1 Each survival craft shall be stowed:
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.1 so that neither the survival craft nor its
stowage arrangements will interfere with the operation of any other
survival craft or rescue boat at any other launching station;
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.2 as near the water surface as is safe and practicable
and, in the case of a survival craft other than a liferaft intended
for throw over board launching, in such a position that the survival
craft in the embarkation position is not less than 2 m above the waterline
with the ship in the fully loaded condition under unfavourable conditions
of trim of up to 10° and listed up to 20° either way, or to
the angle at which the ship's weatherdeck edge becomes submerged,
whichever is less;
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.3 in a state of continuous readiness so that
two crew members can carry out preparations for embarkation and launching
in less than 5 min;
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.4 fully equipped as required by this chapter
and the Code; and
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.5 as far as practicable, in a secure and sheltered
position and protected from damage by fire and explosion. In particular,
survival craft on tankers, other than the liferafts required by regulation 31.1.4, shall not be
stowed on or above a cargo tank, slop tank, or other tank containing
explosive or hazardous cargoes.
2 Lifeboats for lowering down the ship's side
shall be stowed as far forward of the propeller as practicable. On
cargo ships of 80 m in length and upwards but less than 120 m in length,
each lifeboat shall be so stowed that the after end of the lifeboat
is not less than the length of the lifeboat forward of the propeller.
On cargo ships of 120 m in length and upwards and passenger ships
of 80 m in length and upwards, each lifeboat shall be so stowed that
the after end of the lifeboat is not less than 1.5 times the length
of the lifeboat forward of the propeller. Where appropriate, the ship
shall be so arranged that lifeboats, in their stowed positions, are
protected from damage by heavy seas.
3 Lifeboats shall be stowed attached to launching
appliances.
4.1 Every liferaft shall be stowed with its painter
permanently attached to the ship.
4.2 Each liferaft or group of liferafts, shall
be stowed with a float-free arrangement complying with the requirements
of paragraph 4.1.6 of the Code so that
each floats free and, if inflatable, inflates automatically when the
ship sinks.
4.3 Liferafts shall be so stowed as to permit
manual release of one raft or container at a time from their securing
arrangements.
5 Davit-launched liferafts shall be stowed within
reach of the lifting hooks, unless some means of transfer is provided
which is not rendered inoperable within the limits of trim and list
prescribed in paragraph 1.2 or by ship motion or power failure.
6 Liferafts intended for throw-overboard launching
shall be so stowed as to be readily transferable for launching on
either side of the ship unless liferafts, of the aggregate capacity
required by regulation 31.1 to
be capable of being launched on either side, are stowed on each side
of the ship.