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Code of Practice
13 Life-Saving Appliances
13.1 Life-saving appliances should be provided in accordance with either the requirements appropriate to the type of vessel as given in the Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances) Regulations 1986, SI 1986 No. 1066, as amended, or Annes 2.
13.2 Inflatable liferafts, hydrostatic release units (other than the types which have a date limited life and are test "fired" prior to disposal) and gas inflatable lifejackets should be serviced annually at a service station approved by the manufacturer.
13.3 Orally inflated lifejackets should be pressure tested annually and, as far as is reasonably and practicable, visually examined weekly by the owner/managing agent to determine whether they are safe to use.
13.4 Lifejackets which are not Department of Transport approved should comply with British Standard BS 3595 or equivalent CEN standard and be fitted with a whistle, light and retro-reflective tape.
13.5 Life-saving appliances should be of a type which have been approved by the Department of Transport or which comply with equivalent standards of BSI, CEN or ISO.
13.6 Liferafts provided on multihull vessels should be located so that they are accessible when the vessel is either upright or after a capsize.
