suitable for a person weighing less than 32 kilogrammes for each such person on board;

(iii)a buoyancy aid suitable for a person weighing 32 kilogrammes or more, and a buoyancy aid suitable for a person weighing less than 32 kilogrammes;

(iv)a lifejacket complying with either British Standard Specifications EN 394:1994 and 396:1994 or ISO 12402-3 and ISO 12402-5, provided such lifejackets do not depend wholly upon oral inflation. Lifejackets of the partially inherently buoyant type for persons weighing 32 kilogrammes or more shall have buoyancy in the uninflated state of not less than 89 Newtons; or

(v)an inflatable Civil Aviation Authority lifejacket which complies with Part 5 of Schedule 9;]

[F6(a)if it is a ship which carries one or more open reversible liferafts, a means of communication which is portable, waterproof and capable in an emergency situation of making immediate contact with the emergency services for the area in which the ship is operating; and]

(b)at least the number of lifebuoys determined in accordance with the following table–

Number of passengers the ship is certified to carry	Number of lifebuoys
not more than 250	4
more than 250	8

At least one lifebuoy on each side of the ship shall be fitted with a buoyant lifeline and not less than 50 per cent of the total number of lifebuoys shall be provided with self-igniting lights of which at least two shall be capable of quick release from the navigating bridge: except that self-igniting lights need not be provided on ships which operate only between sunrise and sunset.

(7) Every ship shall be provided with–

[F7(i)a general emergency alarm system, or a public address system which can be used for broadcasting a general emergency alarm and which complies with the requirements of Merchant Shipping Notice No. 1676(M) as amended by Merchant Shipping Notice No. 1757(M);]

(ii)posters or signs in accordance with the requirements of regulation 12;

(iii)a training manual; and

(iv)instructions for on-board maintenance of life-saving appliances or a shipboard planned maintenance programme which includes the maintenance of life-saving appliances.

(8) (a) [F8Subject to regulation 4B(1) (application),] every ship shall carry the appliances specified in column (4) of the capacity specified in column 5 in relation to a ship specified in columns (1) to (3) of the following table–

(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)
Type of ship	Number of passengers ship is certified to carry	Standard of survivability ship complies with	Life-Saving Appliances (LSA)	Minimum aggregate percentage of LSA for the total number of persons the ship is certified to carry
i New passenger ship	Not more than 50	Table 1, (10) (one-compartment standard)	[F9lifeboats, liferafts or open reversible liferafts	[F10100]
			AND] *buoyant apparatus	[F1110]
ii New passenger ship	Not more than 50	Table 1, (11) (Buoyancy Test)	[F9lifeboats, liferafts or open reversible liferafts	100
			AND] *buoyant apparatus	[F1110]
iii New passenger ship	More than 50 but not more than 250	Table 1, (12) (one-compartment standard)	†Lifeboats, liferafts or open reversible liferafts	[F10100]
			AND *buoyant apparatus	[F1110]
iv New passenger ship	More than 250	Table 1, (13) (two-compartment standard)	†Lifeboats, liferafts or open reversible liferafts	[F10100]
			AND *buoyant apparatus	[F1110]
v Existing passenger ship	Not more than 50	Table 2, (17) (one-compartment standard)	[F9lifeboats, liferafts or open reversible liferafts	[F10100]
			AND] *buoyant apparatus	[F1110]
vi Existing passenger ship	Not more than 50	Table 2, (18) (Buoyancy Test)	[F9lifeboats, liferafts or open reversible liferafts	100
			AND] *buoyant apparatus	[F1110]
vii Existing passenger ship	Not more than 50	Table 2, (19) (Heel Test)	Liferafts or open reversible liferafts	100
			AND *buoyant apparatus	10
viii Existing passenger ship	More than 50 but not more than 250	Table 2, (20) (one-compartment standard)	†Lifeboats, liferafts or open reversible liferafts	[F10100]
			AND *buoyant apparatus	[F1110]
ix Existing passenger ship	More than 50 but not more than 250	Table 2, (21) (Buoyancy Test)	†Lifeboats, liferafts or open reversible liferafts	[F10100]
			AND *buoyant apparatus	[F1110]
x Existing passenger ship	More than 50 but not more than 250	Table 2, (22) (Heel Test)	†Lifeboats, liferafts or open reversible liferafts	100
			AND *buoyant apparatus	10
xi Existing passenger ship	More than 250	Table 2, (23) (two-compartment standard)	†Lifeboats, liferafts or open reversible liferafts	[F10100]
			AND *buoyant apparatus	[F1110]
xii Existing passenger ship	More than 250	Table 2, (24) (Buoyancy Test)	†Lifeboats, liferafts or open reversible liferafts	[F10100]
			AND *buoyant apparatus	[F1110]
xiii Existing passenger ship	More than 250	Table 2, (25) (Buoyancy Test)	†Lifeboats, liferafts or open reversible liferafts	100
			AND *buoyant apparatus	10

* The buoyant apparatus shown in columns (4) and (5) may be substituted by lifebuoys F12... with each such lifebuoy being suitable to support two persons.
† Lifeboats, where fitted, shall be served by their own launching appliances and be capable of launching and recovery.

(b)Where liferafts are provided they shall, as far as practicable, be equally distributed on each side of the ship.

(9) Suitable arrangements shall be provided on board for the recovery of persons from the water.

(10) Every ship shall carry–

(a)at least 2 waterproofed two-way radiotelephone apparatus except where buoyant apparatus only is fitted, when these shall not be required;

(b)at least the number of lifebuoys determined in accordance with the following table–

Number of passengers the ship is certified to carry	Number of lifebuoys
not more than 250	4
more than 250	8

At least one lifebuoy on each side of the ship shall be fitted with a buoyant lifeline and not less than 50 per cent of the total number of lifebuoys shall be provided with self-igniting lights. In the case of a ship carrying more than 250 passengers not less than two of the lifebuoys provided with such lights shall also be provided with self-activating smoke signals and be capable of quick release from the navigating bridge: except that self-igniting lights need not be provided on ships which only operate between sunrise and sunset.

(c)for each person on board one of the following–

(i)a lifejacket suitable for a person weighing 32 kilogrammes or more;

(ii)a lifejacket suitable for a person weighing less than 32 kilogrammes for each such person on board;

(iii)a buoyancy aid suitable for a person weighing 32 kilogrammes or more, and a buoyancy aid suitable for a person weighing less than 32 kilogrammes;

(iv)a lifejacket complying with British Standard Specification EN 394 and 396:1994 provided such lifejackets do not depend wholly upon oral inflation. Lifejackets of the partially inherently buoyant type for persons weighing 32 kilogrammes or more shall have buoyancy in the uninflated state of not less than 89 Newtons; or

(v)an inflatable Civil Aviation Authority lifejacket which complies with Part 5 of Schedule 9.

[F13(10A) Subject to regulation 4B(1) (application), each lifejacket or buoyancy aid carried in accordance with paragraph (10)(c) shall be fitted with an automatically activated light of a type that complies with either paragraph 2.2.3 of the Life Saving Appliances Code or paragraph 5.8 of Part 8 of ISO 12402, or is approved under the Merchant Shipping (Marine Equipment) Regulations 2016.]

(11) Every ship shall be provided with–

[F14(i)a general emergency alarm system, or a public address system which can be used for broadcasting a general emergency alarm and which complies with the requirements of Merchant Shipping Notice No. 1676(M) as amended by Merchant Shipping Notice No. 1757(M);]

(ii)posters or signs in accordance with the requirements of regulation 12;

(iii)a training manual; and

(iv)instructions for on-board maintenance of life-saving appliances or a shipboard planned maintenance programme which includes the maintenance of life-saving appliances.

Textual Amendments

F1Words in reg. 7(1) inserted (29.12.2022) by The Merchant Shipping (Safety Standards for Passenger Ships on Domestic Voyages) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/1269), regs. 1(b), 4(6)

F2Words in reg. 7(1)(b) substituted (14.8.2001) by The Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances) (Amendment) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/2642), regs. 1(1), 4(1)

F3Reg. 7(3)(b) substituted (14.8.2001) by The Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances) (Amendment) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/2642), regs. 1(1), 5(2)

F4Words in reg. 7(4)(a) table omitted (29.12.2022) by virtue of The Merchant Shipping (Safety Standards for Passenger Ships on Domestic Voyages) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/1269), regs. 1(b), 4(7)

F5Reg. 7(6)(za) inserted (29.12.2022) by The Merchant Shipping (Safety Standards for Passenger Ships on Domestic Voyages) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/1269), regs. 1(b), 4(8)

F6Reg. 7(6)(a) substituted (14.8.2001) by The Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances) (Amendment) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/2642), regs. 1(1), 4(2)

F7Reg. 7(7)(i) substituted (14.8.2001) by The Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances) (Amendment) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/2642), regs. 1(1), 5(3)

F8Words in reg. 7(8)(a) inserted (29.12.2022) by The Merchant Shipping (Safety Standards for Passenger Ships on Domestic Voyages) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/1269), regs. 1(b), 4(9)(a)

F9Words in reg. 7(8)(a) table substituted (29.12.2022) by The Merchant Shipping (Safety Standards for Passenger Ships on Domestic Voyages) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/1269), regs. 1(b), 4(9)(b)(i)

F10Word in reg. 7(8)(a) table substituted (29.12.2022) by The Merchant Shipping (Safety Standards for Passenger Ships on Domestic Voyages) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/1269), regs. 1(b), 4(9)(b)(ii)(aa)

F11Word in reg. 7(8)(a) table substituted (29.12.2022) by The Merchant Shipping (Safety Standards for Passenger Ships on Domestic Voyages) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/1269), regs. 1(b), 4(9)(b)(ii)(bb)