Merchant Shipping Act, 1951 (Act No. 57 of 1951)SchedulesSecond ScheduleProtocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974AnnexChapter III : Live-Saving Appliances, etc.Part A — GeneralRegulation 21 : Specification of a lifebuoy |
| (a) | A lifebuoy shall satisfy the following requirements: |
| (i) | It shall be of solid cork or any other equivalent material; |
| (ii) | it shall be capable of supporting in fresh water for 24 hours at least 14,5 kilogrammes (32 lbs.) of iron; |
| (iii) | it shall not be adversely affected by oil or oil products; |
| (iv) | it shall be of a highly visible colour; |
| (v) | it shall be marked in block letters with the name and port of registry of the ship in which it is carried. |
| (b) | Lifebuoys filled with rushes, cork shavings or granulated cork, or any other loose granulated material, or whose buoyancy depends upon air compartments which require to be inflated, are prohibited. |
| (c) | Lifebuoys made of plastic or other synthetic compounds shall be capable of retaining their buoyant properties and durability in contact with sea water or oil products, or under variations of temperature or climatic changes prevailing in open sea voyages. |
| (d) | Lifebuoys shall be fitted with beckets securely seized. At least one lifebuoy on each side of the ship shall be fitted with a buoyant lifeline of at least 27,5 metres (15 fathoms) in length. |
| (e) | In passenger ships not less than one-half of the total number of lifebuoys, and in no case less than six, and in cargo ships at least one-half of the total number of lifebuoys, shall be provided with efficient self-igniting lights. |
| (f) | The self-igniting lights required by paragraph (e) of this Regulation shall be such that they cannot be extinguished by water. They shall be capable of burning for not less than 45 minutes and shall have a luminous intensity of not less than 2 candelas in all directions of the upper hemisphere. The lights shall be kept near the lifebuoys to which they belong, with the necessary means of attachment. Self-igniting lights used in tankers shall be of an approved electric battery type. |
| (g) | All lifebuoys shall be so placed as to be readily accessible to the persons on board, and at least two of the lifebuoys provided with self-igniting lights in accordance with paragraph (e) of this Regulation shall also be provided with an efficient self-activating smoke signal capable of producing smoke of a highly visible colour for at least 15 minutes, and shall be capable of quick release from the navigating bridge. |
| (h) | Lifebuoys shall always be capable of being rapidly cast loose and shall not be permanently secured in any way. |