[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: 46CFR199.45]

[Page 480-481]
 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
   CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 199_LIFESAVING SYSTEMS FOR CERTAIN INSPECTED VESSELS--Table of Contents
 
                            Subpart A_General
 
Sec. 199.45  Tests and inspections of lifesaving equipment and arrangements.

    (a) Initial inspection. The initial inspection of lifesaving 
appliances and arrangements for certification includes a demonstration 
of--
    (1) The proper condition and operation of the survival craft and 
rescue boat launching appliances at loads ranging from light load to 10 
percent overload;
    (2) The proper condition and operation of lifeboats and rescue 
boats, including engines and release mechanisms;
    (3) The proper condition of flotation equipment such as lifebuoys, 
lifejackets, immersion suits, work vests, lifefloats, buoyant apparatus, 
and associated equipment;
    (4) The proper condition of distress signaling equipment, including 
emergency position indicating radiobeacons (EPIRB), search and rescue 
transponders (SART), and pyrotechnic signaling devices;
    (5) The proper condition of line-throwing appliances;

[[Page 481]]

    (6) The proper condition and operation of embarkation appliances, 
including embarkation ladders and marine evacuation systems;
    (7) The ability of the crew to effectively carry out abandon-ship 
and fire-fighting procedures; and
    (8) The ability to meet the egress and survival craft launching 
requirements of this part.
    (b) Reinspections. Tests and inspections of the lifesaving equipment 
shall be carried out during each inspection for renewal of certification 
and periodic inspection, and shall include, as applicable, a 
demonstration of--
    (1) The proper condition and operation of the survival craft and 
rescue boat launching appliances at loads ranging from light load to 
full load, except that any portion of the load test conducted in 
connection with replacement or end-for-ending of a fall since the 
vessel's last inspection or reinspection, need not be repeated;
    (2) The proper condition and operation of lifeboats and rescue 
boats, including engines and release mechanisms;
    (3) The proper condition of flotation equipment such as lifebuoys, 
lifejackets, immersion suits, work vests, lifefloats, buoyant apparatus, 
and associated equipment;
    (4) The proper servicing of each inflatable liferaft and inflatable 
lifejacket has been serviced as required under this chapter;
    (5) The proper servicing of each hydrostatic release unit, other 
than a disposable hydrostatic release unit, as required under this 
chapter; and
    (6) The ability of crew to effectively carry out abandon-ship and 
fire-fighting procedures.
    (c) Other inspections. (1) Lifesaving appliances and arrangements 
are subject to tests and inspections described in paragraph (a) of this 
section whenever a new lifesaving appliance is installed on the vessel. 
The test in paragraph (a)(1) of this section must be carried out 
whenever a wire fall for a launching appliance is replaced or turned 
end-for-end.
    (2) Lifesaving appliances and arrangements are subject to tests and 
inspections described in paragraph (b) of this section during vessel 
boardings to ensure that the appliances and arrangements comply with 
applicable requirements, are in satisfactory condition, and remain fit 
for the service.

[CGD 84-069, 61 FR 25313, May 20, 1996, as amended by USCG-1999-4976, 65 
FR 6510, Feb. 9, 2000]