[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: 46CFR185.520]

[Page 311]
 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
   CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 185_OPERATIONS--Table of Contents
 
                 Subpart E_Preparations for Emergencies
 
Sec. 185.520  Abandon ship and man overboard drills and training.

    (a) The master shall conduct sufficient drills and give sufficient 
instructions to make sure that all crew members are familiar with their 
duties during emergencies that necessitate abandoning ship or the 
recovery of persons who have fallen overboard.
    (b) Each abandon ship drill must include:
    (1) Summoning the crew to report to assigned stations and prepare 
for assigned duties;
    (2) Summoning passengers on a vessel on an overnight voyage to 
muster stations or embarkation stations and ensuring that they are made 
aware of how the order to abandon ship will be given;
    (3) Checking that life jackets are correctly donned;
    (4) Operation of any davits used for launching liferafts; and
    (5) Instruction on the automatic and manual deployment of survival 
craft.
    (c) Each abandon ship drill must, as far as practicable, be 
conducted as if there were an actual emergency.
    (d) Each rescue boat required in accordance with Sec. 180.210 of 
this chapter must be launched with its assigned crew aboard and 
maneuvered in the water as if during an actual man overboard situation:
    (1) Once each month, if reasonable and practicable; but
    (2) At least once within a 3 month period before the vessel gets 
underway with passengers.
    (e) Onboard training in the use of davit launched liferafts must 
take place at intervals of not more than 3 months on a vessel with a 
davit launched liferaft.
    (f) Abandon ship and man overboard drills and training shall be 
logged or otherwise documented for review by the Coast Guard upon 
request. The drill entry shall include the following information:
    (1) Date of the drill and training; and
    (2) General description of the drill scenario and training topics.