B. Inflatable liferafts

i. Inflatable liferafts shall comply with the requirements of section 4.1 and, in addition, shall comply with the requirements of this section.

 

ii. Construction of inflatable liferaft

 

1. The main buoyancy chamber shall be divided into not less than two separate compartments, each inflated through a nonreturn inflation valve on each compartment. The buoyancy chambers shall be so arranged that, in the event of any one of the compartments being damaged or failing to inflate, the intact compartments shall be able to support, with positive freeboard over the liferaft's entire periphery, the number of persons which the liferaft is permitted to accommodate, each having a mass of 75 kg and seated in their normal positions.

2. The floor of the liferaft shall be waterproof and shall be capable of being sufficiently insulated against cold either:

.1 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

.2 by other equally efficient means not dependent on inflation.

3. The liferaft shall be capable of being inflated by one person. The liferaft shall be inflated with a non-toxic gas. Inflation shall be completed within a period of 1 min at an ambient temperature of between 18°C and 20°C and within a period of 3 min at an ambient temperature of -30°C. After inflation, the liferaft shall maintain its form when loaded with its full complement of persons and equipment.

4. Each inflatable compartment shall be capable of withstanding a pressure equal to at least three times the working pressure and shall be prevented from reaching a pressure exceeding twice the working pressure either by means of relief valves or by a limited gas supply. Means shall be provided for fitting the topping-up pump or bellows required by paragraph 4.2.9.1.2 so that the working pressure can be maintained.

 

iii. Carrying capacity of inflatable liferafts

The number of persons which a liferaft shall be permitted to accommodate shall be equal to the lesser of:

.1 the greatest whole number obtained by dividing by 0.096 the volume, measured in cubic metres, of the main buoyancy tubes (which for this purpose shall include neither the arches nor the thwarts, if fitted) when inflated; or

.2 the greatest whole number obtained by dividing by 0.372 the inner horizontal cross-sectional area of the liferaft measured in square metres (which for this purpose may include the thwart or thwarts, if fitted) measured to the innermost edge of the buoyancy tubes; or

.3 the number of persons having an average mass of 75 kg, all wearing either immersion suits and lifejackets or, in the case of davit-launched liferafts, lifejackets, that can be seated with sufficient comfort and headroom without interfering with the operation of any of the liferaft's equipment.

 

iv. Access into inflatable liferafts

1. At least one entrance shall be fitted with a semi-rigid boarding ramp, capable of supporting a person weighing 100 kg, to enable persons to board the liferaft from the sea. The boarding ramp shall be so arranged as to prevent significant deflation of the liferaft if the ramp is damaged. In the case of a davit-launched liferaft having more than one entrance, the boarding ramp shall be fitted at the entrance opposite the bowsing lines and embarkation facilities.

2. Entrances not provided with a boarding ramp shall have a boarding ladder, the lowest step of which shall be situated not less than 0.4 m below the liferaft's light waterline.

3. There shall be means inside the liferaft to assist persons to pull themselves into the liferaft from the ladder.

 

v. Stability of inflatable liferafts

1. Every inflatable liferaft shall be so constructed that, when fully inflated and floating with the canopy uppermost, it is stable in a seaway.

2. The stability of the liferaft when in the inverted position shall be such that it can be righted in a seaway and in calm water by one person.

3. The stability of the liferaft when loaded with its full complement of persons and equipment shall be such that it can be towed at speeds of up to 3 knots in calm water.

4. The liferaft shall be fitted with water pockets complying with the following requirements:

.1 the water pockets shall be of a highly visible colour;

.2 the design shall be such that the pockets fill to at least 60% of their capacity within 25 s of deployment;

.3 the pockets shall have an aggregate capacity of at least 220 l for liferafts up to 10 persons;

.4 the pockets for liferafts certified to carry more than 10 persons shall have an aggregate capacity of not less than 20N l, where N = number of persons carried; and

.5 the pockets shall be positioned symmetrically round the circumference of the liferaft. Means shall be provided to enable air to readily escape from underneath the liferaft.

 

vi. Containers for inflatable liferaft

1. The liferaft shall be packed in a container that is:

.1 so constructed as to withstand hard wear under conditions encountered at sea;

.2 of sufficient inherent buoyancy, when packed with the liferaft and its equipment, to pull the painter from within and to operate the inflation mechanism should the ship sink; and

.3 as far as practicable watertight, except for drain holes in the container bottom.

2. The liferaft shall be packed in its container in such a wav as to ensure, as far as possible, that the waterborne liferaft inflates in an upright position on breaking tree from its container.

3. The container shall be marked with:

.1 maker's name or trade mark;

.2 serial number;

.3 name of approving authority and the number of persons it is permitted to carry;

.4 SOLAS;

.5 type of emergency pack enclosed;

.6 date when last serviced;

.7 length of painter;

.8 maximum permitted height at stowage above waterline (depending on drop-test height and length of painter); and

.9 launching instructions.

 

vii. Markings on inflatable liferafts

1. The liferaft shall be marked with:

.1 maker's name or trade mark;

.2 serial number;

.3 date of manufacture (month and year);

.4 name of approving authority;

.5 name and place of servicing station where it was last serviced; and

.6 number of persons it is permitted to accommodate over each entrance in characters not less than 100 mm in height of a colour contrasting with that of the liferaft.

2. Provision shall be made for marking each liferaft with the name and port of registry of the ship to which it is to be fitted, in such a form that the ship identification can be changed at any time without opening the container.

 

viii. Davit-launched inflatable liferafts

1. In addition to complying with the above requirements, a liferaft for use with an approved launching appliance shall, when suspended from its lifting hook or bridle, withstand a load of:

.1 4 times the mass of its full complement of persons and equipment, al an ambient temperature and a stabilized liferaft temperature of 20±3°C with all relief valves inoperative; and

.2 1.1 times the mass of its full complement of persons and equipment at an ambient temperature and a stabilized liferaft temperature of -30°C with all relief valves operative.

2. Rigid containers for liferafts to be launched by a launching appliance shall be so secured that the container or parts of it are prevented from tailing into the sea during and after inflation and launching of the contained liferaft.

 

ix. Additional equipment for inflatable liferafts

 

1. In addition to the equipment required by paragraph 4.1.5, every inflatable liferaft shall be provided with:

7.1 one repair outfit for repairing punctures in buoyancy compartments; and

7.2 one topping-up pump or bellows.

2. The knives required by paragraph 4.1.5.1.2 shall be safety knives, and the tin-openers and scissors required by paragraph 4.1.5.1.7 shall be of the safety type.