[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 46, Volume 7]
[Revised as of October 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 46CFR180.137]

[Page 253-254]
 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
   CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 180_LIFESAVING EQUIPMENT AND ARRANGEMENTS--Table of Contents
 
           Subpart D_Survival Craft Arrangements and Equipment
 
Sec. 180.137  Stowage of life floats and buoyant apparatus.

    (a) In addition to meeting Sec. 180.130, each life float and 
buoyant apparatus must be stowed as required under this section,
    (b) The float-free link required by Sec. 180.130(a)(1) must be:
    (1) Certified to meet Sec. 160.073 in subchapter Q of this chapter, 
or other standard specified by the Commandant;
    (2) Of proper strength for the size of the life float or buoyant 
apparatus as indicated on its identification tag; and
    (3) Secured to the painter at one end and to the vessel on the other 
end.
    (c) The means used to attach the float-free link to the vessel must:
    (1) Have a breaking strength of at least the breaking strength of 
the painter;
    (2) If synthetic, be of a dark color or of a type certified to be 
resistant to deterioration from ultraviolet light; and
    (3) If metal, be corrosion resistant.
    (d) If the life float or buoyant apparatus does not have a painter 
attachment fitting, a means for attaching the painter must be provided 
by a wire or line that:
    (1) Encircles the body of the device;
    (2) Will not slip off;

[[Page 254]]

    (3) Has a breaking strength that is at least the strength of the 
painter; and
    (4) If synthetic, is of a dark color or is of a type certified to be 
resistant to deterioration from ultraviolet light.
    (e) If the vessel carries more than one life float or buoyant 
apparatus in a group with each group secured by a single painter:
    (1) The combined weight of each group of life floats and buoyant 
apparatus must not exceed 181 kilograms (400 pounds);
    (2) Each group of life floats and buoyant apparatus is considered a 
single survival craft for the purposes of Sec. 180.130(c);
    (3) Each life float and buoyant apparatus must be individually 
attached to the painter by a line meeting Sec. Sec. 180.175(e)(3) (ii), 
(iii), and (iv) and long enough that each life float or buoyant 
apparatus can float without contacting any other life float or buoyant 
apparatus in the group; and
    (4) The strength of the float-free link under paragraph (b)(2) of 
this section and the strength of the painter under Sec. 
180.175(e)(3)(ii) must be determined by the combined capacity of the 
group of life floats and buoyant apparatus.
    (f) Life floats and buoyant apparatus must not be stowed in tiers 
more than 1,220 millimeters (4 feet) high. When stowed in tiers, the 
separate units must be kept apart by spacers.

[CGD 85-080, 61 FR 975, Jan. 10, 1996; 61 FR 20557, May 7, 1996]