Instruction manual

PROFICIENCY IN SURVIVAL CRAFT AND RESCUE BOATS OTHER THAN

FAST RESCUE BOATS

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compartments, each inflated through a non-return inflation valve on each

compartment.

The buoyancy chambers must be so arranged that, in the event of any one

of the compartments being damaged or failing to inflate, the intact compartments

are able to support, with positive freeboard over the life-raft's entire periphery, the

number of persons which the life-raft is permitted to accommodate, each having

a mass of 75 kg and seated in their normal positions.

The floor of the life-raft must be waterproof and must be capable of being

sufficiently insulated against cold either:

(a) by means of one or more compartments that the occupants can

inflate, or which inflate automatically and can be deflated and re-inflated by the

occupants; or

(b) by other equally efficient means not dependent on inflation.

The life raft must be capable of being inflated by one person. The life-raft

must be inflated with a non-toxic gas. Inflation must be completed within a period

of one minute at an ambient temperature of between 18°C and 20°C and within a

period of 3 minutes at an ambient temperature of -30°C.

After inflation the life-raft must maintain its form when loaded with its full

complement of persons and equipment.

Each inflatable compartment must be capable of withstanding a pressure

equal to at least 3 times the working pressure and must be prevented from

reaching a pressure exceeding twice the working pressure either by means of

relief valves or by a limited gas supply.

b) Carrying capacity of inflatable life-rafts

The number of persons which a life-raft is permitted to accommodate is

equal to the lesser of:

(a) the greatest whole number obtained by dividing by 0.096 the

volume, measured in cubic meters, of the main buoyancy tubes (which for this

purpose include neither the arches nor the thwarts if fitted) when inflated; or

(b) the greatest whole number obtained by dividing by 0.372 the

inner horizontal cross-sectional area of the life-raft measured in square meters

(which for this purpose may include the thwart or thwarts, if fitted) measured to

the innermost edge of the buoyancy tubes; or

wearing either immersion suits and lifejackets or, in the case of davit-launched

life rafts, lifejackets, that can be seated with sufficient comfort and headroom

without interfering with the operation of any of the life raft's equipment.

c) Access into inflatable life-rafts

At least one entrance must be fitted with a semi-rigid boarding ramp,

capable of supporting a person weighing 100 kg, to enable persons to board the