Merchant Shipping Act, 1951 (Act No. 57 of 1951)SchedulesSecond ScheduleProtocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974AnnexChapter III : Live-Saving Appliances, etc.Part A — GeneralRegulation 17 : Equipment of inflatable and rigid liferafts |
| (a) | The normal equipment of every liferaft shall consist of— |
| (i) | one buoyant rescue quoit, attached to at least 30 metres (100 feet) of buoyant line; |
| (ii) | for liferafts which are permitted to accommodate not more than 12 persons: one knife and one baler, for liferafts which are permitted to accommodate 13 persons or more: two knives and two balers; |
| (iii) | two sponges; |
| (iv) | two sea-anchors, one permanently attached to the liferaft and one spare; |
| (v) | two paddles; |
| (vi) | one repair outfit capable of repairing punctures in buoyancy compartments. |
| (vii) | one topping-up pump or bellows, unless the liferaft complies with Regulation 16 of this Chapter; |
| (vii) | three tin-openers; |
| (ix) | one approved first-aid outfit in a waterproof case; |
| (x) | one rustproof graduated drinking vessel; |
| (xi) | one waterproof electric torch suitable for signalling in the Morse Code, together with one spare set of batteries and one spare bulb in a waterproof container; |
| (xii) | one daylight-signalling mirror and one signalling whistle; |
| (xiii) | two parachute distress signals of an approved type, capable of giving a bright red light at a high altitude; |
| (xiv) | six hand flares of an approved type, capable of giving a bright red light; |
| (xv) | one set of fishing tackle; |
| (xvi) | a food ration, determined by the Administration, for each person the liferaft is permitted to accommodate; |
| (xvii) | watertight receptacles containing 1½ litres (3 pints) of fresh water for each person the liferaft is permitted to accommodate, of which ½ litre (1 pint) per person may be replaced by a suitable desalting apparatus capable of producing an equal amount of fresh water; |
| (xvii) | six anti-seasickness tablets for each person the liferaft is deemed fit to accommodate; |
| (xix) | instructions on how to survive in the liferaft; and |
| (xx) | one copy of the illustrated table of lifesaving signals referred to in Regulation 16 of Chapter V. |
| (b) | In the case of passenger ships engaged on short international voyages of such duration that in the opinion of the Administration all the items specified in paragraph (a) of this Regulation are unnecessary, the Administration may allow one or more liferafts, not being less than one-sixth of the number of liferafts carried in any such ship, to be provided with the equipment specified in subparagraphs (i) to (vii) inclusive, (xi) and (xix) of paragraph (a) of this Regulation, and with one-half of the equipment specified in subparagraphs (xiii) and (xiv) of that paragraph and the remainder of the liferafts carried to be provided with the equipment specified in subparagraphs (i) to (vii) inclusive and (xix) of that paragraph. |