(a) Operational readiness. Except as provided in § 109.301(b)(3), each lifesaving appliance must be in good working order and ready for immediate use at all times when the unit is in operation.

(b) Maintenance. (1) The manufacturer's instructions for onboard maintenance of lifesaving appliances must be onboard and must include the following for each appliance—

(i) Checklists for use when carrying out the inspections required under § 109.301(e);

(ii) Maintenance and repair instructions;

(iii) A schedule of periodic maintenance;

(iv) A diagram of lubrication points with the recommended lubricants;

(v) A list of replaceable parts;

(vi) A list of sources of spare parts; and

(vii) A log for records of inspections and maintenance.

(2) In lieu of compliance with paragraph (b)(1) of this section, The OCMI may accept a planned maintenance program that includes the items listed in that paragraph.

(3) If lifeboats, rescue boats or rigid liferafts are maintained and repaired while the unit is in operation, there must be a sufficient number of lifeboats and liferafts remaining available for use to accommodate all persons on board.

(c) Spare parts and repair equipment. Spare parts and repair equipment must be provided for each lifesaving appliance and component subject to excessive wear or consumption and that needs to be replaced regularly.

(d) Weekly inspections and tests. (1) Each survival craft, rescue boat, and launching appliance must be visually inspected to ensure its readiness for use.

(2) Each lifeboat engine and rescue boat engine must be run ahead and astern for a total of not less than 3 minutes, unless the ambient air temperature is below the minimum temperature required for starting the engine. During this time, demonstrations should indicate that the gear box and gear box train are engaging satisfactorily. If the special characteristics of an outboard motor fitted to a rescue boat would not allow the outboard motor to be run other than with its propeller submerged for a period of 3 minutes, the outboard motor should be run for such period as prescribed in the manufacturer's handbook.

(3) The general alarm system must be tested.

(e) Monthly inspections. (1) Each lifesaving appliance, including lifeboat equipment, must be inspected monthly using the checklists required under paragraph (b) of this section to make sure it is complete and in good working order. A report of the inspection, including a statement as to the condition of the equipment, must be recorded in the unit's official logbook.

(2) Each EPIRB and each SART other than an EPIRB or SART in an inflatable liferaft, must be tested monthly. The EPIRB must be tested using the integrated test circuit and output indicator to determine that it is operative.

(f) Annual inspections. Annual inspection and repair must include the following:

(1) Each survival craft, except for inflatable liferafts, must be stripped, cleaned, and thoroughly inspected and repaired, as needed, at least once in each year, including emptying and cleaning each fuel tank, and refilling it with fresh fuel.

(2) Each davit, winch, fall and other launching appliance must be thoroughly inspected and repaired, as needed, once in each year.

(3) Each item of survival equipment with an expiration date must be replaced during the annual inspection and repair, if the expiration date has passed.

(4) Each battery clearly marked with an expiration date, that is used in an item of survival equipment must be replaced during the annual inspection and repair, if the expiration date has passed.

(5) Except for a storage battery used in a lifeboat or rescue boat, each battery without an expiration date that is used in an item of survival equipment must be replaced during the annual inspection and repair.

(g) Servicing of inflatable lifesaving appliances, inflated rescue boats, and marine evacuation systems. (1) Each inflatable lifesaving appliance and marine evacuation system must be serviced—

(i) Within 12 months of its initial packing; and

(ii) Within 12 months of each subsequent servicing, except when servicing is delayed until the next scheduled inspection of the unit, provided the delay does not exceed 5 months.

(2) Each inflatable lifejacket must be serviced in accordance with servicing procedures meeting the requirements of part 160, subpart 160.176 of this chapter. Each hybrid inflatable lifejacket must be serviced in accordance with the owner's manual and meet the requirements of part 160, subpart 160.077 of this chapter.

(3) An inflatable liferaft must be serviced at a facility specifically approved by the Commandant for the particular brand, and in accordance with servicing procedures meeting the requirements of part 160, subpart 160.151, of this chapter—

(i) No later than the month and year on its servicing sticker affixed under 46 CFR 160.151-57(n), except that servicing may be delayed until the next scheduled inspection of the unit, provided that the delay does not exceed 5 months; and

(ii) Whenever the container is damaged or the container straps or seals are broken.

(4) Each inflated rescue boat must be repaired and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. All repairs to inflated chambers must be made at a servicing facility approved by the Commandant, except for emergency repairs carried out on board the unit.

(h) Periodic servicing of hydrostatic release units. Each hydrostatic release unit, other than a disposable hydrostatic release unit, must be serviced—

(1) Within 12 months of its manufacture and within 12 months of each subsequent servicing, except when servicing is delayed until the next scheduled inspection of the unit, provided the delay does not exceed 5 months; and

(2) In accordance with repair and testing procedures meeting the requirements of part 160, subpart 160.062 of this chapter.

(i) Periodic servicing of launching appliances and release gear. (1) Launching appliances must be serviced at the intervals recommended in the manufacturer's instructions, or as set out in the shipboard planned maintenance program.

(2) Launching appliances must be thoroughly examined at intervals not exceeding 5 years and upon completion of the examination, the launching appliance must be subjected to a dynamic test of the winch brake.

(3) Lifeboat and rescue boat release gear must be serviced at the intervals recommended in the manufacturer's instructions, or as set out in the planned maintenance program.

(4) Lifeboat and rescue boat release gear must be subjected to a thorough examination by properly trained personnel familiar with the system at each inspection for certification.

(5) Lifeboat and rescue boat release gear must be operationally tested under a load of 1.1 times the total mass of the lifeboat when loaded with its full complement of persons and equipment, whenever overhauled, or at least once every 5 years.

(j) Maintenance of falls. (1) Each fall used in a launching appliance must be turned end-for-end at intervals of not more than 30 months and must be renewed when necessary due to deterioration or at intervals of not more than 5 years, whichever is earlier.

(2) As an alternative to paragraph (j)(1) of this section, each fall may be inspected annually and renewed whenever necessary due to deterioration or at intervals of not more than 4 years, whichever is earlier.

(k) Rotational deployment of marine evacuation systems. In addition to or in conjunction with the servicing intervals of marine evacuation systems required by paragraph (g)(1) of this section, each marine evacuation system must be deployed from the unit on a rotational basis. Each marine evacuation system must be deployed at least once every 6 years.

(a) There must be a sufficient number of trained persons on board the survival craft for mustering and assisting untrained persons.

(b) There must be a sufficient number of deck officers, able seamen, or certificated persons on board to operate the survival craft and launching arrangements required for abandonment by the total number of persons on board.

(c) There must be one person placed in charge of each survival craft to be used. The person in charge must—

(1) Be a deck officer, able seaman, or certificated person. The OCMI, considering the number of persons permitted on board, and the characteristics of the unit, may permit persons practiced in the handling and operation of liferafts or inflatable buoyant apparatus to be placed in charge of liferafts or inflatable buoyant apparatus;

(2) Have another person designated second-in-command of each lifeboat permitted to carry more than 40 persons. This person should be a deck officer, able seaman, or certificated person; and

(3) Have a list of the survival craft crew and must see that the crewmembers are acquainted with their duties. The second-in-command of a lifeboat must also have a list of the lifeboat crew.

(d) There must be a person assigned to each motorized survival craft who is capable of operating the engine and carrying out minor adjustments.

(e) The person in charge must make sure that the persons required under paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this section are equitably distributed among the unit's survival craft.

The master or person in charge shall insure that at least one of the fire pumps required in § 108.415 is ready for use on the fire main system at all times.

The master or person in charge shall insure that—

(a) At least one length of firehose with a combination nozzle is connected to each fire hydrant required by this subchapter, at all times, except that during heavy weather a firehose in an exposed location may be temporarily removed from the fire hydrant and stowed in an accessible, nearby location;

(b) A fire hose required by this subchapter is not used for any purpose other than firefighting, fire drills, and testing;

(c) Access to each fire hydrant is not blocked;

(d) Each firehose, except a firehose temporarily removed from an exposed location, is stowed on a rack or reel required by this subchapter; and

(e) Each low velocity spray applicator for a fire hose nozzle is attached to the nozzle or stowed next to the fire hydrant to which the fire hose is attached.

The master or person in charge shall insure that each fire main cutoff valve is open and sealed to prevent closing, except that a cutoff valve may be closed to protect the portion of the fire main system on an exposed deck from freezing.

The master or person in charge shall insure that each person working over the water is wearing a life preserver or a buoyant work vest.

The master or person in charge shall insure that no work vest is stowed where life preservers are stowed.

The master or person in charge shall insure that—

(a) At least 2 persons who are trained in the use of the fireman's outfit are on board at all times; and

(b) Each fireman's outfit and its spare equipment is stowed in a separate and accessible location.

(c) A fireman's outfit is not used for any purpose other than fire fighting except as provided in § 108.703.

The master or person in charge shall insure that the fire axes required in § 108.499 of this subchapter are located in the enclosures for fire hoses marked in accordance with § 108.633 of this subchapter, if the fire axes are not located in plain view.

(a) The master or person in charge shall ensure that pilot boarding equipment is maintained as follows:

(1) The equipment must be kept clean and in good working order.

(2) Each damaged step or spreader step on a pilot ladder must be replaced in kind with an approved replacement step or spreader step, prior to further use of the ladder. The replacement step or spreader step must be secured by the method used in the original construction of the ladder, and in accordance with manufacturer instructions.

(b) The master or person in charge shall ensure compliance with the following during pilot boarding operations:

(1) Only approved pilot boarding equipment may be used.

(2) The pilot boarding equipment must rest firmly against the hull of the vessel and be clear of overboard discharges.

(3) Two man ropes, a safety line and an approved lifebuoy with an approved water light must be at the point of access and be immediately available for use during boarding operations.

(4) Rigging of the equipment and embarkation/debarkation of a pilot must be supervised in person by a deck officer.

(5) Both the equipment over the side and the point of access must be adequately lit during night operations.

(6) If a pilot hoist is used, a pilot ladder must be kept on deck adjacent to the hoist and available for immediate use.