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 4 : Ready availability of lifeboats, liferafts and buoyant apparatus |
| (a) | The general principle governing the provision of lifeboats, liferafts and buoyant apparatus in a ship to which this Chapter applies is that they shall be readily available in case of emergency. |
| (b) | To be readily available, the lifeboats, liferafts and buoyant apparatus shall comply with the following conditions: |
| (i) | They shall be capable of being put into the water safely and rapidly even under unfavourable conditions of trim and of 15 degree of list; |
| (ii) | it shall be possible to effect embarkation into the lifeboats and liferafts rapidly and in good order; |
| (iii) | the arrangement of each lifeboat, liferaft and article of buoyant apparatus shall be such that it will not interfere with the operation of other boats, liferafts and buoyant apparatus. |
| (c) | All the lifesaving appliances shall be kept in working order and available for immediate use before the ship leaves port and at all times during the voyage. |