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

PASSENGER SHIPS

Ships of Class I

42.—(1) This regulation applies to ships of Class I.

(2) Every ship shall carry:

(a) on each side of the ship lifeboats complying with the requirements of Schedule 2, Parts 3 and 4 of sufficient aggregate capacity to accommodate 50 per cent of the total number of persons which the ship is certified to carry; or

(b) lifeboats and liferafts together providing sufficient aggregate capacity to accommodate the total number of persons which the ship is certified to carry: provided that there shall never be less than sufficient lifeboats on each side of the ship to accommodate 37.5 per cent of the total number of persons which the ship is certified to carry; the liferafts shall be served by launching appliances equally distributed on each side of the ship; and

(c) in addition to the survival craft carried in compliance with subparagraph (a) or (b), liferafts of sufficient aggregate capacity to accommodate 25 per cent of the total number of persons which the ship is certified to carry. These liferafts shall be served by at least one launching appliance on each side of the ship (which may be the appliances provided to comply with subparagraph (b)), or, if it is to be used on both sides, by appliances so approved.

(3) (a) (i) Every ship of less than 500 tons carrying less than 200 persons may, in lieu of carrying the lifeboats and liferafts required by paragraph (2), shall carry on each side of the ship liferafts of sufficient aggregate capacity to accommodate the total number of persons the ship is certified to carry.

(ii) If these liferafts cannot be readily launched on either side of the ship additional liferafts shall be provided so that the total capacity available on each side will accommodate 150 per cent of the total number of persons which the ship is certified to carry.

(iii) All liferafts shall be served by at least one launching appliance on each side of the ship.

(b) If the rescue boat required by paragraph (4)(b) is also a lifeboat it may be included in the aggregate capacity referred to in subparagraph (a).

(c) The number and arrangement of survival craft shall be such that in the event of any one survival craft being lost or rendered unserviceable, there shall still be sufficient survival craft available for use on each side of the ship to accommodate the total number of persons the ship is certified to carry.

(4) (a) Every ship of 500 tons and over shall carry at least one rescue boat on each side of the ship.

(b) Every ship of less than 500 tons shall carry at least one rescue boat.

(c) A lifeboat may be accepted as a rescue boat provided it also complies with the requirements for a rescue boat.

(d) Every ship shall carry sufficient lifeboats and rescue boats to ensure that when evacuating the total number of persons the ship is certified to carry, a lifeboat or rescue boat should not need to marshal more than six liferafts.

(5) Each lifeboat and rescue boat shall be served by its own launching appliance.

(6) Every lifeboat shall be provided with the following equipment—

(a) a satellite EPIRB;

(b) at least 3 waterproofed two-way VHF radiotelephone apparatus, complying with the standards contained in IMO Resolution A.762(18); and

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

(7) (a) Every ship shall carry at least the number of lifebuoys determined in accordance with the following table—

Length of ship in metres	Minimum number of lifebuoys
Under 60	8
60 or more but less than 120	12
120 or more but less than 180	18
180 or more but less than 240	24
240 and over	30

(b) At least one lifebuoy on each side of the ship shall be fitted with a buoyant lifeline. Not less than 50 per cent of the total number of lifebuoys, and on every ship of less than 60 metres in length not less than 6 lifebuoys, shall be provided with self-igniting lights and 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.

(8) Every ship shall carry—

(a) for each person the ship is certified to carry, a lifejacket suitable for a person weighing 32 kilogrammes or more

(b) a lifejacket suitable for a person weighing less than 32 kilogrammes for each such person on board or for 10 per cent of the number of passengers the ship is certified to carry, whichever is the greater;

(c) in addition to the lifejackets carried in compliance with subparagraphs (a) and (b), lifejackets suitable for persons weighing 32 kilogrammes or more for not less than 5 per cent of the total number of persons the ship is certified to carry which shall be stowed in conspicuous places on the deck or at assembly stations; and

(d) a sufficient number of lifejackets for persons on watch and for use at remotely located survival craft stations.

(9) Included in the number of lifejackets required to be carried by paragraph (8) there shall be at least sufficient inflatable lifejackets for the crew of each rescue boat and, for those crew members whose emergency duties require it, a lifejacket which will not unduly hinder them during the execution of these duties.

(10) Each lifejacket required to be carried by paragraphs (8) and (9) shall be fitted with a lifejacket light complying with the requirements of Schedule 9, Part 1, except for ships with lifejacket lights fitted before 1st July 1998 not in accordance with these requirements, in which case all such lights shall be replaced not later than the first periodical survey after 1st July 2002.

(11) Every ship shall carry, for every person assigned to crew a rescue boat or assigned to the marine evacuation system party, an immersion suit or an anti-exposure suit of an appropriate size and comply with regulation 60.

(12) Every ship shall carry not less than 12 rocket parachute flares.

(13) Every ship shall carry a line-throwing appliance.

(14) Every ship shall be provided with—

(a) an emergency means for two-way communication (which may be fixed or portable equipment, or both) between emergency control stations, assembly and embarkation stations and strategic positions on board. This may be the equipment carried to comply with subparagraph (6)(a);

(b) a general emergency alarm system and, in addition, either a public address system or other suitable means of communication; and

(c) lighting as specified in regulations 50(4) and (5) and 53(8).

(15) Every ship shall be provided with—

(a) posters or signs showing operating instructions on or in the vicinity of survival craft and their launching controls;

(b) a training manual in each crew messroom and recreation room or in each crew cabin;

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

(d) on the bridge, a copy of the table “Life-Saving Signals and Rescue Methods, SOLAS No. 1” published by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

(16) Every ship shall be provided with a public address system complying with Schedule 11, Part 2 except that—

(a) Subject to the provisions of subparagraph (c) in ships constructed before 1st July 1997, only the requirements of Schedule 11, Part 2, paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7;

(b) in ships constructed on or after the 1st July 1997, the requirements of Schedule 11, Part 2 shall apply; and

(c) ships constructed before 1st July 1997 which are already fitted with a public address system which complies substantially with the requirements of Schedule 11, Part 2, paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 are not required to change their system.

(17) (a) (i) be served by marine evacuation systems complying with the requirements of Schedule 5, Part 1 or launching appliances complying with the requirements of Schedule 6, Part 3 equally distributed on each side of the ship;

(ii) be provided with float-free launching arrangements complying with the requirements of Schedule 4, Part 8;

(iii) This paragraph applies to ro-ro passenger ships.

(iv) Every ship shall comply with the requirements of subparagraphs (b), (c) and (d) not later than the first periodical survey after 1st July 2000.

(b) Liferafts on ro-ro ships shall:

(i) be of a type fitted with a semi-rigid boarding ramp, capable of supporting a person weighing 100 kgs;

(ii) shall either be an automatic self-righting liferaft or be a canopied reversible liferaft which is stable in a seaway and is capable of operating safely whichever way up it is floating. Alternatively, the ship shall carry automatic self-righting liferafts or canopied reversible liferafts, in addition to its normal complement of liferafts, of such aggregate capacity as will accommodate at least 50 per cent of the persons not accommodated in lifeboats. This additional liferaft capacity shall be determined on the basis of the difference between the total number of persons on board and the number of persons accommodated in lifeboats.

(c) Fast rescue boats—

(i) At least one of the rescue boats shall be a fast rescue boat complying with the requirements of Schedule 2, Part 10 except that ships constructed before 1st July 1998 having a rescue boat that is substantially in compliance with Schedule 2, Part 10 shall not be required to replace the rescue boat;

(ii) each fast rescue boat shall be served by a suitable launching appliance complying with the requirements of Schedule 6, Parts 1 and 2; such launching appliances shall take into account that the fast rescue boat is intended to be launched and retrieved even under severe adverse weather conditions;

(iii) at least two crews of each fast rescue boat shall be trained and drilled regularly having regard to the Merchant Shipping (Training and Certification) Regulations 1997 including all aspects of rescue, handling, manoeuvring, operating these craft in various conditions, and righting them after capsize; and

(iv) in the case where the arrangement or size of a ship constructed before 1st July 1997 is such as to prevent the installation of the fast rescue boat required by subparagraph (c)(i), the fast rescue boat may be installed in place of an existing lifeboat which is accepted as a rescue boat on condition that—

(aa) the fast rescue boat installed is served by a launching appliance complying with the provisions of subparagraph (c)(ii);

(bb) the capacity of the survival craft lost by the above substitution is compensated by the installation of liferafts capable of carrying at least an equal number of persons served by the liferaft replaced; and

(cc) such liferafts are served by the existing launching appliances or marine evacuation systems;

(dd) every ship shall carry, for every person assigned to crew of a fast rescue boat, an immersion suit or anti-exposure suit of an appropriate size and complying with regulation 60.

(d) Means of rescue

(i) Each ro-ro passenger ship shall be equipped with an efficient means of rescue complying with the requirements of Schedule 5, Part 3 for rapidly recovering survivors from the water and transferring survivors from rescue units or survival craft to the ship;

(ii) the means of transfer of survivors to the ship may be part of a marine evacuation system, or may be part of a system designed for rescue purposes;

(iii) if the inclined passage of a marine evacuation system is intended to provide the means of transfer of survivors to the deck of the ship, the inclined passage shall be equipped with handlines or ladders to aid in climbing up the inclined passage;

(iv) a fast rescue boat launching and recovery appliance may be used as part of a means of rescue system;

(e) Lifejackets

• A sufficient number of lifejackets shall be stowed in the vicinity of the assembly stations so that passengers do not have to return to their cabins to collect their lifejacket.

(f) Helicopter emergency pick-up area

• A helicopter emergency pick-up area shall be provided complying with the requirements of IAMSAR.

Ships of Classes II and II(A)

43.—(1) This regulation applies to ships of Classes II and II(A).

(2) Every ship which is subdivided in accordance with the requirement of Schedule 2, Section 3 of MSN 1698(M) shall carry:

(a) lifeboats of sufficient aggregate capacity to accommodate at least 30 per cent of the total number of persons which the ship is certified to carry. Such lifeboats shall be equally distributed, as far as practicable, on each side of the ship; and

(b) liferafts of sufficient aggregate capacity that, together with the lifeboat capacity required by subparagraph (a), will accommodate the total number of persons which the ship is certified to carry. The liferafts shall be served by launching appliances equally distributed on each side of the ship.

(3) Every ship which is subdivided in accordance with the requirements of Schedule 2, Section 2 of MSN 1698(M) shall carry:

(a) on each side of the ship lifeboats of sufficient aggregate capacity to accommodate 50 per cent of the total number of persons which the ship is certified to carry; or

(b) lifeboats complying with the requirements of Part 3 and 4 of Schedule 2 and liferafts together providing sufficient aggregate capacity to accommodate the total number of persons which the ship is certified to carry: provided that there shall never be less than sufficient lifeboats on each side of the ship to accommodate 37.5 per cent of the total number of persons which the ship is certified to carry. The liferafts shall be served by launching appliances equally distributed on each side of the ship.

(4) Every ship shall carry, in addition to the survival craft carried in compliance with paragraph (2) or (3), liferafts of sufficient aggregate capacity to accommodate 25 per cent of the total number of persons which the ship is certified to carry. These liferafts shall be served by at least one launching appliance on each side of the ship which may be the appliances carried in compliance with paragraph (2)(b) or (3)(b), or equivalent approved appliances capable of being used on both sides.

(5) (a) (i) Every ship of less than 500 tons carrying less than 200 persons may, in lieu of carrying the lifeboats and liferafts required by paragraph (2), (3) or (4) may carry on each side of the ship liferafts of sufficient aggregate capacity to accommodate the total number of persons the ship is certified to carry.

(ii) If these liferafts cannot be readily launched on either side of the ship additional liferafts shall be provided so that the total capacity available on each side will accommodate 150 per cent of the total number of persons which the ship is certified to carry.

(iii) All liferafts shall be served by at least one launching appliance on each side of the ship.

(b) If the rescue boat required by subparagraph (6)(b) is also a lifeboat it may be included in the aggregate capacity referred to in subparagraph (a).

(c) The number and arrangements of survival craft shall be such that in the event of any one survival craft being lost or rendered unserviceable, there shall still be sufficient survival craft available for use on each side of the ship to accommodate the total number of persons the ship is certified to carry.

(6) (a) Every ship of 500 tons and over shall carry at least one rescue boat on each side of the ship.

(b) Every ship of less than 500 tons shall carry at least one rescue boat.

(c) A lifeboat may be accepted as a rescue boat provided it also complies with the requirements for a rescue boat.

(d) Every ship which is subdivided in accordance with the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction: Ships of Classes I, II and II(A)) Regulations 1998 shall carry sufficient lifeboats and rescue boats to ensure that when evacuating the total number of persons the ship is certified to carry, no lifeboat or rescue boat needs to marshal more than 6 liferafts.

(7) Each lifeboat and rescue boat shall be served by its own launching appliance.

(8) Every lifeboat shall be provided with the following equipment:

(a) a satellite EPIRB;

(b) at least 3 waterproofed two-way VHF radiotelephone apparatus, complying with the standards contained in IMO Resolution A.762(18);

(c) 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.

(9) (a) Every ship shall carry at least the number of lifebuoys determined in accordance with the following table—

Length of ship in metres	Minimum number of lifebuoys
Under 60	8
60 or more but less than 120	12
120 or more but less than 180	18
180 or more but less than 240	24
240	30

(b) At least one lifebuoy on each side of the ship shall be fitted with a buoyant lifeline. Not less than 50 per cent of the total number of lifebuoys, and on every ship of less than 60 metres in length not less than 6 lifebuoys, shall be provided with self-igniting lights and 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.

(10) Every ship shall carry:

(a) for each person the ship is certified to carry, a lifejacket suitable for a person weighing 32 kilogrammes or more;

(b) a lifejacket suitable for a person weighing less than 32 kilogrammes for each such person on board or for 10 per cent of the number of passengers the ship is certified to carry, whichever is the greater;

(c) in addition to the lifejackets carried in compliance with subparagraphs (a) and (b) lifejackets suitable for persons weighing 32 kilogrammes or more for not less than 5 per cent of the total number of persons the ship is certified to carry which shall be stowed in conspicuous places on deck or at assembly stations;

(d) a sufficient number of lifejackets for persons on watch and for use at remotely located survival craft stations; and

(e) each lifejacket required to be carried by subparagraphs (a) and (b) shall be fitted with a lifejacket light complying with the requirements of Schedule 9, Part I.

(11) Included in the number of lifejackets required to be carried by paragraph (10) there shall be at least sufficient inflatable lifejackets for the crew of each rescue boat and for those crew members whose emergency duties require a lifejacket which will not unduly hinder them during the execution of these duties.

(12) Every ship shall carry, for every person assigned to crew a rescue boat or assigned to the marine evacuation system party, an immersion suit or an anti-exposure suit of an appropriate size complying with regulation 60.

(13) Every ship shall carry not less than 12 rocket flares.

(14) Every ship shall carry a line-throwing appliance.

(15) Every ship shall be provided with:

(a) an emergency means for two-way communication (which may be fixed or portable) between emergency control stations, assembly and embarkation stations and strategic positions on board. This may be the equipment which is carried in compliance with paragraph (8)(a);

(b) a general emergency alarm system and, in addition, either a public address system or other suitable means of communication; and

(c) lighting as specified in regulations 50(4) and (5) and 53(8).

(16) Every ship shall be provided—

(a) with posters or signs showing operating instructions; on or in the vicinity of survival craft and their launching controls;

(b) with a training manual in each crew messroom and recreation room or in each crew cabin;

(c) with instructions for on-board maintenance of life-saving appliances or a shipboard planned maintenance programme which includes the maintenance of life-saving appliances; and

(d) on the bridge, with a copy of the table “Life-Saving Signals and Rescue Methods, SOLAS No. 1” published by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

(17) Every ship shall be provided with a public address system complying with Schedule 11, Part 2, except that ships constructed before 1st July 1997 which are already fitted with a public address system which complies substantially with the requirements of Schedule 11, Part 2, paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 are not required to change their system.

(18) (a) This paragraph applies to ro-ro passenger ships.

(b) Liferafts shall—

(i) be served by marine evacuation systems complying with the requirements of Schedule 5, Part 1 or launching appliances complying with the requirements of Schedule 6, Part 3 equally distributed on each side of the ship;

(ii) be provided with float-free launching arrangements complying with the requirements of Schedule 4, Part 8;

(iii) be fitted with a semi-rigid boarding ramp capable of supporting a person weighing 100 kgs; and

(iv) either be an automatic self-righting liferaft or be a canopied reversible liferaft which is stable in a seaway and is capable of operating safely whichever way up it is floating. Alternatively, and providing the existing liferafts comply with Schedule 4, the ship shall carry automatic self-righting liferafts or canopied reversible liferafts, in addition to its normal complement of liferafts, of such aggregate capacity as will accommodate at least 50 per cent of the persons not accommodated in lifeboats. This additional liferaft capacity shall be determined on the basis of the difference between the total number of persons on board and the number of persons accommodated in lifeboats.

(c) Fast rescue boats

(i) At least one of the rescue boats provided pursuant to shall be a fast rescue boat complying with the requirements of Schedule 2, Part 10, except that ships having a rescue boat that is substantially in compliance with Schedule 2, Part 10 shall not be required to replace their rescue boats;

(ii) each fast rescue boat shall be served by a suitable launching appliance complying with the requirements of Schedule 6, Part 1 and 2, such launching appliances shall take into account that the fast rescue boat is intended to be launched and retried even under severe adverse weather condition;

(iii) at least two crews of each fast rescue boat shall be trained, certified and drilled regularly having regard to the Merchant Shipping (Training and Certification) Regulations 1997 including all aspects of rescue, handling, manoeuvring, operating these craft in various conditions, and righting them after capsize; and

(iv) if the arrangement or size of the ship is such as to prevent the installation of the fast rescue boat required by subparagraph (c)(i), the fast rescue boat may be installed in place of an existing lifeboat which is accepted as a boat for use in an emergency, provided that all of the following conditions are met:

(aa) the fast rescue boat installed is served by a launching appliance complying with the provisions of (c)(ii);

(bb) the capacity of the survival craft lost by the above substitution is compensated by the installation of liferafts capable of carrying at least an equal number of persons served by the lifeboat replaced;

(cc) such liferafts are served by the existing launching appliances or marine evacuation systems; and

(dd) every ship shall carry, for every person assigned to crew of a fast rescue boat, an immersion suit or anti-exposure suit of an appropriate size and complying with regulation 60.

(d) Means of rescue

(i) Each ship shall be equipped with an efficient means of rescue complying with the requirements of Schedule 5, Part 3 for rapidly recovering survivors from the water and transferring survivors from rescue units or survival craft to the ship;

(ii) the means of transfer of survivors to the ship may be part of a marine evacuation system, or may be part of a system designed for rescue purposes;

(iii) if the inclined passage of a marine evacuation system is intended to provide the means of transfer of survivors to the deck of the ship, the inclined passage shall be equipped with handlines or ladders to aid in climbing up the inclined passage; and

(iv) a fast rescue boat launching and recovery appliance may be used as part of a means of rescue system.

(e) Lifejackets

• A sufficient number of lifejackets shall be stowed in the vicinity of the assembly stations so that passengers do not have to return to their cabins to collect their lifejacket.

(f) Helicopter emergency pick-up area

• A helicopter emergency pick-up area shall be provided on a ro-ro ship complying with the requirements of IAMSAR.