[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: 46CFR180.70]

[Page 251]
 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
   CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 180_LIFESAVING EQUIPMENT AND ARRANGEMENTS--Table of Contents
 
               Subpart C_Ring Life Buoys and Life Jackets
 
Sec. 180.70  Ring life buoys.


    (a) A vessel must have one or more ring life buoys as follows:
    (1) A vessel of not more than 7.9 meters (26 feet) in length must 
carry a minimum of one life buoy of not less than 510 millimeters (20 
inches) in diameter;
    (2) A vessel of more than 7.9 meters (26 feet) in length, but not 
more than 19.8 meters (65 feet), must carry a minimum of one life buoy 
of not less than 610 millimeters (24 inches) in diameter; and
    (3) A vessel of more than 19.8 meters (65 feet) in length must carry 
a minimum of three life buoys of not less than 610 millimeters (24 
inches) in diameter.
    (b) Each ring life buoy on a vessel must:
    (1) Be approved in accordance with Sec. 160.050 in subchapter Q of 
this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant;
    (2) Be readily accessible;
    (3) Be stowed in a way that it can be rapidly cast loose;
    (4) Not be permanently secured in any way; and
    (5) If on a vessel on an oceans or coastwise route, be orange in 
color.
    (c) At least one ring life buoy must be fitted with a lifeline. If 
more than one ring life buoy is carried, at least one must not have a 
lifeline attached. Each lifeline on a ring life buoy must:
    (1) Be buoyant;
    (2) Be of at least 18.3 meters (60 feet) in length;
    (3) Be non-kinking;
    (4) Have a diameter of at least 7.9 millimeters (\5/16\ inch);
    (5) Have a breaking strength of at least 5 kilonewtons (1,124 
pounds); and
    (6) Be of a dark color if synthetic, or of a type certified to be 
resistant to deterioration from ultraviolet light.
    (d) A vessel must carry one floating waterlight, unless it is 
limited to daytime operation, in which case no floating waterlight is 
required.
    (1) Each floating waterlight must be approved in accordance with 
Sec. 161.010 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard 
specified by the Commandant.
    (2) Each ring life buoy with a floating waterlight must have a 
lanyard of at least 910 millimeters (3 feet) in length, but not more 
than 1,830 millimeters (6 feet), securing the waterlight around the body 
of the ring life buoy.
    (3) Each floating waterlight installed after March 11, 1997, on a 
vessel carrying only one ring buoy, must be attached to the lanyard with 
a corrosion-resistant clip. The clip must have a strength of at least 
22.7 kilograms (50 pounds), and allow the waterlight to be quickly 
disconnected from the ring life buoy.

[CGD 85-080, 61 FR 975, Jan. 10, 1996; 61 FR 20557, May 7, 1996, as 
amended by CGD 97-057, 62 FR 51050, Sept. 30, 1997; CGD 85-080, 62 FR 
51357, Sept. 30, 1997]