Us Coast Guard Life Ring Requirements

Ring life buoys shall be located one forward one aft and one at the access to the gangway.

Us coast guard life ring requirements.

Unless it is used in a quick release system. Have attached lines that are at least 90 feet in length. The body can be constructed in one or two pieces. 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.

Required information and the test report from the accepted independent laboratory as per 46 cfr 160 049. Unicellular plastic life ring buoy. Coast guard approved ring life buoy with line attached shall be located at the gangway. Life rings may be painted orange so long as the coast guard approval information is not covered or obscured.

Two piece rings are assembled with cold setting glues appropriate for outdoor conditions. 1915 158 b 2 on floating vessels under 200 feet 61 m in length at least one 30 inch 0 76 m u s. Evidence that an acceptable follow up factory inspection program with the accepted independent laboratory is in place. 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.

B each ring life buoy must have a floating electric water light approved under approval series 161 010. A cover letter requesting coast guard type approval of the equipment. Life rings should weigh no less than 5 1 2 lbs. The coast guard has arrived at three difference classifications each designed to describe a life jacket suitable for various uses.

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. Have attached lines at least inch in diameter. Child life jacket requirements on a vessel that is underway children under 13 years of age must wear an appropriate u s. Coast guard approved life jacket unless they are 1 below deck or 2 within an enclosed.

A ring life buoys must be approved under approval series 160 050 or 160 150 for solas approved equipment. This article will briefly identify where exactly these requirements are found in title 46. 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 best life jackets are ones the user will wear.

Coast guard requirements specify the life ring should be a uniformly sized ring. Inflatable life jackets are more comfortable encouraging regular use. The offshore life jacket type i. You must also have one type v personal flotation device like a ring or cushion that you can throw to someone in the water.