3.7 Communications (alerting and detection)
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Resolutions - Assembly - IMO Resolution A.520(13) – Code of practice for the evaluation, testing and acceptance of prototype novel life-saving appliances and arrangements – (Adopted in 1983) - Annex - Recommendation on Testing of Life-Saving Appliances - 3 Appliance Criteria and Testing of Prototypes - 3.7 Communications (alerting and detection)

3.7 Communications (alerting and detection)

  3.7.1 Buoyancy equipment intended to support and enable detection of persons in the water should:

  • .1 if required, have active means of detection attached which is automatically activated when the buoyancy equipment is released and makes it possible to detect the buoyancy equipment in a seaway visually from a ship at a range of at least 1 mile for a period of:

    • .1.1 at least 15 min under clear daytime conditions; and

    • .1.2 at least 2 h under clear night-time conditions;

      • and when carried on tankers, such active means of detection should be of a type which cannot cause ignition of flammable vapours;

  • .2 have passive means of detection which makes it possible to detect the buoyancy equipment in a seaway visually from a ship at a range of at least 0.3 miles under clear daytime conditions and, when illuminated by a searchlight, from a range of at least 0.3 miles under clear night-time conditions;

  • .3 identify the ship on which it is carried;

  • .4 be prototype tested with regard to paragraph 3.7.1.1 and with regard to paragraphs 3.7.1.1.1, 3.7.1.1.2 and 3.7.1.2 in a seaway.

  3.7.2 Individual buoyancy equipment and garments for protection against hypothermia should:

  • .1 have a manually controlled active means of detection which makes it possible to detect a person in a seaway audibly at a range of at least 0.2 miles in calm weather;

  • .2 have active means of detection which makes it possible to detect a person in a seaway visually at a range of at least 0.5 miles under clear night-time conditions for a period of not less than 8 h;

  • .3 have passive means of detection which makes it possible to detect a person in a seaway visually from a ship at a range of at least 0.2 miles under clear daytime conditions and, when illuminated by a searchlight, from a range of at least 0.2 miles under clear night-time conditions; and

  • .4 be prototype tested with regard to paragraph 3.7.2.1 and with regard to paragraphs 3.7.2.2 and 3.7.2.3 in a seaway.

  3.7.3 Survival craft should:

  • .1 have active means of detection which makes it possible to visually locate or detect the survival craft in a seaway from a ship or an aircraft, as appropriate:

    • .1.1 at an altitude of 3,000 m at a range of at least 10 miles under clear daytime and night-time conditions for a period of at least 40 s;

    • .1.2 at a range of at least 3 miles under clear night-time conditions for a period of at least 1 min;

    • .1.3 at a range of at least 2 miles under clear daytime conditions for a period of at least 3 min;

    • .1.4 at a range of at least 2 miles under clear night-time conditions, which means should be manually operated, have sufficient capacity for at least 12 h operation and, in the case of passive survival craft, should be automatically activated when launched;

  • .2 have passive means of detection which makes it possible to locate and detect the survival craft in a seaway visually from a ship at a range of at least 1 mile in clear daytime conditions and, when illuminated by a searchlight, under clear night-time conditions;

  • .3 identify the ship on which they are carried;

  • .4 be provided with items that are prototype tested with regard to paragraphs 3.7.3.1 and 3.7.3.2 in a seaway.

  3.7.4 Rescue craft should:

  • .1 have active means of detection which makes it possible to detect the rescue craft in a seaway from the ship on which they are carried, visually at a range of at least 2 miles under clear daytime and night-time conditions;

  • .2 have passive means of detection which makes it possible to detect the rescue craft in a seaway visually from the ship on which they are carried at a range of at least 1 mile under clear daytime conditions and, when illuminated by a searchlight, under clear night-time conditions;

  • .3 identify the ship on which they are carried;

  • .4 be provided with items that are prototype tested with regard to paragraphs 3.7.4.1 and 3.7.4.2 in a seaway.

  3.7.5 The ship should be provided with active means of detection which makes it possible to detect and locate the ship from an altitude of at least 3,000 m at a range of at least 10 miles under clear daytime and night-time conditions for a period of at least 40 s.

Parent topic: 3 Appliance Criteria and Testing of Prototypes
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