Life Saving Equipment Regulations

148 (1) Rescue boats and emergency boats shall be stowed

• (a) in a state of continuous readiness and capable of being launched in less than five minutes; and

• (b) in a location suitable for launching and recovery.

(2) A rescue boat that is also a lifeboat shall meet the requirements of section 144.

(3) Every rescue boat, when loaded with its full complement and equipment, shall be capable of being hoisted at a rate of not less than 0.3 m/s.

(4) Every davit-launched rescue boat or emergency boat, when it is installed for the first time on a ship, shall be tested to ensure that it may be safely launched

• (a) from the ship when the rescue boat or emergency boat is loaded with a mass equal to 110 per cent of the total of its own mass and that of its full complement and equipment;

• (b) from a height of not more than 1 m above the water when the rescue boat or emergency boat is in its light condition, is suspended from its release mechanism at that height and is then released; and

• (c) from a height of not more than 1 m above the water when the rescue boat or emergency boat is loaded as described in paragraph (a), is suspended from its release mechanism at that height and is then released.

(5) For the purpose of the test referred to in subsection (4), each member of the complement is assumed to have a mass of 75 kg.