46 C.F.R. Subpart 25.25—Life Preservers and Other Lifesaving Equipment
Title 46 - Shipping
Source: CGD 72–172R, 38 FR 8117, Mar. 28, 1973, unless otherwise noted.
This subpart applies to each vessel to which this part applies, except: (a) Vessels used for noncommercial use; (b) Vessels leased, rented, or chartered to another for the latter's noncommercial use; (c) Commercial vessels propelled by sail not carrying passengers for hire; or (d) Commercial barges not carrying passengers for hire. As used in this subpart: (a) Approved means approved under subchapter Q of this chapter. (b) Use means operate, navigate, or employ. (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 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] The lifesaving equipment required by this subpart must be legibly marked as specified in subchapter Q of this chapter. (a) The lifesaving equipment designed to be worn required in §25.25–5 (b), (c) and (e) must be readily accessible. (b) Lifesaving equipment designed to be thrown required in §25.25–5(d) must be immediately available. [CGD 72–172R, 38 FR 8117, Mar. 28, 1973, as amended by CGD 82–075a, 49 FR 4483, Feb. 7, 1984] The lifesaving equipment required by this subpart must be in serviceable condition. (a) This section applies to vessels described in §25.25–1 that engage in ocean, coastwise, or Great Lakes voyages. (b) Each immersion suit carried in accordance with §25.25–5(e), each life preserver, each marine buoyant device intended to be worn, and each buoyant vest must have a personal flotation device light that is approved under subpart 161.012 of this chapter. (c) Each personal flotation device light required by this section must be securely attached to the front shoulder area of the immersion suit, life preserver, or other personal flotation device. (d) If a personal flotation device light has a non-replaceable power source, the light must be replaced on or before the expiration date of the power source. If the light has a replaceable power source, the power source must be replaced on or before its expiration date and the light must be replaced when it is no longer serviceable. [44 FR 38783, July 2, 1979, as amended by CGD 82–075a, 49 FR 4483, Feb. 7, 1984; CGD 97–057, 62 FR 51042, Sept. 30, 1997] (a) Each life preserver, each marine buoyant device intended to be worn, and each buoyant vest carried on a vessel must have Type I retroreflective material that is approved under subpart 164.018 of this chapter. (b) Each item required to have retroreflective material must have at least 200 sq. cm (31 sq. in.) of material attached to its front side, at least 200 sq. cm of material on its back side, and, if the item is reversible, at least 200 sq. cm of material on each of its reversible sides. The material attached on each side of the item must be divided equally between the upper quadrants of the side, and the material in each quadrant must be attached as closely as possible to the shoulder area of the item. [CGD 76–028, 44 FR 38783, July 2, 1979, as amended by CGD 82–075a, 49 FR 4483, Feb. 7, 1984] (a) Each uninspected passenger vessel of at least 100 gross tons must have adequate survival craft with enough capacity for all persons aboard and must meet one of the following requirements: (1) An inflatable liferaft must be approved under 46 CFR part 160, subparts 160.051 or 160.151, and be equipped with an applicable equipment pack or be approved by another standard specified by the Commandant. Inflatable liferafts must be serviced at a servicing facility approved under 46 CFR part 160, subpart 160.151. (2) An inflatable buoyant apparatus must be approved under 46 CFR part 160, subpart 160.010 or under another standard specified by the Commandant. An inflatable buoyant apparatus must be serviced at a servicing facility approved under 46 CFR part 160, subpart 160.151. (b) If the vessel carries a small boat or boats, the capacity of the small boat or boat(s) may be counted toward the survival craft capacity required by this part. Such small boat or boat(s) must meet the requirements for safe loading and floatation in 33 CFR part 183. [USCG-1999–5040, 67 FR 34776, May 15, 2002] Each uninspected passenger vessel must meet the visual distress signal requirements of 33 CFR part 175 applicable to the vessel. [USCG-1999–5040, 67 FR 34776, May 15, 2002]
Title 46: Shipping
PART 25—REQUIREMENTS
Subpart 25.25—Life Preservers and Other Lifesaving Equipment
§ 25.25-1 Application.
§ 25.25-3 Definitions.
§ 25.25-5 Life preservers and other lifesaving equipment required.
§ 25.25-7 Marking.
§ 25.25-9 Storage.
§ 25.25-11 Condition.
§ 25.25-13 Personal flotation device lights.
§ 25.25-15 Retroreflective material for personal flotation devices.
§ 25.25-17 Survival craft requirements for uninspected passenger vessels of at least 100 gross tons.
§ 25.25-19 Visual distress signals.
