[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 46, Volume 4]
[Revised as of October 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 46CFR131.575]

[Page 461]
 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
    CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CONTINUED)
 
PART 131--OPERATIONS--Table of Contents
 
                Subpart E--Tests, Drills, and Inspections
 
Sec. 131.575  Yearly inspections and repair.

    (a) Each lifeboat, rescue boat, rigid liferaft, buoyant apparatus, 
and life float must be stripped, cleaned, and thoroughly inspected and 
repaired as needed at least once a year. This procedure includes 
emptying and cleaning each fuel tank and refilling it with fresh fuel.
    (b) Each davit, winch, fall, and other launching-appliance must be 
thoroughly inspected at least once a year, and repaired as needed.
    (c) Each item of survival equipment with an expiration date must be 
replaced during the annual inspection and repair if this date has 
passed.
    (d) Each battery used in an item of survival equipment and clearly 
marked with an expiration date must be replaced during the annual 
inspection and repair if this date has passed.
    (e) Except a storage battery used in a lifeboat or in a rescue boat, 
each battery used in an item of survival equipment and not clearly 
marked with an expiration date must be replaced during the annual 
inspection and repair.
    (f) Compliance with the requirements of this section does not 
relieve the master or person in charge of the duty of compliance with 
requirements in Sec. 131.540(a) of this subpart to keep the equipment 
ready for immediate use when the vessel is under way.