46 CFR 199.45: Lifesaving equipment tests and inspections

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section lists what tests and inspections of lifesaving appliances and arrangements must demonstrate. It covers the initial inspection for certification, reinspections at renewal and periodic inspection, and other inspections such as new installations and vessel boardings.

What it says

  1. The initial inspection for certification includes a demonstration of the proper condition and operation of survival craft and rescue boat launching appliances at loads ranging from light load to 10 percent overload.

    46 CFR 199.45(a)(1)“The proper condition and operation of the survival craft and rescue boat launching appliances at loads ranging from light load to 10 percent overload;”

  2. The initial inspection includes a demonstration of the crew's ability to effectively carry out abandon-ship and fire-fighting procedures.

    46 CFR 199.45(a)(7)“The ability of the crew to effectively carry out abandon-ship and fire-fighting procedures; and”

  3. Tests and inspections of lifesaving equipment shall be carried out during each inspection for renewal of certification and periodic inspection, and shall include, as applicable, the listed demonstrations.

    46 CFR 199.45(b)“Tests and inspections of the lifesaving equipment shall be carried out during each inspection for renewal of certification and periodic inspection, and shall include, as applicable, a demonstration of—”

  4. At reinspection, launching appliances are tested at loads from light load to full load. Any portion of a load test done for replacing or end-for-ending a fall since the vessel's last inspection or reinspection need not be repeated.

    46 CFR 199.45(b)(1)“except that any portion of the load test conducted in connection with replacement or end-for-ending of a fall since the vessel's last inspection or reinspection, need not be repeated;”

  5. Reinspection includes a demonstration of the proper servicing of each hydrostatic release unit, other than a disposable hydrostatic release unit, as required under this chapter.

    46 CFR 199.45(b)(5)“The proper servicing of each hydrostatic release unit, other than a disposable hydrostatic release unit, as required under this chapter; and”

  6. Lifesaving appliances and arrangements are subject to the paragraph (a) tests and inspections whenever a new lifesaving appliance is installed on the vessel. The paragraph (a)(1) test must be carried out whenever a wire fall for a launching appliance is replaced or turned end-for-end.

    46 CFR 199.45(c)(1)“The test in paragraph (a)(1) of this section must be carried out whenever a wire fall for a launching appliance is replaced or turned end-for-end.”

  7. Lifesaving appliances and arrangements are subject to the paragraph (b) tests and inspections during vessel boardings, to ensure they comply, are in satisfactory condition, and remain fit for the service.

    46 CFR 199.45(c)(2)“during vessel boardings to ensure that the appliances and arrangements comply with applicable requirements, are in satisfactory condition, and remain fit for the service.”

Common questions

When must the wire fall load test be done?

The test in paragraph (a)(1) must be carried out whenever a wire fall for a launching appliance is replaced or turned end-for-end.

“The test in paragraph (a)(1) of this section must be carried out whenever a wire fall for a launching appliance is replaced or turned end-for-end.”

What load range is used for launching appliance tests at initial inspection?

The initial inspection demonstrates the launching appliances at loads ranging from light load to 10 percent overload.

“The proper condition and operation of the survival craft and rescue boat launching appliances at loads ranging from light load to 10 percent overload;”

Can lifesaving equipment be inspected during a vessel boarding?

Yes. Lifesaving appliances and arrangements are subject to the paragraph (b) tests and inspections during vessel boardings.

“during vessel boardings to ensure that the appliances and arrangements comply with applicable requirements, are in satisfactory condition, and remain fit for the service.”

The text of 46 CFR 199.45

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of March 31, 2026 · Read it on eCFR

Tests and inspections of lifesaving equipment and arrangements

(a) Initial inspection. The initial inspection of lifesaving appliances and arrangements for certification includes a demonstration of—

(1) The proper condition and operation of the survival craft and rescue boat launching appliances at loads ranging from light load to 10 percent overload;

(2) The proper condition and operation of lifeboats and rescue boats, including engines and release mechanisms;

(3) The proper condition of flotation equipment such as lifebuoys, lifejackets, immersion suits, work vests, lifefloats, buoyant apparatus, and associated equipment;

(4) The proper condition of distress signaling equipment, including emergency position indicating radiobeacons (EPIRB), search and rescue transponders (SART), and pyrotechnic signaling devices;

(5) The proper condition of line-throwing appliances;

(6) The proper condition and operation of embarkation appliances, including embarkation ladders and marine evacuation systems;

(7) The ability of the crew to effectively carry out abandon-ship and fire-fighting procedures; and

(8) The ability to meet the egress and survival craft launching requirements of this part.

(b) Reinspections. Tests and inspections of the lifesaving equipment shall be carried out during each inspection for renewal of certification and periodic inspection, and shall include, as applicable, a demonstration of—

(1) The proper condition and operation of the survival craft and rescue boat launching appliances at loads ranging from light load to full load, except that any portion of the load test conducted in connection with replacement or end-for-ending of a fall since the vessel's last inspection or reinspection, need not be repeated;

(2) The proper condition and operation of lifeboats and rescue boats, including engines and release mechanisms;

(3) The proper condition of flotation equipment such as lifebuoys, lifejackets, immersion suits, work vests, lifefloats, buoyant apparatus, and associated equipment;

(4) The proper servicing of each inflatable liferaft and inflatable lifejacket has been serviced as required under this chapter;

(5) The proper servicing of each hydrostatic release unit, other than a disposable hydrostatic release unit, as required under this chapter; and

(6) The ability of crew to effectively carry out abandon-ship and fire-fighting procedures.

(c) Other inspections. (1) Lifesaving appliances and arrangements are subject to tests and inspections described in paragraph (a) of this section whenever a new lifesaving appliance is installed on the vessel. The test in paragraph (a)(1) of this section must be carried out whenever a wire fall for a launching appliance is replaced or turned end-for-end.

(2) Lifesaving appliances and arrangements are subject to tests and inspections described in paragraph (b) of this section during vessel boardings to ensure that the appliances and arrangements comply with applicable requirements, are in satisfactory condition, and remain fit for the service.

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 March 31, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.