3.1 Lifelines should be securely becketed around
the inside and outside of the open reversible liferaft.
3.2 The open reversible liferaft should be fitted
with an efficient painter of a length suitable for automatic inflation
on reaching the water. For open reversible liferafts accommodating
more than 30 persons an additional bowsing-in line should be fitted.
3.3 The breaking strength of the painter system,
including its means of attachment to the open reversible liferaft,
except the weak link required by regulation III/39 of the Convention,
should be:
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.1 7.5 kN for open reversible liferafts accommodating
up to 8 persons;
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.2 10.0 kN for open reversible liferafts accommodating
9 to 30 persons; and
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.3 15.0 kN for open reversible liferafts accommodating
more than 30 persons.
3.4 The open reversible liferaft should be fitted
with at least the following number of inflated ramps to assist boarding
from the sea whichever way up the raft inflates:
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.1 one boarding ramp for open reversible liferafts
accommodating up to 30 persons; or
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.2 two boarding ramps for open reversible liferafts
accommodating more than 30 persons; such boarding ramps should be
180° apart.
3.5 The open reversible liferaft should be fitted
with water pockets complying with the following provisions:
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.1 the cross-sectional area of the pockets should
be in the shape of an isosceles triangle with the base of the triangle
attached to the buoyancy tubes of the open reversible liferaft;
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.2 the design should be such that the pockets
fill to approximately 60% of capacity within 15 s to 25 s of deployment;
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.3 the pockets attached to each buoyancy tube
should normally have aggregate capacity of between 125 l and 150 l
for inflatable open reversible liferafts up to and including the 10-person
size;
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.4 the pockets to be fitted to each buoyancy tube
on liferafts certified to carry more than 10 persons should have,
as far as practicable, an aggregate capacity of 12 N·litres,
where N is the number of persons carried;
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.5 each pocket on a buoyancy tube should be attached
so that when the pocket is in the deployed position it is attached
along the full length of its upper edges to, or close to, the lowest
part of the lower buoyancy tube; and
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.6 the pockets should be distributed symmetrically
round the circumference of the liferaft with sufficient separation
between each pocket to enable air to escape readily.
3.6 At least one manually controlled lamp complying
with the provisions should be fitted on the upper and lower surfaces
of the buoyancy tubes.
3.7 Suitable automatic drain arrangements should
be provided on each side of the floor of the liferaft in the following
manner:
3.8 The equipment of every open reversible liferaft
should consist of:
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.1 one buoyant rescue quoit, attached to not less
than 30 m of buoyant line with a breaking strength of at least 1 kN;
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.2 two safety knives of the non-folding type,
having a buoyant handle, should be fitted attached to open reversible
liferaft by light lines. They should be stowed in pockets so that,
irrespective of the way in which the open reversible liferaft inflates,
one will be readily available on the top surface of the upper buoyancy
tube in a suitable position to enable the painter to be readily cut;
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.3 one buoyant bailer;
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.4 two sponges;
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.5 one sea-anchor permanently attached to the
open reversible liferaft in such a way as to be readily deployable
when the open reversible liferaft inflates. The position of the sea-anchor
should be clearly marked on both buoyancy tubes;
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.6 two buoyant paddles;
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.7 one first-aid outfit in a waterproof case capable
of being closed tightly after use;
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.8 one whistle or equivalent sound signal;
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.9 two hand flares;
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.10 one waterproof electric torch suitable for
Morse signalling together with one spare set of batteries and one
spare bulb in a waterproof container;
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.11 one repair outfit for repairing punctures
in buoyancy compartments; and
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.12 one topping-up pump or bellows.
3.9 Where appropriate, the equipment should be
stowed in a container which, if it is not an integral part of, or
permanently attached to, the open reversible liferaft, should be stowed
and secured to the open reversible liferaft and be capable of floating
in water for at least 30 min without damage to its contents. Irrespective
of whether the equipment container is an integral part of, or is permanently
attached to, the open reversible liferaft, the equipment should be
readily accessible irrespective of which way up the open reversible
liferaft inflates. The line which secures the equipment container
to the open reversible liferaft should have a breaking strength of
2 kN or a breaking strength of 3:1 based on the mass of the complete
equipment pack, whichever is the greater.