49.—(1) Posters and signs provided on or in the vicinity of survival craft and their launching controls shall—
(a)illustrate the purpose of controls and the procedures for operating the appliance and give relevant instructions;
(b)be easily seen under emergency lighting conditions on ships of Classes I, II and II(A) and of Classes VII, VII(T), VIII, VIII(T) and IX; and
(c)where applicable, use symbols which are specified in Schedule 16.
50.—(1) Lifeboats and liferafts for which launching appliances are required shall be stowed as close to accommodation and service spaces as possible.
(2) Assembly stations shall be provided close to the embarkation stations. Each assembly station shall have sufficient space to accommodate all persons assigned to muster at that station. In ships of Classes I, II and II(A) passenger assembly stations shall have ample room for the marshalling and instruction of the passengers and there shall be ready access between assembly stations and the embarkation station.
(3) Assembly and embarkation stations shall be readily accessible from accommodation and work areas.
(4) In ships of Classes I, II and II(A) and in ships of Classes VII, VII(T), VIII, VIII(T), VIII(A), VIII(A)(T) and IX of 500 tons or over, assembly and embarkation stations shall be adequately illuminated by lighting supplied from the emergency source of electrical power required by the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction: Ships of Classes I, II and II(A)) Regulations 1998 or the Merchant Shipping (Cargo Ship Construction) Regulations 1997, as appropriate.
(5) Alleyways, internal and external stairways and exits giving access to the assembly and embarkation stations shall be lighted. In ships of the Classes referred to in paragraph (4) such lighting shall be capable of being supplied by the emergency source of electrical power required by the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction: Ships of Classes I, II and II(A)) Regulations 1998 or the Merchant Shipping (Cargo Ship Construction) Regulations 1997, as appropriate.
(6) Davit-launched survival craft assembly and embarkation stations shall be so arranged as to enable stretcher cases to be placed in survival craft.
(7) In ships of Classes I, II, II(A), VII, VII(T), VIII, VIII(T), VIII(A), VIII(A)(T), IX, XI and XII an embarkation ladder shall be provided at each launching station or at every two adjacent launching stations, extending, in a single length, from the deck to the waterline in the lightest seagoing condition under unfavourable conditions of trim and with the ship listed not less than 15 degrees either way and where such distance exceeds 1 metre. Such ladders may be replaced by devices to afford access to survival craft when waterborne, provided that there shall be at least one embarkation ladder on each side of the ship. Handholds shall be provided to assist in a safe passage from the deck to the ladder and vice-versa. Other means of embarkation may be permitted for the liferafts required to be carried in compliance with regulations 44(5) and 45(8).
(8) Means shall be provided for bringing davit-launched survival craft against the ship’s side and holding them alongside so that persons can be safely embarked.
(9) On ships of Classes I, II and II(A) survival craft embarkation arrangements shall be so designed that—
(a)all lifeboats can be boarded and launched either directly from the stowed position or from an embarkation deck but not both; and
(b)davit-launched liferafts can be boarded and launched from a position immediately adjacent to the stowed position or from a position to which, in compliance with the requirements of regulation 51(5), the liferaft is transferred prior to launching.
Notwithstanding the requirements of subparagraph (a), if the rescue boat is also a lifeboat and the other lifeboats are boarded and launched from an embarkation deck, the arrangements shall be such that the rescue boat can also be boarded and launched from the embarkation deck.
(10) On every ship provided with a rescue boat, arrangements shall be such that the rescue boat can be boarded and launched directly from the stowed position with the number of persons assigned to crew the rescue boat on board.
(11) On ships of Classes VII, VII(T), VIII, VIII(T), VIII(A), VIII(A)(T), IX, and XI embarkation arrangements for survival craft shall be so designed that lifeboats can be boarded and launched directly from the stowed position and davit-launched liferafts can be boarded and launched from a position immediately adjacent to the stowed position or from a position to which the liferaft is transferred prior to launching in compliance with the requirements of regulation 53(5).
(12) For ro-ro passenger ships of Classes I, II and II(A) the term “muster station” shall be replaced with “assembly station” on all signs and in all emergency procedure instructions.
51.—(1) Each survival craft shall be stowed—
(a)so that neither the survival craft nor its stowage arrangements will interfere with the operation of any other survival craft or rescue boat at any other launching station;
(b)as near the water surface as is safe and practicable and, in the case of a survival craft other than a liferaft intended for throw-overboard launching, in such a position that the survival craft in the embarkation position is not less than 2 metres above the waterline with the ship in the fully loaded condition under unfavourable conditions of trim and listed up to 20 degrees either way, or to the angle at which the ship’s weatherdeck edge becomes submerged, whichever is less;
(c)in a state of continuous readiness so that two crew members can carry out preparations for embarkation and launching in less than 5 minutes;
(d)fully equipped as prescribed in Schedule 2, Part 2 or Schedule 4, Part 6; and
(e)as far as practicable, in a secure and sheltered position and protected from damage by fire and explosion.
(2) Lifeboats for lowering down the ship’s side shall be stowed as far forward of the propeller as practicable. On ships of Classes VII, VII(T), VIII, VIII(T), VIII(A), VIII(A)(T) and IX of 80 metres in length or more but less than 120 metres in length, each lifeboat shall be so stowed that the after end of the lifeboat is not less than the length of the lifeboat forward of the propeller. On such ships of 120 metres in length or more and on ships of Classes I, II and II(A) of 80 metres in length or more, each lifeboat shall be so stowed that the after end of the lifeboat is not less than 1.5 times the length of the lifeboat forward of the propeller. Where appropriate, the ship shall be so arranged that lifeboats, in their stowed positions, are protected from damage by heavy seas.
(3) Lifeboats shall be stowed attached to launching appliances.
(4) In addition to meeting the requirements of paragraph (7) or (8) liferafts shall be so stowed as to permit manual release from their securing arrangements.
(5) Davit-launched liferafts, other than those required to be carried by regulations 42(2)(c) and 43(4), shall be stowed within reach of the lifting hooks unless some means of transfer is provided which is not rendered inoperable within the limits of trim and list prescribed in paragraph (1)(b) or by ship motion or power failure.
(6) Liferafts intended for throw-overboard launching shall be so stowed as to be readily transferable for launching on either side of the ship unless liferafts, of the aggregate capacity required by regulations 44(2)(b), 45(4), 46(3)(b)(i), 46(3)(c)(i) and 47(2)(a)(i) to be capable of being launched on either side, are stowed on each side of the ship.
(7) On ships of Classes I, II and II(A) every liferaft shall be stowed with its painter permanently attached to the ship and with a float-free arrangement complying with the requirements of Schedule 4, Part 8 so that, as far as practicable, the liferaft floats free and, if inflatable, inflates automatically when the ship sinks.
(8) On ships of Classes VII, VII(T), VIII, VIII(T), VIII(A), VIII(A)(T), IX, XI and XII every liferaft, other than the liferafts required by regulations 44(5) and 45(8) shall be stowed with its painter permanently attached to the ship and with a float-free arrangement complying with the requirements of Schedule 4, Part 8 so that the liferaft floats free and, if inflatable, inflates automatically when the ship sinks. The liferafts required by regulations 44(5) and 45(8) if securely fastened shall have provision for manual release.
(9) Rescue boats shall be stowed:
(a)in a state of continuous readiness for launching in not more than 5 minutes;
(b)in a position suitable for launching and recovery;
(c)so that neither the rescue boat nor its stowage arrangements will interfere with the operation of any survival craft at any other launching station; and
(d)if it is also a lifeboat, in compliance with the requirements of this regulation for the stowage of lifeboats.
(10) Inflated boats shall be stowed—
(a)in a state of continuous readiness for launching in the shortest possible time;
(b)in a position suitable for launching and recovery; and
(c)so that neither the inflated boat nor its stowage arrangements will interfere with the operation of any survival craft at any other launching station.
52. Launching stations shall be in such positions as to ensure safe launching having particular regard to clearance from the propeller and steeply overhanging portions of the hull with the object of ensuring that so far as practicable survival craft, except survival craft specially designed for free-fall launching, can be launched down the straight side of the ship. If positioned forward survival craft shall be stowed abaft the collision bulkhead in a sheltered position.
53.—(1) Launching appliances complying with the requirements of Schedule 6, Parts 1 and 3, shall be provided for all liferafts except:
(a)liferafts which are boarded from a position which is less than 4.5 metres above the waterline in the lightest seagoing condition and which either—
(i)have a mass of not more than 185 kilogrammes; or
(ii)are stowed for launching directly from the stowed position under unfavourable conditions of trim of up to 10 degrees and with the ship listed not less than 20 degrees either way;
(b)liferafts having a mass of not more than 185 kilogrammes and which are carried in excess of the survival craft for 200 per cent of the total number of persons on board the ship; and
(c)the liferafts stowed as far forward or aft as required by regulation 44(5).
(2) Each lifeboat shall be provided with an appliance which is capable of launching and recovering the lifeboat.
(3) Only one type of release mechanism shall be used for similar survival craft carried on board the ship.
(4) On ships of Classes I, II and II(A) all survival craft required to provide for abandonment by the total number of persons on board shall be capable of being launched with their full complement of persons and equipment within a period of 30 minutes from the time the abandon ship signal is given.
(5) On ships of Classes VII, VII(T), VIII(T), VIII(T), VIII(A), VIII(A)(T), IX AND XI, with the exception of the survival craft referred to in subparagraph (1)(a), all survival craft required to provide for abandonment by the total number of persons on board shall be capable of being launched with their full complement of persons and equipment within a period of 10 minutes from the time the abandon ship signal is given.
(6) On ships of Classes VII, VII(T), VIII, VIII(T), VIII(A), VIII(A)(T) and IX of 20,000 tons and upwards, lifeboats shall be capable of being launched, where necessary utilising painters, with the ship making headway at speeds up to 5 knots in calm water.
(7) Preparation and handling of survival craft at any one launching station shall not interfere with the prompt preparation and handling of any other survival craft or rescue boat at any other station.
(8) During preparation and launching, each survival craft, its launching appliance, and the area of water into which it is to be launched shall be adequately illuminated by lighting supplied from the emergency source of electrical power required by the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction: Ships of Classes I, II and II(A)) Regulations 1998 or the Merchant Shipping (Cargo Ship Construction) Regulations 1997, as appropriate.
(9) Means shall be available to prevent any over-board discharge of water on to survival craft during abandonment.
(10) If there is a danger of a survival craft being damaged by the ship’s stabiliser fins, means shall be available, powered by an emergency source of energy, to bring the stabiliser fins inboard. Indicators operated by an emergency source of energy shall be available on the navigating bridge to show the position of the stabiliser fins.
54.—(1) A marine escape system or systems complying with the requirements of Schedule 5, Part 1 may be substituted on ships of Classes II and II(A) for some or all of the liferafts and launching appliances required by regulation 43(2)(b) or (3)(b). The liferafts included in such system or systems, together with any other liferafts served by launching appliances other than the liferafts referred to in regulation 43(4), shall provide the same aggregate capacity as that required by regulation 43(2)(b) or (3)(b).
(2) Where marine escape systems are provided on a ship, at least all the systems on one side shall be subjected to a trial deployment after installation.
(3) Where marine escape systems are provided, provision for training the crew in its use shall be made which shall include the arrangements specified in Schedule 5, Part 3.
55.—(1) The rescue boat embarkation and launching arrangements shall be such that the rescue boat can be boarded and launched in the shortest possible time and in any case in not more than 5 minutes.
(2) If the rescue boat is one of the ship’s survival craft, the embarkation arrangements and launching station shall comply with the requirements of regulations 50 and 52.
(3) Launching arrangements shall comply with the requirements of regulation 53 and rescue boat launching appliances shall comply with the requirements of Schedule 6, Parts 1 and 2. All rescue boats shall be capable of being launched, where necessary utilising painters, with the ship making headway at speeds up to 5 knots in calm water.
(4) Rapid recovery of the rescue boat shall be possible—
(a)when the boat is loaded with its full complement of persons and equipment; and
(b)if the rescue boat is also a lifeboat, when it is loaded with its lifeboat equipment, and the approved rescue boat complement or 6 persons, whichever is the greater.