[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: 46CFR199.145]

[Page 486-487]
 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
   CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 199_LIFESAVING SYSTEMS FOR CERTAIN INSPECTED VESSELS--Table of Contents
 
                 Subpart B_Requirements for All Vessels
 
Sec. 199.145  Marine evacuation system launching arrangements.

    (a) Arrangements. Each marine evacuation system must--

[[Page 487]]

    (1) Be capable of being deployed by one person;
    (2) Enable the total number of persons for which it is designed, to 
be transferred from the vessel into the inflated liferafts within a 
period of 30 minutes in the case of a passenger vessel and 10 minutes in 
the case of a cargo vessel from the time an abandon-ship signal is 
given;
    (3) Be arranged so that liferafts may be securely attached to and 
released from the marine evacuation system platform by a person either 
in the liferaft or on the platform;
    (4) Be capable of being deployed from the vessel under unfavorable 
conditions of trim of up to 10 degrees either way and of list of up to 
20 degrees either way;
    (5) If the marine evacuation system has an inclined slide, it must--
    (i) Be arranged so the angle of the slide from horizontal is within 
a range of 30 to 35 degrees when the vessel is upright and in its 
lightest seagoing condition; and
    (ii) If the vessel is a passenger vessel, be arranged so the angle 
of the slide from horizontal is no more than 55 degrees in the final 
stage of flooding as described in subchapter S of this chapter; and
    (6) Be capable of being restrained by a bowsing line or other 
positioning system that is designed to deploy automatically and if 
necessary, is capable of being adjusted to the position required for 
evacuation.
    (b) Stowage. Each marine evacuation system must be stowed as 
follows:
    (1) There must not be any openings between the marine evacuation 
system's embarkation station and the vessel's side at the waterline with 
the vessel in its lightest seagoing condition.
    (2) The marine evacuation system's launching positions must be 
arranged, as far as practicable, to be straight down the vessel's side 
and to safely clear the propeller and any steeply overhanging positions 
of the hull.
    (3) The marine evacuation system must be protected from any 
projections of the vessel's structure or equipment.
    (4) The marine evacuation system's passage and platform, when 
deployed; its stowage container; and its operational arrangement must 
not interfere with the operation of any other lifesaving appliance at 
any other launching station.
    (5) The marine evacuation system's stowage area must be protected 
from damage by heavy seas.
    (c) Stowage of associated liferafts. Inflatable liferafts used in 
conjunction with the marine evacuation system must be stowed--
    (1) Close to the system container, but capable of dropping clear of 
the deployed chute and boarding platform;
    (2) So it is capable of individual release from its stowage rack;
    (3) In accordance with the requirements of Sec. 199.130; and
    (4) With pre-connected or easily connected retrieving lines to the 
platform.