This subpart prescribes standards, tests, and procedures for seeking Coast Guard approval of a davit used in conjunction with a winch approved under subpart 160.115 of this part for lifeboats approved under subpart 160.135 of this part, liferafts approved under subparts 160.051 or 160.151 of this part, and rescue boats approved under subparts 160.056 or 160.156 of this part.

In addition to the definitions in the IMO LSA Code (incorporated by reference, see § 160.132-5 of this subpart), in this subpart, the term:

Commandant means the Chief of the Lifesaving and Fire Safety Standards Division. Address: Commandant (CG-ENG-4), Attn: Lifesaving and Fire Safety Division, U.S. Coast Guard Stop 7509, 2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20593-7509; telephone 202-372-1392 or fax 202-372-1924.

Independent laboratory has the same meaning as 46 CFR 159.001-3. A list of accepted independent laboratories is available from the Commandant and online at http://cgmix.uscg.mil.

Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) means an officer of the Coast Guard designated as such by the Commandant and who fulfills the duties described in 46 CFR 1.01-15(b). The “cognizant OCMI” is the OCMI who has immediate jurisdiction over a vessel or geographic area for the purpose of performing the duties previously described.

SOLAS means the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended.

(a) Certain material is incorporated by reference into this part with the approval of the Director of the Federal Register under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. All approved incorporation by reference (IBR) material is available for inspection at Coast Guard Headquarters and at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Contact the Coast Guard at: Commandant (CG-ENG-4), U.S. Coast Guard Stop 7509, 2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20593-7509; or email [email protected] or visit https://www.dco.uscg.mil/CG-ENG-4/. For information on the availability of this material at NARA, email: [email protected], or go to: www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html. The material may be obtained from the sources in the following paragraphs of this section.

(b) American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), 100 Barr Harbor Drive, P.O. Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA, 19428-2959.

(1) ASTM A 36/A 36M-08, Standard Specification for Carbon Structural Steel, (approved May 15, 2008), IBR approved for § 160.132-7 (“ASTM A 36”).

(2) ASTM A 216/A 216M-08, Standard Specification for Steel Castings, Carbon, Suitable for Fusion Welding, for High-Temperature Service, (approved November 1, 2008), IBR approved for § 160.132-7 (“ASTM A 216”).

(c) International Maritime Organization (IMO) Publications Section, 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR, United Kingdom, + 44 (0)20 7735 7611, http://www.imo.org/.

(1) IMO Resolution A.760(18), Symbols Related to Life-Saving Appliances and Arrangements, (adopted November 4, 1993), IBR approved for § 160.132-19 (“IMO Res. A.760(18)”).

(2) International Life-Saving Appliances, including LSA Code, 2010 Edition, (2010), pages 7-71 (“IMO LSA Code”), IBR approved for §§ 160.132-3 and 160.132-7.

(3) Life-Saving Appliances, including LSA Code, 2010 Edition, (2010), Revised recommendation on testing of live-saving appliances, pages 79-254 (“IMO Revised recommendation on testing”), IBR approved for §§ 160.132-7, 160.132-13, and 160.132-15.

(4) MSC/Circular 980, Standardized Life-Saving Appliance Evaluation and Test Report Forms, (February 13, 2001), IBR approved for § 160.132-13 (“IMO MSC Circ. 980”).

(5) MSC.1/Circular 1205, Guidelines for Developing Operation and Maintenance Manuals for Lifeboat Systems, (May 26, 2006), IBR approved for § 160.132-21 (“IMO MSC.1 Circ. 1205”).

(a) To seek Coast Guard approval of a davit, a manufacturer must comply with, and each davit must meet, the requirements of following—

(1) IMO LSA Code chapter I/1.2.2 and Chapter VI/6.1 (incorporated by reference, see § 160.132-5 of this subpart) applicable to the design and intended service of the davit;

(2) IMO Revised recommendation on testing, part 1/8.1 (incorporated by reference, see § 160.132-5 of this subpart) applicable to the design and intended service of the davit;

(3) 46 CFR part 159; and

(4) This subpart.

(b) Each davit must meet the following requirements—

(1) Materials. Each major structural component of each davit must be constructed of steel. Other materials may be used if accepted by the Commandant as equivalent or superior—

(i) Structural steel made by the open-hearth or electric furnace process must be in accordance with ASTM A 36 (incorporated by reference, see § 160.132-5 of this subpart);

(ii) Steel castings not intended for fusion welding must be in accordance with ASTM A 36, Grades U-60-30, 60-30, 65-30, 65-35, and 70-36;

(iii) Steel castings intended to be fabricated by fusion welding must be in accordance with ASTM A 216 (incorporated by reference, see § 160.132-5 of this subpart), Grades WCA and WCB;

(iv) Cast iron must not be used in the construction of a davit; and

(v) Metals in contact with each other must be either galvanically compatible or insulated with suitable non-porous materials. Provisions must also be made to prevent loosening or tightening resulting from differences of thermal expansion, freezing, buckling of parts, galvanic corrosion, or other incompatibilities;

(2) Bearings. (i) Bearings must be of non-ferrous metal, or must be of the roller or ball-bearing type;

(ii) Positive means of lubrication must be provided; and

(iii) The manufacturer must furnish a lubrication chart for each davit together with a plate attached to the davit indicating the lubricants recommended for extremes in temperature;

(3) Guards. All moving parts must have guards;

(4) Welding. Welding must be performed by welders certified by the Commandant, a classification society recognized by the Commandant in accordance with 46 CFR 8.220, the U.S. Navy, or the national body where the davit is constructed or the national body's designated recognized organization. Only electrodes intended for use with the material being welded may be used. All welds must be checked using appropriate non-destructive tests; and

(5) Hydraulic systems, if installed, must be in accordance with 46 CFR part 58, subpart 58.30.

(c) Determinations of equivalence of design, construction, and materials will be made by the Commandant only.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, the Commandant must conduct the preapproval review required by this section, in accordance with 46 CFR 159.005-5.

(b) Manufacturer requirements. To seek Coast Guard approval of a davit, the manufacturer must submit an application to the Commandant meeting the requirements of 46 CFR 159.005-5 for preapproval review. To meet the requirements of 46 CFR 159.005-5(a)(2), the manufacturer must submit in triplicate—

(1) A list of drawings, specifications, manuals, and any other documentation submitted, with each document identified by number, title, revision issue, and date;

(2) General arrangement and assembly drawings, including principal dimensions;

(3) Stress calculations for all load carrying parts;

(4) An operation, maintenance, and training manual as described in §§ 160.132-19 and 160.132-21 of this subpart;

(5) A description of the quality control procedures and recordkeeping that will apply to the production of the davit, which must include, but is not limited to—

(i) The system for checking material certifications received from suppliers;

(ii) The method for controlling the inventory of materials;

(iii) The method for checking quality of fabrication and joints, including welding inspection procedures; and

(iv) The inspection checklists used during various stages of fabrication to assure that the approved release mechanism complies with the approved plans and the requirements of this subpart;

(6) Any other drawing(s) necessary to show that the davit complies with the requirements of this subpart;

(7) The location or address of all manufacturing sites, including the name and address of any subcontractors, where the davit will be constructed; and

(8) The name of the independent laboratory that will perform the duties prescribed in § 160.132-15 of this subpart.

(c) At the request of the manufacturer and discretion of the Commandant, an independent laboratory may conduct preapproval review required by this section; so long as the preapproval review is conducted in accordance with the procedures agreed upon between the independent laboratory and Commandant under 46 CFR subpart 159.010.

(d) Plan quality. All plans and specifications submitted to the Commandant under this section must—

(1) Be provided in English, including all notes, inscriptions, and designations for configuration control;

(2) Address each of the applicable items in paragraph (b) of this section in sufficient detail to show that the davit meets the construction requirements of this subpart;

(3) Accurately depict the proposed davit;

(4) Be internally consistent;

(5) Be legible; and

(6) If reviewed by an independent laboratory under paragraph (c) of this section, include the independent laboratory's attestation that the plans meet the quality requirements of this section.

(e) Alternatives. Alternatives in materials, parts, or construction, and each item replaced by an alternative, must be clearly indicated as such in the plans and specifications submitted to the Commandant under this section.

(f) Coast Guard review. If the plans or specifications do not comply with the requirements of this section, Coast Guard review may be suspended, and the applicant notified accordingly.

(a) If the manufacturer is notified that the information submitted in accordance with § 160.132-9 of this subpart is satisfactory to the Commandant, the manufacturer may proceed with fabrication of the prototype davit, and the approval inspections and tests required under this section.

(b) Except as provided in paragraph (f) of this section, the Coast Guard must conduct the approval inspections and witness the approval tests required under this section.

(c) Manufacturer requirements. To proceed with approval inspections and tests required by this section, the manufacturer must—

(1) Notify the Commandant and cognizant Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) of where the approval inspections and tests required under this section will take place, and such notifications must be in sufficient time to allow making travel arrangements;

(2) Arrange a testing schedule with the cognizant OCMI that allows for a Coast Guard inspector to travel to the site where the testing is to be performed;

(3) Admit the Coast Guard inspector to any place where work or testing is performed on davits or their component parts and materials for the purpose of—

(i) Conducting inspections as necessary to determine that the prototype—

(A) Conforms with the plans reviewed under § 160.132-9 of this subpart;

(B) Is constructed by the methods and with the materials specified in the plans reviewed under § 160.132-9 of this subpart; and

(C) When welding is part of the construction process, is constructed by the welding procedure and materials as per the plans reviewed under § 160.132-9 of this subpart and the welders are appropriately qualified;

(ii) Assuring that the quality-assurance program of the manufacturer is satisfactory;

(iii) Witnessing tests; and

(iv) Taking samples of parts or materials for additional inspections or tests; and

(4) Make available to the Coast Guard inspector the affidavits or invoices from the suppliers of all essential materials used in the production of davits, together with records identifying the lot or serial numbers of the davits in which such materials were used.

(d) Tests. (1) IMO Revised recommendation on testing. Each prototype davit of each design must pass each of the tests described in IMO Revised recommendation on testing, part 1, paragraph 8.1 (incorporated by reference, see § 160.132-5 of this subpart) applicable to the design and service of the davit.

(2) Visual inspection. Each davit must be visually inspected to confirm—

(i) Compliance with this subpart;

(ii) Conformance with the examined plans; and

(iii) Ease of operation and maintenance.

(3) Hydraulic controls. If the davit design includes a fluid power and control system, a test of the hydraulic controls must be conducted in accordance with 46 CFR 58.30-35.

(e) Test waiver. The Commandant may waive certain tests for a davit similar in construction to a davit that has successfully completed the tests.

(f) At the request of the manufacturer and discretion of the Commandant, an independent laboratory may perform approval inspections and witness approval tests required by this section so long as the inspections and tests are performed and witnessed in accordance with the procedures agreed upon between the independent laboratory and Commandant under 46 CFR part 159, subpart 159.010.

(g) After completion of approval inspections and tests required by this section, the manufacturer must comply with the requirements of 46 CFR 159.005-9(a)(5) by preparing and submitting to the Commandant for review—

(1) The prototype approval test report containing the same information recommended by IMO MSC Circ. 980 (incorporated by reference, see § 160.132-5 of this subpart). The report must include a signed statement by the Coast Guard inspector (or independent laboratory as permitted by paragraph (f) of this section) who witnessed the testing, indicating that the report accurately describes the testing and its results; and

(2) The final version of the plans required under § 160.132-9 of this subpart in triplicate.

(h) The Commandant will review the report and plans submitted under paragraph (g) of this section, and if satisfactory to the Commandant, will approve the plans under 46 CFR 159.005-13.

(a) Unless the Commandant directs otherwise, an independent laboratory must perform or witness, as appropriate, inspections, tests, and oversight required by this section. Production inspections and tests of davits must be carried out in accordance with the procedures for independent laboratory inspection in 46 CFR part 159, subpart 159.007 and in this section, unless the Commandant authorizes alternative tests and inspections. The Commandant may prescribe additional production tests and inspections necessary to maintain quality control and to monitor compliance with the requirements of this subpart.

(b) Manufacturer's responsibility. The manufacturer must—

(1) Institute a quality control procedure to ensure that all production davits are produced to the same standard, and in the same manner, as the prototype davit approved by the Commandant. The manufacturer's quality control personnel must not work directly under the department or person responsible for either production or sales;

(2) Schedule and coordinate with the independent laboratory (or Coast Guard inspector if required under paragraph (a) of this section), to ensure that all tests are performed as described in this section;

(3) Submit to the Commandant a yearly report that contains the following—

(i) Serial number and date of final assembly of each davit constructed;

(ii) The name of the representative of the independent laboratory (or Coast Guard inspector if required under paragraph (a) of this section); and

(iii) Name of the vessel and company receiving the davit, if known;

(4) Ensure that the arrangement and materials entering into the construction of the davit are in accordance with plans approved under § 160.132-13(h) of this subpart;

(5) Allow an independent laboratory (or Coast Guard inspector if required under paragraph (a) of this section) access to any place where materials are stored for the davit, work or testing is performed on davits or their component parts and materials, or records are retained to meet the requirements of paragraph (c) of this section, below, for the purpose of—

(i) Assuring that the quality control program of the manufacturer is satisfactory;

(ii) Witnessing tests; or

(iii) Taking samples of parts or materials for additional inspections or tests; and

(6) Ensure that the independent laboratory (or Coast Guard inspector if required under paragraph (a) of this section) conducts the inspections and witnesses the tests required by paragraph (e) of this section, and further conducts a visual inspection to verify that the davits are being made in accordance with the plans approved under § 160.132-13(h) of this subpart and the requirements of this subpart.

(c) Recordkeeping. The manufacturer must maintain records in accordance with 46 CFR 159.007-13. The manufacturer must keep records of all items listed in this section for at least 5 years from the date of termination of approval of each davit. The records must include—

(1) A copy of this subpart, other CFR sections referenced in this subpart, and each document listed in § 160.132-5 of this subpart;

(2) A copy of the approved plans, documentation, and certifications;

(3) A current certificate of approval for each approved davit;

(4) Affidavits, certificates, or invoices from the suppliers identifying all essential materials used in the production of approved davits, together with records identifying the serial numbers of davits in which such materials were used;

(5) Records of all structural welding and name of operator(s);

(6) Records of welder certificates, training, and qualifications;

(7) Date and results of calibration of test equipment and the name and address of the company or agency that performed the calibration;

(8) The serial number of each production davit, along with records of its inspections and tests carried out under this section; and

(9) The original purchaser of each davit and the vessel on which it was installed, if known.

(d) Independent laboratory responsibility. The independent laboratory must perform or witness, as appropriate, the inspections and tests under this section for each Coast Guard-approved davit to be installed on a U.S.-flagged vessel. If the manufacturer also produces davits for approval by other maritime safety administrations, the inspections may be coordinated with inspection visits for those administrations.

(e) Production inspections and tests. Each approved davit must be inspected and tested in accordance with the procedures in 46 CFR part 159, subpart 159.007 and the load test described in IMO Revised recommendation on testing, Part 2, paragraph 6.1.1 (incorporated by reference, see § 160.132-5 of this subpart).

(a) Each davit must be marked with a plate or label permanently affixed in a conspicuous place readily for inspection and sufficiently durable to withstand continuous exposure to environmental conditions at sea for the life of the davit.

(b) The plate or label must be in English, but may also be in other languages.

(c) The plate or label must contain the—

(1) Name and address of the manufacturer;

(2) Manufacturer's model identification;

(3) Name of the independent laboratory that witnessed the prototype or production tests;

(4) Serial number of the davit;

(5) U.S. Coast Guard approval number;

(6) Month and year of manufacture;

(7) Safe working load of the davit; and

(8) Word “SOLAS”.

(a) Each davit must have instructions and information for the ship's training manual that use the symbols from IMO Res. A.760(18) (incorporated by reference, see § 160.132-5 of this subpart) to describe the location and operation of the davit.

(b) The instructions and information required by paragraph (a) of this section may be combined with similar material for survival craft and rescue boats, and their complete launching systems.

(c) The davit manufacturer must make operating instructions and information required by paragraph (a) of this section available in English to the purchaser of a davit approved by the Coast Guard.

(a) Each davit must have operation and maintenance instructions that—

(1) Follows the general format and content specified in IMO MSC.1 Circ. 1205 (incorporated by reference, see § 160.132-5 of this subpart); and

(2) Includes a checklist for use in monthly, external visual inspections of the davit.

(b) The davit manufacturer must make the manual required by paragraph (a) of this section available in English to the purchaser of a davit approved by the Coast Guard.

(c) The operation and maintenance instructions required by paragraph (a) of this section may be combined with similar material for survival craft and rescue boats, and their complete launching systems.

(a) Each change in design, material, or construction from the plans approved under 46 CFR 159.005-13 and § 160.132-13(h) of this subpart must be approved by the Commandant before being used in any production davit. The manufacturer must submit any such change following the procedures in § 160.132-9 of this subpart, but documentation on items that are unchanged from the plans approved under 46 CFR 159.005-13 and § 160.115-13(h) of this subpart need not be resubmitted.

(b) Unless determined by the Commandant to be unnecessary, a prototype davit with each change described in paragraph (a) of this section must be made and tested according to the procedures for new approvals in §§ 160.132-9 through 160.132-13 of this subpart.

(c) Determinations of equivalence of design, construction, and materials will be made by the Commandant only.