1.2 Fast rescue boats may be either of rigid,
inflated or rigid/inflated construction and should:
1.3 Fast rescue boats which are a combination
of rigid and inflated construction should comply with the appropriate
requirements of these guidelines to the satisfaction of the Administration.
1.4 A fast rescue boat should be self-righting
or capable of being readily righted by its crew.
1.5 Unless the fast rescue boat has adequate sheer,
it should be provided with a bow cover extending for not less than
15% of its length, and be self-bailing or capable of being rapidly
cleared of water.
1.6 Fast rescue boats should be capable of manoeuvring,
for at least 4 hours, at a speed of at least 20 knots in calm water
with a suitably qualified crew of at least 3 persons and at least
8 knots with a full complement of persons and equipment.
1.7 Fast rescue boats should have sufficient mobility
and manoeuvrability in a seaway to enable persons to be retrieved
from the water, marshal liferafts and tow the largest liferaft carried
on the ship when loaded with its full complement of persons and equipment
or its equivalent at a speed of at least 2 knots.
1.8 A fast rescue boat should be fitted with an
inboard engine or engines or an outboard motor or motors commensurate
with its speed, size and displacement. It should be steered by a wheel
which is remote from the rudder, water jet or jets and outboard motor
or motors and an approved form of emergency steering should be fitted.
Notwithstanding the requirements of SOLAS Regulation
III/41.6.1, petrol driven outboard motors with approved fuel
systems may be fitted in fast rescue boats, but special precautions
should be taken to protect the fuel tanks from the effects of an explosion.
1.9 Each engine or motor in a fast rescue boat
should stop automatically or be stopped by the helmsman's emergency
release switch should the boat capsize. When the boat has righted,
each engine or motor should be capable of being restarted, provided
the helmsman's emergency release, if fitted, has been reset.
1.10 The fuel and lubricating oil systems should
be so designed as to prevent the loss of more than 250 ml of fuel
or lubricating oil from the propulsion system should the boat capsize.
1.11 Arrangements for towing should be permanently
fitted in fast rescue boats and should be sufficiently strong to marshal
or tow liferafts, as required by paragraph 1.7 above.
1.12 Fast rescue boats should be fitted with weathertight
stowage for small items of equipment.
1.13 If the fast rescue boat is stowed on a ship,
a disengaging gear complying with the requirements of SOLAS Regulation III/41.7.6 or its equivalent
should be fitted.