General Requirements for Lifeboats

★1.

 All lifeboats must be of a shape and proportions that provide ample stability in waves and sufficient freeboard when fully loaded with all persons and equipment. All lifeboats must have a rigid hull capable of maintaining positive stability.

★2. 

All lifeboats must be strong enough  to be safely launched into the water when fully loaded with all persons and equipment, and to be launched and towed when the vessel is moving forward at 5 knots in calm water.

★3. 

The number of persons in a lifeboat must not exceed 150.

★4. 

Lifeboats must be arranged so that all persons can board quickly.

★5. 

Lifeboats must be constructed of inherently buoyant material.

★6. 

When 50% of the crew are seated in a normal position on one side of the centre line of the boat, the freeboard of all lifeboats shall be at least 1.5% of the length of the lifeboat or 10 mm, whichever is the greater.

★7. 

• Each lifeboat shall be driven by a compression ignition engine. No lifeboat shall use an engine with a fuel flash point of 43°C or below (closed cup test). 

• The engine shall be equipped with a manual starting system or two independent rechargeable power starting systems. The engine starting system and auxiliary starting facilities shall start the engine within 2 minutes after the start operation procedure is started at an ambient temperature of -15°C. 

• When fully loaded with passengers and accessories and all engine-driven auxiliary devices are operating, the lifeboat shall have a speed of at least 6 kn in calm water. 

• When towing a 25-person liferaft with a full load of passengers and accessories or an equivalent load, its speed shall be at least 2 kn.

• Sufficient fuel suitable for the expected temperature range of the ship's operating area should be provided to operate a fully loaded lifeboat at a speed of 6 knots for at least 24 hours. 

• The engine should also be capable of operating the lifeboat without water cooling for at least 5 minutes.

★8. 

The lifeboat's dimensions and crew quota should be clearly marked in durable, visible writing. The name of the ship to which the lifeboat belongs and its port of registry should be marked in bold Roman letters on both sides of the bow. Markings identifying the ship to which the lifeboat belongs and the lifeboat number should be legible from above.