[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 46, Volume 1]
[Revised as of Octobery 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 46CFR25.25-5]

[Page 302-303]
 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
         CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
 
PART 25_REQUIREMENTS--Table of Contents
 
      Subpart 25.25_Life Preservers and Other Lifesaving Equipment
 
Sec. 25.25-5  Life preservers and other lifesaving equipment required.

    (a) No person may operate a vessel to which this subpart applies 
unless it meets the requirements of this subpart.
    (b) Each vessel not carrying passengers for hire, less than 40 feet 
in length must have at least one life preserver (Type I PFD), buoyant 
vest (Type II PFD), or marine buoyant device intended to be worn (Type 
III PFD), approved under subchapter Q of a suitable size for each person 
on board. Kapok and fibrous glass life preservers that do not have 
plastic-covered pad inserts as required by subparts 160.062 and 160.005 
of this chapter are not acceptable as equipment required by this 
paragraph.
    (c) Each vessel carrying passengers for hire and each vessel 40 feet 
in length or longer not carrying passengers for hire must have at least 
one life preserver approved under subchapter Q of a suitable size for 
each person on board. Kapok and fibrous glass life preservers which do 
not have

[[Page 303]]

plastic-covered pad inserts as required by subparts 160.002 and 160.005 
of this chapter are not acceptable as equipment required by this 
paragraph.
    (d) In addition to the equipment required by paragraph (b) and (c) 
of this section, each vessel 26 feet in length or longer must have at 
least one approved ring life buoy, and each uninspected passenger vessel 
of at least 100 gross tons must have at least three ring life buoys. 
Ring life buoys must be constructed per subpart 160.050 of part 160 of 
this chapter. The exception is a ring life buoy that was approved prior 
to May 9, 1979, under former subpart 160.009 of part 160 of this chapter 
(see 46 CFR chapter I, revised as of October 1, 1979), which may be used 
as long as it is in good and serviceable condition.
    (e) Each vessel not carrying passengers for hire may substitute an 
immersion suit for a life preserver, buoyant vest, or marine buoyant 
device required under paragraphs (b) or (c) of this section. Each 
immersion suit carried in accordance with this paragraph must be of a 
type approved under subpart 160.171 of this chapter.
    (f) On each vessel, regardless of length and regardless of whether 
carrying passengers for hire, an approved commercial hybrid PFD may be 
substituted for a life preserver, buoyant vest, or marine buoyant device 
required under paragraphs (b) or (c) of this section if it is--
    (1) Used in accordance with the conditions marked on the PFD and in 
the owner's manual;
    (2) Labeled for use on commercial vessels; and
    (3) In the case of a Type V commercial hybrid PFD, worn when the 
vessel is underway and the intended wearer is not within an enclosed 
space.

[CGD 72-172R, 38 FR 8117, Mar. 28, 1973, as amended by CGD 77-081, 47 FR 
10558, Mar. 11, 1982; CGD 82-075a, 49 FR 4483, Feb. 7, 1984; CGD 78-
174A, 51 FR 4350, Feb. 4, 1986; CGD 78-174, 60 FR 2485, Jan. 9, 1995; 
CGD 97-057, 62 FR 51042, Sept. 30, 1997; USCG-1999-5040, 67 FR 34775, 
May 15, 2002]