[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 46, Volume 4]

[Revised as of October 1, 2006]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 46CFR108.550]



[Page 147-149]

 

                            TITLE 46_SHIPPING



                  (This book contains parts 90 to 139)

 

   CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)

 

PART 108_DESIGN AND EQUIPMENT--Table of Contents

 

                     Subpart E_Lifesaving Equipment

 

Sec.  108.550  Survival craft launching and recovery arrangements: 

General.



    (a) Each launching appliance for a lifeboat must be a davit approved 

under approval series 160.132, with a winch approved under approval 

series 160.115. Each launching appliance for a davit-launched liferaft 

must be approved under approval series 160.163,



[[Page 148]]



with an automatic disengaging apparatus approved under approval series 

160.170.

    (b) All lifeboats required for abandonment by the total number of 

persons permitted on board must be capable of being launched with their 

full complement of persons and equipment within 10 minutes from the time 

the signal to abandon the unit is given.

    (c) Each survival craft must be arranged to clear each leg, column, 

footing, brace, mat, and each similar structure below the hull of a 

self-elevating unit and clear the upper hull, the columns, and the 

pontoons of a column stabilized unit, with the unit in an intact 

condition.

    (1) The survival craft must be arranged to be launched down the 

straight side of the unit or be mounted on a structure intended to 

provide clearance from lower structures of the unit.

    (2) The OCMI may allow a reduction in the total number of survival 

craft meeting this requirement when the unit is in the transit mode and 

the number of personnel on board is reduced. In such cases, sufficient 

survival craft must be available for use by the total number of 

personnel remaining on board.

    (d) Each lifeboat of aluminum construction in the hull or canopy, 

and each aluminum launching appliance must be protected in its stowage 

position by a water spray system meeting the requirements of part 34, 

subpart 34.25 of this chapter.

    (e) With the exception of the secondary means of launching for free-

fall lifeboats, each launching appliance together with all its lowering 

and recovery gear must be arranged in a way that the fully equipped 

survival craft it serves can be safely lowered when loaded with its full 

complement of persons, and also without persons, against--

    (1) A list of up to 20 degrees on the high side; and

    (2) A list of up to 20 degrees or the degree of list where the 

survival craft becomes waterborne, whichever, is the greater, on the low 

side.

    (f) When the unit is under any unfavorable condition such as maximum 

airgap, lightest transit or operational condition, or any damaged 

condition under part 174, subpart C of this chapter,--

    (1) Notwithstanding the requirements under Sec.  108.550(e), 

survival craft launching appliances and marine evacuation systems must 

be capable of operation;

    (2) Falls, where used, must be long enough for survival craft to 

reach the water; and

    (3) Lifeboats with an aggregate capacity that will accommodate the 

total number of persons permitted on board must be capable of being 

launched safely, and clear of any obstruction. The location and 

orientation of each lifeboat must be such that the lifeboat is either 

headed away from the unit upon launching, or can be turned to a heading 

away from the unit immediately upon launching.

    (g) A launching appliance must not depend on any means other than 

gravity or stored mechanical power independent of the unit's power 

supplies to launch the survival craft it serves, in the fully loaded and 

equipped conditions, and also in the light condition.

    (h) Each launching appliance's structural attachment to the vessel 

must be designed, based on the ultimate strength of the construction 

material, to be at least 4.5 times the load imparted on the attachment 

by the launching appliance and its fully loaded survival craft under the 

most adverse combination of list and trim under paragraph (b) of this 

section.

    (i) Each launching appliance must be arranged so that--

    (1) All parts requiring regular maintenance by the crew are readily 

accessible and easily maintained;

    (2) The launching appliance remains effective under conditions of 

icing;

    (3) The same type of release mechanism is used for each similar 

survival craft carried on board the unit; and

    (4) The preparation and handling of survival craft at any one 

launching station does not interfere with the prompt preparation and 

handling of any other survival craft at any other station.

    (j) Each launching mechanism must be arranged so it may be actuated 

by one person from a position on the unit's deck, and also from a 

position within the survival craft. Each launching and recovery 

arrangement must



[[Page 149]]



allow the operator on the deck to observe the survival craft at all 

times during launching.

    (k) Means must be provided outside the machinery space to prevent 

any discharge of water onto survival craft during abandonment.