(1) With the exception of tankers, all ships shall carry at least one survival craft on each side of the ship, and that has sufficient capacity to at least hold the total number of passengers and crew. If only one life raft is carried in trade areas 1 and 2, it must be possible to launch this life raft from either side of the ship.
(2) There shall be a sufficient number of survival craft on board so that if a survival craft wrecks or becomes unusable the remaining survival craft will still have the capacity to hold the total number of persons that the ship is certified to carry.
(3) Tankers shall either carry a canopied lifeboat on each side of the ship or a free-fall lifeboat located astern with sufficient capacity to hold at least the total number of passengers and crew.
(4) Manned lighters in trade area 3 or a larger area shall be equipped with at least one inflatable life raft with sufficient capacity to hold everyone on board. Manned lighters in trade areas 1 and 2 shall be equipped with a CE-labelled motor-powered workboat that at least meets the requirements of design category C, or a life raft that can at least hold the total number of passengers and crew. For manned lighters carrying a flammable liquid cargo, the Norwegian Maritime Directorate sets requirements for each individual case, depending on the lighter’s manning, trade area, design and operational conditions.
Hydrostatic release unit
All life rafts shall be equipped with a hydrostatic release unit and be stowed in a place where they can float free, cf. annex 1.
Requirements for stowing survival craft – embarkation and launching appliances
Survival craft shall be stowed in accordance with annex 1.
Annex 1
- Each survival craft shall be stowed:
1.1 so that neither the survival craft nor the appliances complicate the operation of any other survival craft or rescue boat at any other launching station;
1.2 as close to the surface of the water as it is safely and practically possible to get and, with regard to survival craft other than throw-overboard life rafts, so that the survival craft in the embarkation position is at least 2 metres above the water line with the ship in fully-loaded condition under unfavourable trim conditions of up to 10° and with 20° listing to either of the sides or at the angle where the edge of the weather deck comes under water, whichever occurs first;
1.3 in a condition of permanent readiness so that the crew members can ready the craft for embarkation and launching in less than 5 minutes;
1.4 fully equipped;
1.5 to the extent that is practically possible, at a safe and protected place and protected against damage caused by fire and explosions. Survival craft on tankers shall not be stowed on or above a cargo tank, slop tank or other tank containing explosive or other hazardous cargo.