[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 46, Volume 7]
[Revised as of October 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 46CFR176.808]

[Page 220-221]
 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
   CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 176--INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION--Table of Contents
 
                     Subpart H--Material Inspections
 
Sec. 176.808  Lifesaving

    (a) At each initial and subsequent inspection for certification of a 
vessel, the owner or managing operator shall

[[Page 221]]

be prepared to conduct tests and have the vessel ready for inspection of 
lifesaving equipment and systems, including the following:
    (1) Tests of each rescue boat and each rescue boat launching 
appliance and survival craft launching appliance in accordance with 
Sec. 185.520 of this chapter;
    (2) Inspection of each lifejacket, work vest, and marine buoyant 
device;
    (3) If used, inspection of the passenger safety orientation cards or 
pamphlets allowed by Sec. 185.506(b)(2) of this chapter;
    (4) Inspection of each inflatable liferaft, inflatable buoyant 
apparatus, and inflatable lifejacket to determine that it has been 
serviced as required by Sec. 185.730 of this chapter; and
    (5) Inspection of each hydrostatic release unit to determine that it 
is in compliance with the servicing and usage requirements of 
Sec. 185.740 of this chapter.
    (b) Each item of lifesaving equipment determined by the marine 
inspector to not be in serviceable condition must be repaired or 
replaced.
    (c) Each item of lifesaving equipment with an expiration date on it 
must be replaced if the expiration date has passed.
    (d) The owner or managing operator shall destroy, in the presence of 
the marine inspector, each lifejacket, other personal floatation device, 
and other lifesaving device found to be defective and incapable of 
repair.
    (e) At each initial and subsequent inspection for certification of a 
vessel, the vessel must be equipped with an adult size lifejacket for 
each person authorized. The vessel must also be equipped with child size 
lifejackets equal to at least:
    (1) 10 percent of the maximum number of passengers permitted to be 
carried unless children are prohibited from being carried aboard the 
vessel; or
    (2) 5 percent of the maximum number of passengers permitted to be 
carried if all extended size lifejackets are provided.
    (f) Lifejackets, work vests, and marine buoyant devices may be 
marked with the date and marine inspection zone to indicate that they 
have been inspected and found to be in serviceable condition by a marine 
inspector.
    (g) At each initial and subsequent inspection for certification, the 
marine inspector may require that an abandon ship or man overboard drill 
be held under simulated emergency conditions specified by the inspector.

[CGD 85-080, 61 FR 953, Jan. 10, 1996, as amended at 62 FR 51356, Sept. 
30, 1997]