33 CFR 150.514: Annual tests and inspections of lifesaving equipment

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section lists what the operator must do at least annually for lifesaving equipment. The operator must strip, clean, inspect and repair lifeboats, rescue boats and liferafts, and must inspect launching devices. The operator must also replace expired items and certain batteries, and the person in charge must still keep equipment ready for immediate use.

Applies toThe text applies to the operator, who must carry out the annual inspections and other listed duties.

What it says

  1. The operator must strip, clean, thoroughly inspect, and, if needed, repair each lifeboat, rescue boat, and liferaft at least annually.

    33 CFR 150.514(a)“Strip, clean, thoroughly inspect, and, if needed, repair each lifeboat, rescue boat, and liferaft.”

  2. At the time of that service, the operator must also empty, clean, and refill each fuel tank with fresh fuel.

    33 CFR 150.514(a)“At that time, the operator must also empty, clean, and refill each fuel tank with fresh fuel;”

  3. The operator must thoroughly inspect and, if needed, repair each davit, winch, fall, and other launching device at least annually. The text does not require stripping or cleaning them.

    33 CFR 150.514(b)“Thoroughly inspect and, if needed, repair each davit, winch, fall, and other launching device;”

  4. The operator must check all lifesaving equipment and replace any item marked with an expiration date that has passed.

    33 CFR 150.514(c)“Check all lifesaving equipment and replace any item that is marked with an expiration date that has passed;”

  5. The operator must check all lifesaving equipment batteries and replace any battery marked with an expiration date that has passed.

    33 CFR 150.514(d)“Check all lifesaving equipment batteries and replace any battery that is marked with an expiration date that has passed;”

  6. The operator must replace any battery without an expiration date if it is used in an item of lifesaving equipment, except for a storage battery used in a lifeboat or rescue boat.

    33 CFR 150.514(e)“Replace any battery that is not marked with an expiration date if that battery is used in an item of lifesaving equipment, except for a storage battery used in a lifeboat or rescue boat.”

  7. These requirements do not relieve the person in charge of the requirement to keep the equipment ready for immediate use.

    33 CFR 150.514(f)“The requirements in this section do not relieve the person in charge of the requirement to keep the equipment ready for immediate use.”

Common questions

How often must the operator do the work listed in this section?

The operator must do the listed work at least annually.

“At least annually, the operator must:”

Must expired lifesaving equipment be replaced?

Yes. The operator must replace any item marked with an expiration date that has passed.

“Check all lifesaving equipment and replace any item that is marked with an expiration date that has passed;”

Must lifeboat storage batteries without expiration dates be replaced annually?

No. The requirement to replace batteries without expiration dates does not cover a storage battery used in a lifeboat or rescue boat.

“except for a storage battery used in a lifeboat or rescue boat.”

Do annual inspections end the duty to keep equipment ready for use?

No. The section does not relieve the person in charge of keeping the equipment ready for immediate use.

“The requirements in this section do not relieve the person in charge of the requirement to keep the equipment ready for immediate use.”

The text of 33 CFR 150.514

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR

What are the annual tests and inspections?

At least annually, the operator must:

(a) Strip, clean, thoroughly inspect, and, if needed, repair each lifeboat, rescue boat, and liferaft. At that time, the operator must also empty, clean, and refill each fuel tank with fresh fuel;

(b) Thoroughly inspect and, if needed, repair each davit, winch, fall, and other launching device;

(c) Check all lifesaving equipment and replace any item that is marked with an expiration date that has passed;

(d) Check all lifesaving equipment batteries and replace any battery that is marked with an expiration date that has passed; and

(e) Replace any battery that is not marked with an expiration date if that battery is used in an item of lifesaving equipment, except for a storage battery used in a lifeboat or rescue boat.

(f) The requirements in this section do not relieve the person in charge of the requirement to keep the equipment ready for immediate use.

The plain-English explanation on this page was written with AI from the regulation text above and checked automatically before publishing: every quote appears in the text, every number comes from it, and a second model confirmed each statement adds nothing the text doesn't say. Regulation text current as of April 16, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.