33 C.F.R. Subpart F—Emergency and Specialty Equipment
Title 33 - Navigation and Navigable Waters
This subpart concerns requirements for maintenance, repair, and operational testing of emergency and specialty equipment at a deepwater port. All lifesaving, firefighting, and other emergency equipment at a deepwater port, including additional equipment not required to be onboard the deepwater port, must be maintained in good working order and repaired according to the port's planned maintenance program and the requirements outlined in this subpart.
Title 33: Navigation and Navigable Waters
PART 150—DEEPWATER PORTS: OPERATIONS
Subpart F—Emergency and Specialty Equipment
§ 150.500 What does this subpart do?
Maintenance and Repair
§ 150.501 How must emergency equipment be maintained and repaired?
Lifesaving Equipment (General)
§ 150.502 What are the maintenance and repair requirements for lifesaving equipment?
(a) Each deepwater port must have onboard, or in the operator's principal office in the case of an unmanned port, the manufacturer's instructions for performing onboard maintenance and repair of the port's lifesaving equipment. The instructions must include the following for each item of equipment, as applicable:
(1) Instructions for maintenance and repair;
(2) A checklist for use when carrying out the monthly inspections required under §150.513;
(3) A schedule of periodic maintenance;
(4) A diagram of lubrication points with the recommended lubricants;
(5) A list of replaceable parts;
(6) A list of sources of spare parts; and
(7) A log for records of inspections and maintenance.
(b) In lieu of the manufacturer's instructions required under paragraph (a) of this section, the deepwater port may have its own onboard planned maintenance program for maintenance and repair that is equivalent to the procedures recommended by the equipment manufacturer.
(c) The deepwater port must have designated a person in charge of ensuring that maintenance and repair is carried out in accordance with the instructions required in paragraph (a) of this section.
(d) If deficiencies in the maintenance or condition of lifesaving equipment are identified, the OCMI may review the instructions under paragraph (a) of this section and require appropriate changes to the instructions or operations to provide for adequate maintenance and readiness of the equipment.
(e) When lifeboats, rescue boats, and liferafts are not fully operational because of ongoing maintenance or repairs, there must be a sufficient number of fully operational lifeboats and liferafts available for use to accommodate all persons on the deepwater port.
(f) Except in an emergency, repairs or alterations affecting the performance of lifesaving equipment must not be made without notifying the OCMI in advance. The person in charge must report emergency repairs or alterations to lifesaving equipment to the OCMI, as soon as practicable.
(g) The person in charge must ensure that spare parts and repair equipment are provided for each lifesaving appliance and component subject to excessive wear or consumption.
Launching Appliances
§ 150.503 What are the time interval requirements for maintenance on survival craft falls?
(a) Each fall used in a launching device for survival craft or rescue boats must be turned end-for-end at intervals of not more than 30 months.
(b) Each fall must be replaced by a new fall when deteriorated or at intervals of not more than 5 years, whichever is earlier.
(c) A fall that cannot be turned end-for-end under paragraph (a) of this section must be carefully inspected between 24 and 30 months after its installation. If the inspection shows that the fall is faultless, the fall may be continued in service up to 4 years after its installation. It must be replaced by a new fall 4 years after installation.
§ 150.504 When must the operator service and examine lifeboat and rescue boat launching appliances?
(a) The operator must service launching appliances for lifeboats and rescue boats at intervals recommended in the manufacturer's instructions under §150.502(a), or deepwater port's planned maintenance program under §150.502(b).
(b) The operator must thoroughly examine launching appliances for lifeboats and rescue boats at intervals not to exceed 5 years. Upon completion of the examination, the operator must subject the winch brakes of the launching appliance to a dynamic test.
§ 150.505 When must the operator service and examine lifeboat and rescue boat release gear?
(a) The operator must service lifeboat and rescue boat release gear at intervals recommended in the manufacturer's instructions under §150.502(a), or deepwater port's planned maintenance program under §150.502(b).
(b) The operator must subject lifeboat and rescue boat release gear to a thorough examination at each inspection for certification by personnel trained in examining the gear.
Inflatable Lifesaving Appliances
§ 150.506 When must the operator service inflatable lifesaving appliances and marine evacuation systems?
(a) The operator must service each inflatable lifejacket, hybrid inflatable lifejacket, and marine evacuation system at intervals of 1-year after its initial packing. The operator may delay the servicing up to 5 months to meet the next scheduled inspection of the deepwater port.
(b) The operator must service each inflatable liferaft no later than the month and year on its servicing sticker under 46 CFR 160.151–57(m)(3)(ii), except that the operator may delay servicing up to 5 months to meet the next scheduled inspection of the deepwater port. The operator must also service each inflatable liferaft:
(1) Whenever the container of the raft is damaged; or
(2) Whenever the container straps or seals are broken.
§ 150.507 How must the operator service inflatable lifesaving appliances?
(a) The operator must service each inflatable life raft according to 46 CFR part 160, subpart 160.151.
(b) The operator must service each inflatable lifejacket according to 46 CFR part 160, subpart 160.176.
(c) The operator must service each hybrid inflatable lifejacket according to the owner's manual and the procedures in 46 CFR part 160, subpart 160.077.
§ 150.508 What are the maintenance and repair requirements for inflatable rescue boats?
The operator must perform the maintenance and repair of inflatable rescue boats according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Operational Tests and Inspections (General)
§ 150.509 How must emergency equipment be tested and inspected?
All lifesaving, firefighting, and other emergency equipment at a deepwater port must be tested and inspected per this subpart.
§ 150.510 How must emergency equipment being tested be operated?
The equipment must be operated under the operating instructions of the equipment's manufacturer when tests or inspections include operational testing of emergency equipment.
§ 150.511 What are the operational testing requirements for lifeboat and rescue boat release gear?
(a) Lifeboat and rescue boat release gear must be operationally tested under a load of 1.1 times the total mass of the lifeboat or rescue boat when loaded with its full complement of persons and equipment.
(b) The test must be conducted whenever the lifeboat, rescue boat, or their release gear is overhauled or at least once every 5 years.
(c) The OCMI may consider alternate operational test procedures to those under paragraph (a) of this section.
Frequency of Tests and Inspections
§ 150.512 What are the weekly tests and inspections?
The required weekly tests and inspections of lifesaving equipment are as follows:
(a) The operator must visually inspect each survival craft, rescue boat, and launching device to ensure its readiness for use;
(b) The operator must test the general alarm system; and
(c) The operator must test for readiness of the engine, starting device, and communications equipment of each lifeboat and rescue boat according to the manufacturer's instructions.
§ 150.513 What are the monthly tests and inspections?
(a) The operator must inspect monthly each item of lifesaving equipment under §150.502(b) to this subpart, to ensure that the equipment is complete and in good order. The operator must keep on the deepwater port (or in the operator's principal office, in the case of an unmanned deepwater port) a report of the inspection that includes a statement as to the condition of the equipment, and make the report available for review by the Coast Guard.
(b) The operator must test monthly each Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) and each Search and Rescue Transponder (SART), other than an EPIRB or SART in an inflatable liferaft. The operator must test the EPIRB using the integrated test circuit and output indicator to determine whether the EPIRB is operational.
§ 150.514 What are the annual tests and inspections?
At least annually the operator must:
(a) Strip, clean, thoroughly inspect, and, if needed, repair each lifeboat, rescue boat, and liferaft. At that time, the operator must empty, clean, and refill with fresh fuel each fuel tank;
(b) Thoroughly inspect and, if needed, repair each davit, winch, fall, and other launching device;
(c) Check each item of lifesaving equipment and replace any item that is marked with an expiration date that has passed;
(d) Check each battery used in an item of lifesaving equipment and replace any battery that is marked with an expiration date that has passed; and
(e) Replace any battery that is not marked with an expiration date if that battery is used in an item of lifesaving equipment, except for a storage battery used in a lifeboat or rescue boat.
(f) The requirements in this section do not relieve the person in charge of the requirement to keep the equipment ready for immediate use.
Weight-Testing
§ 150.515 What are the requirements for weight-testing of newly installed or relocated craft?
(a) The operator must perform installation weight-testing according to 46 CFR 199.45(a)(1) on each new lifeboat, rescue boat, and davit-launched liferaft system.
(b) The operator must conduct installation weight-tests, according to paragraph (a) of this section, when survival crafts are relocated to another deepwater port.
§ 150.516 What are the periodic requirements for weight-testing?
The operator must weight-test, according to 46 CFR 199.45(a)(1), each lifeboat, davit-launched liferaft, and rescue boat every time a fall is replaced or turned end-for-end.
§ 150.517 How are weight tests supervised?
(a) The installation and periodic tests required by 150.515 and 150.516 of this subpart must be supervised by a person familiar with lifeboats, davit-launched liferafts, rescue boats, and with the test procedures under those sections.
(b) The person supervising the tests must attest, in writing, that the tests have been performed according to Coast Guard regulations. The operator must keep a copy of the supervisor's attesting statement onboard the deepwater port (or in the operator's principal office, in the case of an unmanned deepwater port) and make it available to the OCMI.
Personal Safety Gear
§ 150.518 What are the inspection requirements for work vests and immersion suits?
(a) All work vests and immersion suits must be inspected by the owner or operator pursuant to §150.105 of this part, to determine whether they are in serviceable condition.
(b) If a work vest or immersion suit is inspected and is in serviceable condition, then it may be continued in service. If not, then it must be removed from the deepwater port.
Emergency Lighting and Power Systems
§ 150.519 What are the requirements for emergency lighting and power systems?
(a) The operator must test and inspect the emergency lighting and power systems at least once each week to determine if they are in proper operating condition. If they are not in proper operating condition, then the operator must repair or replace their defective parts.
(b) The operator must test under load each emergency generator driven by an internal combustion engine that is used for an emergency lighting and power system at least once in each month for a minimum of 2 hours.
(c) The operator must test each storage battery for the emergency lighting and power systems, at least once in each 6 months, to demonstrate the ability of the batteries to supply the emergency loads for an 8-hour period. The operator must follow the manufacturer's instructions in performing the battery test to ensure the batteries are not damaged during testing.
Fire Extinguishing Equipment
§ 150.520 When must fire extinguishing equipment be tested and inspected?
The operations manual must specify how and when the operator will test and inspect each hand-portable fire extinguisher, semi-portable fire extinguisher, and fixed fire-extinguishing system. These specifications must accord with 46 CFR 31.10–18.
§ 150.521 What records are required?
(a) The operator must maintain a record of each test and inspection under §150.520 on the deepwater port (or in the operator's principal office, in the case of an unmanned deepwater port) for at least 2 years.
(b) The record must show:
(1) The date of each test and inspection;
(2) The number or other identification of each fire extinguisher or system tested or inspected; and
(3) The name of the person who conducted the test or inspection and the name of the company that person represents.
Miscellaneous Operations
§ 150.530 What may the fire-main system be used for?
The fire-main system may be used only for firefighting and for deck washing, unless it is capable of being isolated and can provide the applicable minimum pressures required outlined in §149.416 of this chapter.
§ 150.531 How many fire pumps must be kept ready for use at all times?
At least one of the fire pumps required by this subchapter must be kept ready for use at all times.
§ 150.532 What are the requirements for connection and stowage of fire hoses?
(a) At least one length of fire-hose, with a combination nozzle, must be connected to each fire hydrant at all times. If in a location exposed to the weather, the fire-hose may be removed from the hydrant during freezing weather.
(b) When not in use, fire-hose connected to a fire hydrant must be stowed on a hose rack.
(c) The hydrant nearest the edge of a deck must have enough lengths of fire-hose connected to it to allow 10 feet of hose, when pressurized, to curve over the edge.
§ 150.540 What are the restrictions on fueling aircraft?
If the deepwater port is not equipped with a permanent fueling facility, the COTP's approval is necessary before aircraft may be fueled at the port.
§ 150.550 What are the requirements for the muster list?
(a) A muster list must be posted on each pumping platform complex.
(b) The muster list must:
(1) List the name and title of each person, in order of succession, who is the person in charge of the pumping platform complex for purposes of supervision during an emergency;
(2) List the special duties and duty stations for each person on the pumping platform complex in the event of an emergency that requires the use of equipment covered by part 149 of this chapter; and
(3) Identify the signals for calling persons to their emergency stations and for abandoning the pumping platform complex.
§ 150.555 How must cranes be maintained?
Cranes must be operated, maintained, and tested in accordance with subpart F to 46 CFR part 109.
Browse Previous | Browse Next
