46 CFR 109.301: Lifesaving equipment readiness, maintenance and inspection

(a) Operational readiness. Except as provided in § 109.301(b)(3), each lifesaving appliance must be in good working order and ready for immediate use at all times when the unit is in operation.

(b) Maintenance. (1) The manufacturer's instructions for onboard maintenance of lifesaving appliances must be onboard and must include the following for each appliance—

(i) Checklists for use when carrying out the inspections required under § 109.301(e);

(ii) Maintenance and repair instructions;

(iii) A schedule of periodic maintenance;

(iv) A diagram of lubrication points with the recommended lubricants;

(v) A list of replaceable parts;

(vi) A list of sources of spare parts; and

(vii) A log for records of inspections and maintenance.

(2) In lieu of compliance with paragraph (b)(1) of this section, The OCMI may accept a planned maintenance program that includes the items listed in that paragraph.

(3) If lifeboats, rescue boats or rigid liferafts are maintained and repaired while the unit is in operation, there must be a sufficient number of lifeboats and liferafts remaining available for use to accommodate all persons on board.

(c) Spare parts and repair equipment. Spare parts and repair equipment must be provided for each lifesaving appliance and component subject to excessive wear or consumption and that needs to be replaced regularly.

(d) Weekly inspections and tests. (1) Each survival craft, rescue boat, and launching appliance must be visually inspected to ensure its readiness for use.

(2) Each lifeboat engine and rescue boat engine must be run ahead and astern for a total of not less than 3 minutes, unless the ambient air temperature is below the minimum temperature required for starting the engine. During this time, demonstrations should indicate that the gear box and gear box train are engaging satisfactorily. If the special characteristics of an outboard motor fitted to a rescue boat would not allow the outboard motor to be run other than with its propeller submerged for a period of 3 minutes, the outboard motor should be run for such period as prescribed in the manufacturer's handbook.

(3) The general alarm system must be tested.

(e) Monthly inspections. (1) Each lifesaving appliance, including lifeboat equipment, must be inspected monthly using the checklists required under paragraph (b) of this section to make sure it is complete and in good working order. A report of the inspection, including a statement as to the condition of the equipment, must be recorded in the unit's official logbook.

(2) Each EPIRB and each SART other than an EPIRB or SART in an inflatable liferaft, must be tested monthly. The EPIRB must be tested using the integrated test circuit and output indicator to determine that it is operative.

(f) Annual inspections. Annual inspection and repair must include the following:

(1) Each survival craft, except for inflatable liferafts, must be stripped, cleaned, and thoroughly inspected and repaired, as needed, at least once in each year, including emptying and cleaning each fuel tank, and refilling it with fresh fuel.

(2) Each davit, winch, fall and other launching appliance must be thoroughly inspected and repaired, as needed, once in each year.

(3) Each item of survival equipment with an expiration date must be replaced during the annual inspection and repair, if the expiration date has passed.

(4) Each battery clearly marked with an expiration date, that is used in an item of survival equipment must be replaced during the annual inspection and repair, if the expiration date has passed.

(5) Except for a storage battery used in a lifeboat or rescue boat, each battery without an expiration date that is used in an item of survival equipment must be replaced during the annual inspection and repair.

(g) Servicing of inflatable lifesaving appliances, inflated rescue boats, and marine evacuation systems. (1) Each inflatable lifesaving appliance and marine evacuation system must be serviced—

(i) Within 12 months of its initial packing; and

(ii) Within 12 months of each subsequent servicing, except when servicing is delayed until the next scheduled inspection of the unit, provided the delay does not exceed 5 months.

(2) Each inflatable lifejacket must be serviced in accordance with servicing procedures meeting the requirements of part 160, subpart 160.176 of this chapter. Each hybrid inflatable lifejacket must be serviced in accordance with the owner's manual and meet the requirements of part 160, subpart 160.077 of this chapter.

(3) An inflatable liferaft must be serviced at a facility specifically approved by the Commandant for the particular brand, and in accordance with servicing procedures meeting the requirements of part 160, subpart 160.151, of this chapter—

(i) No later than the month and year on its servicing sticker affixed under 46 CFR 160.151-57(n), except that servicing may be delayed until the next scheduled inspection of the unit, provided that the delay does not exceed 5 months; and

(ii) Whenever the container is damaged or the container straps or seals are broken.

(4) Each inflated rescue boat must be repaired and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. All repairs to inflated chambers must be made at a servicing facility approved by the Commandant, except for emergency repairs carried out on board the unit.

(h) Periodic servicing of hydrostatic release units. Each hydrostatic release unit, other than a disposable hydrostatic release unit, must be serviced—

(1) Within 12 months of its manufacture and within 12 months of each subsequent servicing, except when servicing is delayed until the next scheduled inspection of the unit, provided the delay does not exceed 5 months; and

(2) In accordance with repair and testing procedures meeting the requirements of part 160, subpart 160.062 of this chapter.

(i) Periodic servicing of launching appliances and release gear. (1) Launching appliances must be serviced at the intervals recommended in the manufacturer's instructions, or as set out in the shipboard planned maintenance program.

(2) Launching appliances must be thoroughly examined at intervals not exceeding 5 years and upon completion of the examination, the launching appliance must be subjected to a dynamic test of the winch brake.

(3) Lifeboat and rescue boat release gear must be serviced at the intervals recommended in the manufacturer's instructions, or as set out in the planned maintenance program.

(4) Lifeboat and rescue boat release gear must be subjected to a thorough examination by properly trained personnel familiar with the system at each inspection for certification.

(5) Lifeboat and rescue boat release gear must be operationally tested under a load of 1.1 times the total mass of the lifeboat when loaded with its full complement of persons and equipment, whenever overhauled, or at least once every 5 years.

(j) Maintenance of falls. Each fall used in a launching appliance must be inspected annually with special regard for areas passing through sheaves and must be renewed when necessary due to deterioration or at intervals of not more than 5 years, whichever is earlier.

(k) Rotational deployment of marine evacuation systems. In addition to or in conjunction with the servicing intervals of marine evacuation systems required by paragraph (g)(1) of this section, each marine evacuation system must be deployed from the unit on a rotational basis. Each marine evacuation system must be deployed at least once every 6 years.