Question & AnswerQ&A (PHTBNP)
All life-saving appliances must be constructed with proper workmanship and materials, resistant to damage within air temperature ranges of -30°C to +65°C, able to operate in seawater temperatures of 1°C to 30°C if immersed, rot-proof, corrosion-resistant, unaffected by seawater, oil or fungi, resistant to sunlight deterioration, brightly colored for visibility, fitted with retro-reflective materials, and capable of satisfactory operation in seaway environments.
Lifebuoys must have an outer diameter not exceeding 800 mm and inner diameter not less than 400 mm, be of inherently buoyant material excluding loose granules or inflatable air compartments, support at least 14.5 kg in fresh water for 24 hours, weigh at least 2.5 kg, resist burning and melting for 2 seconds in fire, withstand a drop from stow height or 30 m without damage, have sufficient mass to operate quick-release arrangements if applicable, and be fitted with a grabline secured in four equal loops.
Lifejackets must not sustain burning or melting for 2 seconds after total fire exposure, be donable within 1 minute unaided, be designed to avoid incorrect donning or allow wearing inside-out, comfortable to wear, survive jumps from 4.5 m without injury or dislodgement, provide sufficient buoyancy to keep the mouth at least 120 mm above water, right an unconscious wearer within 5 seconds, retain buoyancy after 24-hour fresh water submersion, allow swimming and boarding survival craft, and be fitted with a firmly secured waistline cord.
Inflatable lifejackets must have at least two separate compartments, inflate automatically upon immersion with manual and oral inflation options, maintain buoyancy if one compartment loses air, and retain buoyancy with no more than 5% loss after 24 hours of fresh water submersion following automatic inflation.
Immersion suits must be waterproof, donnable without assistance within 2 minutes, resist burning or melting for 2 seconds, cover the whole body except face (hands unless gloves attached), minimize free air in legs, withstand jumps from 4.5 m without water ingress or damage, facilitate ladder climbing and normal duties, allow short swimming and boarding survival craft, and if buoyant and worn alone, include lights and whistles. Thermal insulation capabilities and marking instructions must conform to specified standards.
Rocket parachute flares must be water-resistant, include clear use instructions, have integral ignition, be safe to hold, reach at least 300 m altitude when fired vertically, eject a parachute flare that burns bright red with at least 30,000 cd intensity for a minimum of 40 seconds, descend not more than 5 m/s, and maintain parachute and attachment integrity during burning.
Liferafts must carry buoyant rescue quoits with buoyant lines, buoyant knives (non-folding for small rafts), buoyant bailers and sponges, two sea-anchors with shock-resistant hawsers, buoyant paddles, tin-openers, waterproof first-aid kit, sound signals (whistle), flares (rocket parachute and hand flares), buoyant smoke signals, electric torch with spares, radar reflector or transponder, daylight signaling mirror with instructions, survival signals card, fishing tackle, energy food rations (at least 10,000 kJ per person), accessible fresh water and desalting apparatus, drinking vessel, seasickness medicine and bags, survival and immediate action instructions, and thermal protective aids.
Liferafts must be connected to the ship via a painter system that prevents dragging the raft underwater by a sinking ship. If a weak link is used, it must not break when pulling the painter from the container but must break at a strain of 2.2 ± 0.4 kN. Hydrostatic release units must automatically release the liferaft at depths not exceeding 4 m, be resistant to seawater and prevent unintended releases, and must be properly marked and documented with type and serial number.
Inflatable liferafts must have buoyancy chambers divided into at least two compartments so that if one fails, the raft remains afloat with all persons and equipment. They must be waterproof, insulated floors, inflated with non-toxic gas within specified times, maintain stability and function in an upright position in seaway, be self-righting or easily rightable when inverted, allow boarding through boarding ramps or ladders, withstand towing at up to 3 knots, and be fitted with appropriate painter systems and lighting.
Liferafts must be marked with the maker's name or trademark, serial number, approval authority, number of persons permitted (in 100 mm height characters), date of manufacture, servicing station name and place, type of emergency pack, length of painter, maximum permitted stowage height above waterline, SOLAS identification, and clear launching instructions.