Us Coast Guard Life Ring Requirements

A ring life buoys must be approved under approval series 160 050 or 160 150 for solas approved equipment.

Us coast guard life ring requirements.

The coast guard commandant s approval and associated number the amount size length of attached line color markings availability and condition are all requirements for ring life buoys on board commercial fishing industry vessels. The offshore life jacket type i. Coast guard approved ring life buoy with line attached shall be located at the gangway. The body can be constructed in one or two pieces.

One type of coast guard approved life jacket or life vest must be on board for each person on the boat. Have attached lines at least inch in diameter. Required information and the test report from the accepted independent laboratory as per 46 cfr 160 049. Be united states coast guard approved 30 inch size.

Coast guard approved life jacket unless they are 1 below deck or 2 within an enclosed. For serious sailors those who will be heading offshore or making long coastal runs the offshore life jacket must have at least 22 pounds of buoyancy. Child life jacket requirements on a vessel that is underway children under 13 years of age must wear an appropriate u s. Evidence that an acceptable follow up factory inspection program with the accepted independent laboratory is in place.

Inflatable life jackets are more comfortable encouraging regular use. Ring life buoys shall be located one forward one aft and one at the access to the gangway. This article will briefly identify where exactly these requirements are found in title 46. Strips of type ii retroreflective material approximately 2 inches wide should be applied around the ring at four evenly spaced points.

Provide approved life rings with an attached line on all docks walkways and fixed installations on or adjacent to water more than five feet deep. Life rings should weigh no less than 5 1 2 lbs. The operator must ensure that the light to the ring life buoy is attached by a lanyard of 12 thread manila or a synthetic rope of equivalent strength not less than 3 feet nor more. A cover letter requesting coast guard type approval of the equipment.

Have attached lines that are at least 90 feet in length. The best life jackets are ones the user will wear. Unicellular plastic life ring buoy. Life rings may be painted orange so long as the coast guard approval information is not covered or obscured.

B each ring life buoy must have a floating electric water light approved under approval series 161 010. The coast guard has arrived at three difference classifications each designed to describe a life jacket suitable for various uses. Coast guard requirements specify the life ring should be a uniformly sized ring. Unless it is used in a quick release system.