3 Open reversible liferaft fittings
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - International Codes - HSC 2000 Code - International Code of Safety for High-Speed Craft, 2000 – Resolution MSC.97(73) - Annex 11 - Open reversible liferafts - 3 Open reversible liferaft fittings

3 Open reversible liferaft fittings

  3.1 Lifelines shall be securely becketed around the inside and outside of the open reversible liferaft.

  3.2 The open reversible liferaft shall 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 shall 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 paragraph 4.1.6.2 of the LSA Code, shall be:

  • .1 7.5 kN for open reversible liferafts accommodating up to 8 persons;

  • .2 10.0 kN for open reversible liferafts accommodating 9 to 30 persons; and

  • .3 15.0 kN for open reversible liferafts accommodating more than 30 persons.

  3.4 The open reversible liferaft shall be fitted with at least the following number of inflated ramps to assist boarding from the sea whichever way up the raft inflates:

  • .1 one boarding ramp for open reversible liferafts accommodating up to 30 persons; or

  • .2 two boarding ramps for open reversible liferafts accommodating more than 30 persons; such boarding ramps shall be 180° apart.

  3.5 The open reversible liferaft shall be fitted with water pockets complying with the following requirements:

  • .1 the cross-sectional area of the pockets shall be in the shape of an isosceles triangle with the base of the triangle attached to the buoyancy tubes of the open reversible liferaft;

  • .2 the design shall be such that the pockets fill to approximately 60% of capacity within 15 seconds to 25 seconds of deployment;

  • .3 the pockets attached to each buoyancy tube shall normally have aggregate capacity of between 125l and 150l for inflatable open reversible liferafts up to and including the 10-person size;

  • .4 the pockets to be fitted to each buoyancy tube on liferafts certified to carry more than 10 persons shall have, as far as practicable, an aggregate capacity of 12 N litres, where N is the number of persons carried;

  • .5 each pocket on a buoyancy tube shall 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

  • .6 the pockets shall 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 requirements shall be fitted on the upper and lower surfaces of the buoyancy tubes.

  3.7 Suitable automatic drain arrangements shall be provided on each side of the floor of the liferaft in the following manner:

  • .1 one for open reversible liferafts accommodating up to 30 persons; or

  • .2 two for open reversible liferafts accommodating more than 30 persons.

  3.8 The equipment of every open reversible liferaft shall consist of:

  • .1 one buoyant rescue quoit, attached to not less than 30 m of buoyant line with a breaking strength of at least 1 kN;

  • .2 two safety knives of the non-folding type, having a buoyant handle, shall be fitted attached to open reversible liferaft by light lines. They shall 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;

  • .3 one buoyant bailer;

  • .4 two sponges;

  • .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 shall be clearly marked on both buoyancy tubes;

  • .6 two buoyant paddles;

  • .7 one first-aid outfit in a waterproof case capable of being closed tightly after use;

  • .8 one whistle or equivalent sound signal;

  • .9 two hand flares;

  • .10 one waterproof electric torch suitable for Morse signalling together with one spare set of batteries and one spare bulb in a waterproof container;

  • .11 one repair outfit for repairing punctures in buoyancy compartments; and

  • .12 one topping-up pump or bellows.

  3.9 The equipment specified in 3.8 is designated an HSC Pack.

  3.10 Where appropriate, the equipment shall be stowed in a container which, if it is not an integral part of, or permanently attached to, the open reversible liferaft, shall be stowed and secured to the open reversible liferaft and be capable of floating in water for at least 30 minutes 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 shall 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 shall 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.

Parent topic: Annex 11 - Open reversible liferafts
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