(1) Inflatable liferafts shall comply with the
requirements of regulation 20 and,
in addition, shall comply with the requirements of this regulation.
(2) Construction of inflatable liferafts
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(a) The main buoyancy chamber shall be divided
into not less than two separate compartments, each inflated through
a nonreturn inflation valve on each compartment The buoyancy chambers
shall be so arranged that, in the event of any one of the compartments
being damaged or failing to inflate, the intact compartments shall
be able to support, with positive freeboard over the liferaft's entire
periphery, the number of persons which the liferaft is permitted to
accommodate, each having a mass of 75 kg and seated in their normal
positions.
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(b) The floor of the liferaft shall be waterproof
and shall be capable of being sufficiently insulated against cold
either:
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(i) by means of one or more compartments that
the occupants can inflate, or which inflate automatically and can
be deflated and reinflated by the occupants; or
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(ii) by other equally efficient means not dependent
on inflation.
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(c) The liferaft shall be inflated with a non-toxic
gas. Inflation shall be completed within a period of 1 min at an ambient
temperature of between 18°C and 20°C and within a period of
3 min at an ambient temperature of –30°C. After inflation
the liferaft shall maintain its form when loaded with its full complement
of persons and equipment.
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(d) Each inflatable compartment shall be capable
of withstanding a pressure equal to at least three times the working
pressure and shall be prevented from reaching a pressure exceeding
twice the working pressure either by means of relief valves or by
a limited gas supply. Means shall be provided for fitting the topping-up
pump or bellows required by paragraph (10)(a)(ii) so that the working
pressure can be maintained.
(3) Carrying capacity of inflatable liferafts
The number of persons which a liferaft shall be permitted
to accommodate shall be equal to the lesser of:
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(i) the greatest whole number obtained by dividing
by 0.096 the volume, measured in cubic metres, of the main buoyancy
tubes (which for this purpose shall include neither the arches nor
the thwarts, if fitted) when inflated; or
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(ii) the greatest whole number obtained by dividing
by 0.372 the inner horizontal cross-sectional area of the liferaft
measured in square metres (which for this purpose may include the
thwart or thwarts, if fitted) measured to the innermost edge of the
buoyancy tubes; or
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(iii) the number of persons having an average
mass of 75 kg all wearing lifejackets, that can be seated with sufficient
comfort and headroom without interfering with the operation of any
of the liferaft's equipment.
(4) Access into inflatable liferafts
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(a) At least one entrance shall be fitted with
a semi-rigid boarding ramp to enable persons to board the liferaft
from the sea so arranged as to prevent significant deflation of the
liferaft if the ramp is damaged. In the case of a davit-launched liferaft
having more than one entrance, the boarding ramp shall be fitted at
the entrance opposite the bowsing lines and embarkation facilities.
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(b) Entrances not provided with a boarding ramp
shall have a boarding ladder, the lowest step of which shall be situated
not less than 0.4 m below the liferaft's light waterline.
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(c) There shall be means inside the liferaft to
assist persons to pull themselves into the liferaft from the ladder.
(5) Stability of inflatable liferafts
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(a) Every inflatable liferaft shall be so constructed
that, when fully inflated and floating with the canopy uppermost,
it is stable in a seaway.
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(b) The stability of the liferaft when in the
inverted position shall be such that it can be righted in a seaway
and in calm water by one person.
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(c) The stability of the liferaft when loaded
with its full complement of persons and equipment shall be such that
it can be towed at speeds of up to 3 knots in calm water.
(6) Inflatable liferaft fittings
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(a) The breaking strength of the painter system
including its means of attachment to the liferaft, except the weak
link required by regulation 20(6)(b),
shall be not less than 10.0 kN for a liferaft permitted to accommodate
nine persons or more, and not less than 7.5 kN for any other liferaft.
The liferaft shall be capable of being inflated by one person.
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(b) A manually controlled lamp visible on a dark
night with a clear atmosphere at a distance of at least 2 miles for
a period of not less than 12 h shall be fitted to the top of the liferaft
canopy. If it is a flashing light it shall flash at a rate of not
less than 50 flashes per minute for the first 2 h of operation of
the 12 h operating period. The lamp shall be powered by a sea-activiated
cell or a dry chemical cell and shall light automatically when the
liferaft inflates. The cell shall be of a type that does not deteriorate
due to damp or humidity in the stowed liferaft.
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(c) A manually controlled lamp shall be fitted
inside the liferaft capable of continuous operation for a period of
a least 12 h. It shall light automatically when the liferaft inflates
and be of sufficient intensity to enable reading of survival and equipment
instructions.
(7) Containers for inflatable liferafts
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(a) The liferaft shall be packed in a container
that is:
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(i) so constructed as to withstand hard wear under
conditions encountered at sea;
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(ii) of sufficient inherent buoyancy, when packed
with the liferaft and its equipment, to pull the painter from within
and to operate the inflation mechanism should the vessel sink;
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(iii) as far as practicable watertight, except
for drain holes in the container bottom.
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(b) The liferaft shall be packed in its container
in such a way as to ensure, as far as possible, that the waterborne
liferaft inflates in an upright position on breaking free from its
container.
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(c) The container shall be marked with:
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(i) maker's name or trade mark;
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(ii) serial number;
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(iii) name of approving authority and the number
of persons it is permitted to carry;
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(iv) SFV;footnote
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(v) type of emergency pack enclosed;
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(vi) date when last serviced;
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(vii) length of painter;
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(viii) maximum permitted height of stowage above
waterline (depending on drop-test height and length of painter);
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(ix) launching instructions.
(8) Markings on inflatable liferafts
The liferafts shall be marked with:
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(i) maker's name or trade mark;
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(ii) serial number;
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(iii) date of manufacture (month and year);
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(iv) name of approving authority;
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(v) name and place of servicing station where
it was last serviced;
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(vi) number of persons it is permitted to accommodate
over each entrance in characters not less than 100 mm in height of
a colour contrasting with that of the liferaft.
(9) Davit-launched inflatable liferafts
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(a) In addition to complying with the above requirements,
a liferaft for use with an approved launching appliance shall, when
suspended from its lifting hook or bridle, withstand a load of:
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(i) 4 times the mass of its full complement of
persons and equipment, at an ambient temperature and a stabilized
liferaft temperature of 20 ± 3°C with all relief valves
inoperative; and
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(ii) 1.1 times the mass of its full complement
of persons and equipment at an ambient temperature and a stabilized
liferaft temperature of –30°C with all relief valves operative.
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(b) Rigid containers for liferafts to be launched
by a launching appliance shall be so secured that the container or
parts of it are prevented from falling into the sea during and after
inflation and launching of the contained liferaft.
(10) Additional equipment for inflatable liferafts