(1) Operational readiness
Before the vessel leaves port and at all times during the
voyage, all life-saving appliances shall be in working order and ready
for immediate use.
(2) Maintenance
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(a) Instructions for on-board maintenance of life-saving
appliances approved by the Administration shall be provided and maintenance
shall be carried out accordingly.
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(b) The Administration may accept, in lieu of
the instructions required by subparagraph (a), a shipboard planned
maintenance programme.
Falls used in launching shall be turned end for end at intervals
of not more than 30 months and be renewed when necessary due to deterioration
of the falls or at intervals of not more than 5 years, whichever is
the earlier.
(4) Spares and repair equipment
Spares and repair equipment shall be provided for life-saving
appliances and their components which are subject to excessive wear
or consumption and need to be replaced regularly.
The following tests and inspections shall be earned out
weekly:
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(a) all survival craft, rescue boats and launching
appliances shall be visually inspected to ensure that they are ready
for use;
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(b) all engines in lifeboats and rescue boats
shall be run ahead and astern for a total period of not less than
3 min provided the ambient temperature is above the minimum temperature
required for starting the engine;
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(c) the general emergency alarm system shall be
tested.
Inspection of the life-saving appliances, including lifeboat
equipment, shall be carried out monthly using a checklist to ensure
that they are complete and in good order. A report of the inspection
shall be entered in the log-book.
(7) Servicing of inflatable liferafts, inflatable
lifejackets and inflated rescue boats.
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(a) Every inflatable liferaft and inflatable lifejacket
shall be serviced:
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(i) at intervals not exceeding 12 months. However,
in cases where it appears proper and reasonable, the Administration
may extend this period to 17 months;
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(ii) at an approved servicing station which is
competent to service them, maintains proper servicing facilities and
uses only properly trained personnel.footnote
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(b) All repairs and maintenance of inflated rescue
boats shall be carried out in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
Emergency repairs may be carried out on board the vessel; however,
permanent repairs shall be effected at an approved servicing station.
(8) Periodic servicing of hydrostatic release
units.
Disposable hydrostatic release units shall be replaced when
their date of expiry has passed. If not disposable, hydrostatic release
units shall be serviced:
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(i) at intervals not exceeding 12 months. However,
in cases where it appears proper and reasonable, the Administration
may extend this period to 17 months;
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(ii) at a servicing station which is competent
to service them, maintains proper servicing facilities and uses only
properly trained personnel.
(9) In cases of vessels where the nature of fishing
operations may cause difficulty for compliance with the requirements
of paragraphs (7) and (8), the Administration may allow the extension
of the service intervals to 24 months, provided that the Administration
is satisfied that such appliances are so manufactured and arranged
that they will remain in satisfactory condition until the next period
of servicing.