Title 46—Shipping--Volume 1
PART 117—LIFESAVING EQUIPMENT AND ARRANGEMENTS
§ 117.10   Applicability to vessels on an international voyage.
A vessel on an international voyage subject to the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended, (SOLAS) must meet the requirements in subchapter W of this chapter for passenger vessels in the same service, instead of the requirements of this part.
§ 117.15   Applicability to existing vessels.
An existing vessel must comply with the requirements of this part except as otherwise specified by this section.
(a) Each inflatable liferaft, inflatable buoyant apparatus, life float, and buoyant apparatus on the vessel on March 11, 1996, may be used to meet the requirements of this part as long as the survival craft is in good and serviceable condition.
(b) An existing vessel need not comply with § 117.78(a)(4) of this part.
(c) An existing vessel must comply with either § 117.210 of this part or with the regulations for rescue boats that were in effect for the vessel prior to March 11, 1996.
§ 117.25   Additional requirements.
(a) Each item of lifesaving equipment carried on board a vessel but not required under this part, must be of an approved type meeting the specifications for lifesaving equipment in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant.
(b) The cognizant Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) may require a vessel to carry specialized or additional lifesaving equipment if:
(1) The OCMI determines the conditions of the voyage render the requirements of this part inadequate; or
(2) The vessel is operated in Arctic, Antarctic, or other severe conditions not covered under this part.
§ 117.64   Emergency Position Indicating Radiobeacons (EPIRB).
Each vessel that operates on the high seas, or that operates beyond three miles from the coastline of the Great Lakes, must have on board an FCC Type Accepted Category 1, 406 MHz EPIRB, installed to automatically float free and activate.
§ 117.68   Distress flares and smoke signals.
(a) Oceans, coastwise, limited coastwise, and Great Lakes routes. A vessel on an oceans, coastwise, limited coastwise, or Great Lakes route must carry—
(1) Six hand red flare distress signals approved in accordance with § 160.021 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant, including, but not limited to, approval series 160.121; and
(2) Six hand orange smoke distress signals approved in accordance with § 160.037 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant.
(b) Lakes, bays, and sounds, and rivers routes. A vessel on a lakes, bays, and sounds, or rivers route must carry:
(1) Three hand red flare distress signals approved in accordance with § 160.021 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant, including, but not limited to, approval series 160.121; and
(2) Three hand orange smoke distress signals approved in accordance with § 160.037 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant.
(c) Substitutions. (1) A rocket parachute flare approved in accordance with § 160.036 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant, may be substituted for any of the hand red flare distress signals required under paragraph (a) or (b) of this section.
(2) One of the following may be substituted for any of the hand orange smoke distress signals required under paragraph (a) or (b) of this section:
(i) A rocket parachute flare approved in accordance with § 160.036 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant.
(ii) A hand red flare distress signal approved in accordance with § 160.021 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant, including, but not limited to, approval series 160.121.
(iii) A floating orange smoke distress signal approved in accordance with § 160.022 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant, including, but not limited to, approval series 160.122.
(d) Exemption for vessels on short runs. A vessel operating on short runs limited to approximately 30 minutes away from the dock is not required to carry distress flares and smoke signals under this section.
(e) Stowage. Each flare carried to meet this section must be stowed in one of the following:
(1) A portable watertight container carried at the operating station, and marked as required by § 122.614 of this subchapter; or
(2) A pyrotechnic locker secured above the freeboard deck, away from heat, in the vicinity of the operating station.
§ 117.70   Ring life buoys.
(a) A vessel must have one or more ring life buoys as follows:
(1) A vessel of not more than 7.9 meters (26 feet) in length must carry a minimum of one life buoy of not less than 510 millimeters (20 inches) in diameter;
(2) A vessel of more than 7.9 meters (26 feet) in length, but not more than 19.8 meters (65 feet), must carry a minimum of one life buoy of not less than 610 millimeters (24 inches) in diameter; and
(3) A vessel of more than 19.8 meters (65 feet) in length must carry a minimum of three life buoys of not less than 610 millimeters (24 inches) in diameter.
(b) Each ring life buoy on a vessel must:
(1) Be approved in accordance with § 160.050 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant, including, but not limited to, approval series 160.150;
(2) Be readily accessible;
(3) Be stowed in a way that it can be rapidly cast loose;
(4) Not be permanently secured in any way; and
(5) If on a vessel on an oceans or coastwise route, be orange in color.
(c) At least one ring life buoy must be fitted with a lifeline. If more than one ring life buoy is carried, at least one must not have a lifeline attached. Each lifeline on a ring life buoy must:
(1) Be buoyant;
(2) Be at least 18.3 meters (60 feet) in length;
(3) Be non-kinking;
(4) Have a diameter of at least 7.9 millimeters (5/16-inch);
(5) Have a breaking strength of at least 5 kilonewtons (1,124 pounds); and
(6) Be of a dark color if synthetic, or of a type certified to be resistant to deterioration from ultraviolet light.
(d) At least one ring buoy must be fitted with a floating waterlight, unless the vessel is limited to daytime operation, in that case no floating waterlight is required.
(1) Each floating waterlight must be approved in accordance with § 161.010 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant, including, but not limited to, approval series 160.110.
(2) Each ring life buoy with a floating waterlight must have a lanyard of at least 910 millimeters (3 feet) in length, but not more than 1,830 millimeters (6 feet), securing the waterlight around the body of the ring life buoy.
(3) Each floating waterlight installed after March 11, 1997, on a vessel carrying only one ring life buoy, must be attached to a lanyard with a corrosion-resistant clip. The clip must have a strength of at least 22.7 kilograms (50 pounds) and allow the waterlight to be quickly disconnected from the ring life buoy.
§ 117.71   Lifejackets.
(a) An adult life jacket must be provided for each person carried on board a vessel.
(b) In addition, a number of child-size life jackets equal to at least 10% of the number of persons permitted on board must be provided, or such greater number as necessary to provide a life jacket for each person being carried that is smaller than the lower size limit of the adult life jackets provided to meet this section, except that:
(1) Child-size life jackets are not required if the vessel's Certificate of Inspection is endorsed for the carriage of adults only, or
(2) When all “extended size” life preservers (those with a lower size limit for persons of 1,195 millimeters (47 inches) in height or weighing 20.4 kilograms (45 pounds)) are carried on board, a minimum of only 5% additional child size devices need be carried.
(c) Each lifejacket must be approved under approval series 160.002, 160.005, 160.055, 160.155, 160.176, or 160.255 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant. An inflatable lifejacket approved under approval series 160.255 must include a full back-up inflation chamber.
(d) Each life jacket carried on board the vessel must be marked in accordance with § 122.604 of this chapter.
§ 117.72   Personal flotation devices carried in addition to lifejackets.
(a) Equipment carried under this section is not acceptable in lieu of any portion of the required number of approved life jackets and must not be substituted for the approved life jackets required to be worn during drills and emergencies.
(b) Wearable PFDs approved in accordance with §§ 160.064, 160.076, 160.264, or 160.276 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant, may be carried as additional equipment.
(c) Buoyant work vests approved in accordance with § 160.053 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant, may be carried as additional equipment for use of persons working near or over the water.
(d) A commercial hybrid PFD approved under former approval series 160.077 prior to January 6, 2025 may be carried as additional equipment for use by persons working near or over the water if it is in good and serviceable condition, used in accordance with the conditions marked on the PFD and in the owner's manual, of the same or similar design, and has the same method of operation as each other hybrid PFD carried on board.
§ 117.75   Life jacket lights.
(a) Each life jacket carried on a vessel on an oceans, coastwise, or Great Lakes route, must have a life jacket light approved in accordance with Subpart 161.012 of this chapter. Each life jacket light must be securely attached to the front shoulder area of the life jacket.
(b) Notwithstanding the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section, life jacket lights are not required for life jackets on:
(1) Ferries; and
(2) Vessels with Certificates of Inspection endorsed only for routes that do not extend more than 20 miles from a harbor of safe refuge.
§ 117.78   Stowage of life jackets.
(a) General. Unless otherwise stated in this section, life jackets must be stored in convenient places distributed throughout accommodation spaces.
(1) Each stowage container for life jackets must not be capable of being locked. If practicable, the container must be designed to allow the life jackets to float free.
(2) Each life jacket kept in a stowage container must be readily available.
(3) Each life jacket stowed overhead must be supported in a manner that allows quick release for distribution.
(4) If life jackets are stowed more than 2,130 millimeters (7 feet) above the deck, a means for quick release must be provided and must be capable of operation by a person standing on the deck.
(5) Each child size life jacket must be stowed in a location that is appropriately marked and separated from adult life jackets so the child size life jackets are not mistaken for adult life jackets.
(b) Additional personal flotation devices. The stowage locations of the personal flotation devices carried in addition to life jackets under § 117.72 must be separate from the life jackets, and such as not to be easily confused with that of the life jackets.
§ 117.130   Stowage of survival craft.
(a) Each survival craft must be:
(1) Secured to the vessel by a painter with a float-free link permanently attached to the vessel except that a float-free link is not required if the vessel operates only on waters not as deep as the length of the painter;
(2) Stowed so that when the vessel sinks the survival craft floats free and, if inflatable, inflates automatically;
(3) Stowed in a position that is readily accessible to crew members for launching, or else provided with a remotely operated device that releases the survival craft into launching position or into the water;
(4) Stowed in a way that permits manual release from its securing arrangements;
(5) Ready for immediate use so that crew members can carry out preparations for embarkation and launching in less than 5 minutes;
(6) Provided with means to prevent shifting;
(7) Stowed in a way that neither the survival craft nor its stowage arrangements will interfere with the embarkation and operation of any other survival craft at any other launching station;
(8) Stowed in a way that any protective covers will not interfere with launching and embarkation;
(9) Fully equipped as required under this part; and
(10) Stowed, as far as practicable, in a position sheltered from breaking seas and protected from damage by fire.
(b) A hydrostatic release unit when used in a float-free arrangement must be approved under approval series 160.062 or 160.162 or a standard specified by the Commandant.
(c) A mechanical, manually operated device to assist in launching a survival craft must be provided if:
(1) The survival craft weighs more than 90.7 kilograms (200 pounds); and
(2) The survival craft requires lifting more than 300 vertical millimeters (one vertical foot) to be launched.
§ 117.137   Stowage of life floats and buoyant apparatus.
(a) In addition to meeting § 117.130, each life float and buoyant apparatus must be stowed as required under this section.
(b) The float-free link required by § 117.130(a)(1) must be:
(1) Certified to meet § 160.073 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant:
(2) Of proper strength for the size of the life float or buoyant apparatus as indicated on its identification tag; and
(3) Secured to the painter at one end and to the vessel on the other end.
(c) The means used to attach the float-free link to the vessel must:
(1) Have a breaking strength of at least the breaking strength of the painter;
(2) If synthetic, be of a dark color or of a type certified to be resistant to deterioration from ultraviolent light; and
(3) If metal, be corrosion resistant.
(d) If the life float or buoyant apparatus does not have a painter attachment fitting, a means for attaching the painter must be provided by a wire or line which:
(1) Encircles the body of the device;
(2) Will not slip off;
(3) Has a breaking strength that is at least the strength of the painter; and
(4) If synthetic, is of a dark color or is of a type certified to be resistant to deterioration from ultraviolet light.
(e) If the vessel carries more than the one life float or buoyant apparatus in a group with each group secured by a single painter:
(1) The combined weight of each group of life floats and buoyant apparatus must not exceed 181 kilograms (400 pounds);
(2) Each group of life floats and buoyant apparatus is considered a single survival craft for the purposes of § 117.130(c) of this part;
(3) Each life float and buoyant apparatus must be individually attached to the painter by a line meeting § 117.175(e)(3)(ii), (iii), and (iv) of this part and long enough that each life float or buoyant apparatus can float without contacting any other life float or buoyant apparatus in the group; and
(4) The strength of the float-free link under paragraph (b)(2) of this section and the strength of the painter under § 117.175(e)(3)(ii) of this part must be determined by the combined capacity of the group of life floats and buoyant apparatus.
(f) Life floats and buoyant apparatus must not be stowed in tiers more than 1,220 millimeters (4 feet) high. When stowed in tiers, the separate units must be kept apart by spacers.
§ 117.150   Survival craft embarkation arrangements.
(a) A launching appliance described in paragraph (c) of this section, or a marine evacuation system approved under approval series 160.175, must be provided for each inflatable liferaft and inflatable buoyant apparatus when either—
(b) An embarkation ladder, approved in accordance with § 160.017 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant, must be at each embarkation station if the distance from the embarkation deck to the vessel's lightest operating waterline is more than 3,050 millimeters (10 feet).
(c) Each launching appliance for a davit-launched liferaft must include an automatic disengaging apparatus approved under 46 CFR part 160, subpart 160.170 and be either—
(1) A davit approved under 46 CFR part 160, subpart 160.132 for use with a liferaft, with a winch approved under 46 CFR part 160, subpart 160.115 for use with a liferaft; or
(2) A launching appliance approved on or before November 10, 2011 under approval series 160.163.
§ 117.175   Survival craft equipment.
(a) General. Each item of survival craft equipment must be of good quality, and efficient for the purpose it is intended to serve. Unless otherwise stated in this section, each item of equipment carried, whether required under this section or not, must be secured by lashings, stored in lockers, compartments, brackets, or have equivalent mounting or storage arrangements that do not:
(1) Reduce survival craft capacity;
(2) Reduce space available to the occupants;
(3) Interfere with launching, recovery, or rescue operations; or
(4) Adversely affect seaworthiness of the survival craft.
(b) Inflatable liferafts. Each inflatable liferaft must have one of the following equipment packs as shown by the markings on its container:
(1) Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) B Pack; or
(2) SOLAS A Pack.
(c) Inflatable buoyant apparatus. Each inflatable buoyant apparatus must be equipped in accordance with the manufacturer's approved servicing manual.
(d) Life floats. Each life float must be fitted with a lifeline, pendants, two paddles, a painter, and a light.
(e) Buoyant apparatus. Each buoyant apparatus must be fitted with a lifeline, pendants, a painter, and a light.
(f) Equipment specifications for life floats and buoyant apparatus. The equipment required for lifefloats and buoyant apparatus must meet the following specifications:
(1) Lifeline and pendants. The lifeline and pendants must be as furnished by the manufacturer with the approved life float or buoyant apparatus. Replacement lifelines and pendants must meet the requirements in § 160.010 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant.
(2) Paddle. Each paddle must be of at least 1,220 millimeters (4 feet) in length, lashed to the life float to which they belong, and buoyant.
(3) Painter. The painter must:
(i) Be of at least 30.5 meters (100 feet) in length, but not less than three times the distance between the deck where the life float or buoyant apparatus it serves is stowed and the lightship waterline of the vessel;
(ii) Have a breaking strength of at least 680 kilograms (1,500 pounds), except that if the capacity of the life float or buoyant apparatus is 50 persons or more, the breaking strength must be at least 1,360 kilograms (3,000 pounds);
(iii) Be of a dark color if synthetic, or of a type certified to be resistant to deterioration from ultraviolet light; and
(iv) Be stowed in such a way that it runs out freely when the life float or buoyant apparatus floats away from a sinking vessel.
(4) Light. The light must be a floating waterlight approved under approval series 161.010 or a standard specified by the Commandant. The floating waterlight must be attached around the body of the life float or buoyant apparatus by a 10 mm (3/8 inch) lanyard, resistant to deterioration from ultraviolet light, and at least 5.5 meters (18 feet) in length.
(g) Other survival craft. If survival craft other than inflatable liferafts, life floats, inflatable buoyant apparatus, and buoyant apparatus are carried on the vessel, such as lifeboats or rigid liferafts, they must be installed, arranged, and equipped as required in subchapter H (Passenger Vessels) of this chapter for passenger vessels on the same route.
§ 117.200   Survival craft—general.
(a) Each survival craft required on a vessel by this part must meet one of the following:
(1) For an inflatable liferaft—Approved under approval series 160.151 or other standard specified by the Commandant, with the applicable equipment pack, as determined by the cognizant OCMI. Each inflatable liferaft required on a vessel by this part must have a capacity of 6 persons or more. Inflatable liferafts may be substituted for inflatable buoyant apparatus or life floats required under this section.
(2) For a life float—Approved under approval series 160.027 or other standard specified by the Commandant. Buoyant apparatus may be used to meet requirements for life floats if the buoyant apparatus was installed on board the vessel on or before March 11, 1996, and if the buoyant apparatus remains in good and serviceable condition.
(3) For an inflatable buoyant apparatus—Approved under approval series 160.010 or other standard specified by the Commandant. Inflatable buoyant apparatus may be substituted for life floats required under this section.
(4) For a buoyant apparatus—Approved under approval series 160.010 or other standard specified by the Commandant. An existing buoyant apparatus may not be used to satisfy the requirements for life floats on existing vessels wishing to upgrade the total number of passengers carried on an oceans route.
(b) If the vessel carries a small boat or boats, the capacity of these boats may be counted toward the life float capacity required by this subpart. Such boats must meet the requirements for safe loading and flotation in 33 CFR Part 183, and must meet the stowage, launching and equipment requirements in this part for the survival craft they replace.
(c) A summary of survival craft requirements is provided in Table 117.200(c).
Table 117.200( c )
Abbreviations used:
ILR = Inflatable liferaft
IBA = Inflatable Buoyant apparatus
LF = Life Float. As allowed by § 117.15(a), any buoyant apparatus in use on an existing vessel on March 11, 1996, may be used to meet the requirements for LF as long as the buoyant apparatus is in good and serviceable condition.
Footnotes:
1 Cold water means the cognizant OCMI has determined the monthly mean low temperature of the water is ≤15 °C (59 °F)
2 Vessels operating less than 50 miles from shore may carry 100% IBA in lieu of ILR—§ 117.202(b)
3 Warm water means the cognizant OCMI has determined the monthly mean low temperature of the water is >15 °C (59 °F)
4 Vessels operating in warm water may substitute 100% LF in lieu of 67% IBA—§ 117.202(c)
5 IBA for total number of overnight passengers allowed. Additional primary lifesaving may be required—§ 117.204(b), § 117.205(a), § 117.206(a), and § 117.207(b)
6 Certain vessel operations may substitute 100% LF in lieu of IBA—§ 117.205(b)
7 OCMI may reduce primary lifesaving for seasonal or ferry type operations on the Great Lakes—§ 117.206(b)
8 Shallow water exception—§ 117.207(e).
9 OCMI may reduce survival craft requirements based upon the route, communications schedule, and participation in VTS—§ 117.207(f) and § 117.208(e).
10 Shallow water exception—§ 117.208(d)
§ 117.202   Survival craft—vessels operating on oceans routes.
(a) Except as allowed by paragraph (b) of this section, each vessel certificated to operate on an oceans route in cold water must be provided with inflatable liferafts of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 100% of the total number of persons permitted on board.
(b) Each vessel certificated to operate on an oceans route not more than 50 nautical miles offshore in cold water must be provided with inflatable buoyant apparatus of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 100% of the total number of persons permitted on board.
(c) Each vessel with overnight accommodations certificated to operate on an oceans route in warm water must be provided with inflatable buoyant apparatus of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 100% of the total number of overnight persons permitted on board.
(d) Where the total number of persons allowed on the COI exceeds the total number of overnight persons allowed, the survival craft requirements contained in paragraph (e) of this section apply when not engaged in an overnight voyage.
(e) Each vessel certificated to operate on an oceans route in warm water must be provided with either:
(i) Inflatable buoyant apparatus of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 67% of the total number of persons permitted on board; or
(ii) Life floats of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 100% of the total number of persons permitted on board.
§ 117.204   Survival craft—vessels operating on coastwise routes.
(a) Each vessel with overnight accommodations certificated to operate on a coastwise route must be provided with inflatable buoyant apparatus of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 100% of the total number of overnight persons permitted on board.
(b) Where the total number of persons allowed on the COI exceeds the total number of overnight persons allowed, the following survival craft requirements apply when not engaged in an overnight voyage:
(1) Except as allowed by paragraph (d) of this section, if operated in cold water, be provided with inflatable buoyant apparatus of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 67% of the total number of persons permitted on board; or
(2) Except as allowed by paragraph (d) of this section, if operated in warm water, be provided with life floats of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 100% of the total number of persons permitted on board.
(c) Each vessel without overnight accommodations certificated to operate on a coastwise route, must:
(1) Except as allowed by paragraph (d) of this section, if operated in cold water, be provided with inflatable buoyant apparatus of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 67% of the total number of persons permitted on board; or
(2) Except as allowed by paragraph (d) of this section, if operated in warm water, be provided with life floats of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 100% of the total number of persons permitted on board.
(d) Each vessel certificated to operate on a coastwise route within three miles of land, and equipped with an FCC type accepted Category 1 406 MHz EPIRB installed to float free and automatically activate, may be provided with life floats of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 50% of the total number of persons permitted on board.
§ 117.205   Survival craft—vessels operating on limited coastwise routes.
(a) Except as allowed by paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) of this section, each vessel certificated to operate on a limited coastwise route shall be provided with the survival craft required by §§ 117.204 (a) through (d) of this part, as applicable.
(b) Each vessel without overnight accommodations operating in cold water, between two points, with a set schedule on a specific route that maintains a 15 minute radio communications schedule with an operation base, may be provided with life floats of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 100% of the total number of persons permitted on board.
(c) Each vessel operating in warm water may be provided with life floats of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 50% of the total number of persons permitted on board.
(d) Each vessel certificated to operate on a limited coastwise route within three miles of land in warm water, and is equipped with an FCC type accepted Category 1 406 MHz EPIRB installed to float free and automatically activate, is not required to carry survival craft.
§ 117.206   Survival craft—vessels operating on Great Lakes routes.
(a) Except as allowed by paragraph (b) of this section, each vessel certificated to operate on a Great Lakes route must be provided with the survival craft required by §§ 117.205 (a) through (d) of this part as applicable.
(b) Each vessel certificated to operate on a Great Lakes route within one mile of land is not required to carry survival craft if the OCMI determines that it is safe not to do so, taking into consideration the vessel's scope of operation, hazards of the route, and availability of assistance.
§ 117.207   Survival craft—vessels operating on lakes, bays, and sounds routes.
(a) Each vessel with overnight accommodations certificated to operate on a lakes, bays, and sounds route must be provided with inflatable buoyant apparatus of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 67% of the total number of overnight persons permitted on board.
(b) Where the total number of persons allowed on the COI exceeds the total number of overnight persons allowed, the following survival craft requirements apply when not engaged in an overnight voyage:
(1) If operated in cold water, be provided with life floats of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 100% of the total number of persons permitted on board; or
(2) If operated in warm water, be provided with life floats of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 50% of the total number of persons permitted on board.
(c) Except as allowed by paragraphs (d), (e), and (f) of this section, each vessel without overnight accommodations certificated to operate on a lakes, bays, and sounds route must:
(1) If operated in cold water, be provided with life floats of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 100% of the total number of persons permitted on board; or
(2) If operated in warm water, be provided with life floats of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 50% of the total number of persons permitted on board.
(d) Each vessel certificated to operate on a lakes, bays, and sounds route within one mile of land is not required to carry survival craft.
(e) For a vessel certificated to operate on a lakes, bays, and sounds route in shallow water where the vessel can not sink deep enough to submerge the topmost passenger deck or where survivors can wade ashore, the cognizant OCMI may waive a requirement for survival craft, if the OCMI determines that it is safe to do so, taking into consideration the vessel's scope of operation, hazards of the route, and availability of assistance.
(f) Each vessel operating with a set schedule on a specific route that does not take it more than 20 nautical miles from a harbor of safe refuge, and that maintains a 15 minute radio communications schedule with an operations base, or participates in a Vessel Traffic Service (VTS), may be granted a reduction in the survival craft requirements of this section if the cognizant OCMI is satisfied that a sufficient level of safety exists.
§ 117.208   Survival craft—vessels operating on rivers routes.
(a) Except as allowed by paragraph (c), (d), or (e) of this section, each vessel certificated to operate on a rivers route in cold water must be provided with life floats of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 50% of the total number of persons permitted on board.
(b) Each vessel certificated to operate on a rivers route in warm water is not required to carry survival craft.
(c) Each vessel certificated to operate on a rivers route within one mile of land is not required to carry survival craft.
(d) For a vessel certificated to operate on a rivers route in shallow water where the vessel can not sink deep enough to submerge the topmost passenger deck or where survivors can wade ashore, the cognizant OCMI may waive a requirement for life floats, if the OCMI determines that it is safe to do so, taking into consideration the vessel's scope of operation, hazards of the route, and availability of assistance.
(e) Each vessel operating with a set schedule on a specific route that maintains a 15 minute radio communications schedule with an operations base, or participates in a Vessel Traffic Service (VTS), may be granted a reduction in the survival craft requirements of this section if the cognizant OCMI is satisfied that a sufficient level of safety exists.
§ 117.210   Rescue boats.
(a) Each vessel must carry at least one rescue boat unless the cognizant OCMI determines that:
(1) The vessel is sufficiently maneuverable, arranged, and equipped to allow the crew to recover a helpless person from the water;
(2) Recovery of a helpless person can be observed from the operating station; and
(3) The vessel does not regularly engage in operations that restrict its maneuverability.
(b) In general, a rescue boat must be a small, light-weight boat with built-in buoyancy and be capable of being readily launched and easily maneuvered. In addition, it must be of adequate proportion to permit taking an unconscious person on board without capsizing.
(c) On a vessel of more than 19.8 meters (65 feet) in length operating on protected waters, a rescue boat approved under approval series 160.056 is acceptable in meeting the intent of this section. On a vessel of more than 19.8 meters operating on exposed or partially protected waters, a rescue boat approved under approval series 160.156 is acceptable in meeting the intent of this section. On a vessel of not more than 19.8 meters (65 feet) in length, a required rescue boat must be acceptable to the cognizant OCMI.