Lifebuoy Specifications
- Outer diameter max 800 mm; inner diameter min 400 mm.
- Made of inherently buoyant material; no inflation needed for buoyancy.
- Must support at least 14.5 kg in fresh water for 24 hours.
- Minimum mass of 2.5 kg.
- Fire resistance: no sustained burning or melting after 2 seconds in fire.
- Must withstand drops from storage height or 30 m.
- If quick-release devices are included, minimum mass for operation specified.
- Equipped with a grabline secured at four equidistant points forming loops.
Lifebuoy Self-Igniting Lights and Smoke Signals
- Lights must:
- Be water-resistant and capable of continuous luminous output or flashing.
- Operate for at least 2 hours.
- Withstand prescribed drop tests.
- Smoke signals must:
- Emit highly visible smoke for at least 15 minutes while floating.
- Not ignite explosively; no flame during emission.
- Function submerged briefly for 10 seconds.
- Resist being swamped and withstand drop tests.
Buoyant Lifelines
- Must be non-kinking, at least 8 mm diameter.
- Break strength not less than 5 kN.
Lifejackets
- Fire resistant; no sustained burning or melting after 5 seconds.
- Construction to allow donning within 1 minute; comfortable and correct fitting.
- Sufficient buoyancy:
- Lifts unconscious person's mouth 120 mm above water.
- Turns unconscious persons face-up within 5 seconds.
- Buoyancy reduced by no more than 5% after 24 hours submersion.
- Fits with secured waistline cord.
- Inflatable lifejackets have at least two inflatable compartments, automatic/manual inflation methods, and meet buoyancy/stability standards even if one compartment fails.
- Lifejacket lights:
- Minimum 0.75 cd luminous intensity for 8 hours.
- Flashing lights require manual switch and meet flash rate and intensity specs.
Immersion Suits
- Waterproof, can be donned unaided within 2 minutes.
- Fire-resistant; covers the whole body except face; gloves attached or covered.
- Minimizes free air in legs; water ingress prevention upon 4.5 m jump.
- Supports climbing ladders and swimming short distances.
- May be classified as lifejackets if meeting those criteria.
- Thermal performance standards depend on insulation type; protect against core temperature drop under specific immersion conditions.
- Permits turning from face-down to face-up position in less than 5 seconds.
Thermal Protective Aids
- Waterproof with low thermal conductivity (max 0.25 W/m.K).
- Covers the whole body except face; covers hands or gloves attached.
- Easily donned without assistance; removable in water in 2 minutes if swimming impaired.
- Effective from air temperatures -30°C to +20°C.
- Typically highly visible colors; exceptions allowed if unlikely to be used in water.
Visual Signals - Rocket Parachute Flares
- Water-resistant casing with clear use instructions.
- Integral ignition means; safe in handling.
- Reach at least 300 m altitude.
- Produce bright red flare with luminous intensity of minimum 30,000 cd.
- Burn for at least 40 seconds; descend not more than 5 m/s.
Visual Signals - Hand Flares
- Water-resistant casing, clear instructions, and self-contained ignition.
- Produce bright red flame, at least 15,000 cd luminous intensity.
- Burn for at least 1 minute; continue burning after immersion for 10 seconds.
Visual Signals - Buoyant Smoke Signals
- Water-resistant casing; safe ignition without explosive flame.
- Emit highly visible smoke for a minimum of 3 minutes while floating.
- No flame emitted during operation.
- Function when swamped and emit smoke submerged under water for short periods.
Liferafts - General Requirements
- Construction to withstand 30 days afloat.
- Drop tested from 18 m or higher with functional equipment.
- Support repeated jumps of at least 4.5 m.
- Towed at speeds of 3 knots with full load and sea-anchor.
- Automatic canopy providing weather protection, insulation, ventilation, multiple entrances if >8 persons, viewing port, rainwater collection, and enough headroom.
- Minimum carrying capacity of 6 persons.
- Portable liferafts limited to 185 kg total mass unless otherwise approved.
- Equipped with lifelines, painter, knives, bailers, sponges, sea-anchors, paddles, cutters, first aid, signals, water, food, thermal aids, and survival instructions.
Float-Free Arrangement for Liferafts
- Painter system designed to prevent dragging under during sinking.
- Weak links break under specified strain but withstand inflation forces.
- Hydrostatic release units must operate automatically not deeper than 4 m, resist seawater impact, drain water, and be properly marked for identification.
Inflatable Liferafts
- Must have two separate inflatable buoyancy compartments.
- Waterproof insulated floor.
- Inflation within 1-3 minutes depending on temperature, maintaining shape under load.
- Pressure safety valves prevent overinflation.
- Carrying capacity based on buoyancy volume or raft area.
- Access via semi-rigid boarding ramp or boarding ladder with assistance inside.
- Stability both upright and inverted; can be towed at 3 knots.
- Painter strength at least 10 kN (9+ persons) or 7.5 kN (others).
- Equipped with top and internal lamps visible at 2 miles for at least 12 hours; sea-activated or dry cell.
- Packaged in watertight, buoyant containers with detailed markings.
- Additional repair outfit and topping pumps required.
Rigid Liferafts
- Buoyancy from fire-retardant inherent buoyant materials on periphery.
- Waterproof, insulated floors.
- Carrying capacity calculated based on buoyancy volume and raft cross-section.
- Access via rigid boarding ramp or ladder with internal assistance.
- Should be self-righting or rightable by one person.
- Stable for towing at 3 knots.
- Painter strength and lamp requirements as with inflatable liferafts.
- Markings to include ship registry, maker, approval, capacity, emergency pack type, and instructions.
- Must withstand loads four times mass of persons and equipment when used with approved launching appliances.