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 22 : Life-jackets |
| (a) | Ships shall carry for every person on board a life-jacket of an approved type and, in addition, unless these life-jackets can be adapted for use by children, a sufficient number of life-jackets suitable for children. Each life-jacket shall be suitably marked showing that it has been approved by the Administration. |
| (b) | In addition to the life-jackets required by paragraph (a) of this Regulation there shall be carried on passenger ships life-jackets for 5 per cent of the total number of persons on board. These life-jackets shall be stowed in a conspicuous place on deck. |
| (c) | An approved life-jacket shall comply with the following requirements:, |
| (i) | It shall be constructed with proper workmanship and materials; |
| (ii) | it shall be so constructed as to eliminate so far as possible all risk of its being put on incorrectly, except that it shall be capable of being worn inside out; |
| (iii) | it shall be capable of lifting the face of an exhausted or unconscious person out of the water and holding it above the water with the body inclined backwards from its vertical position; |
Atmospheric transmissivity factor |
Meteorological range of visibility (miles) |
Range of visibility of the light (miles) |
0,3 |
2,4 |
0,96 |
0,4 |
3,3 |
1,05 |
0,5 |
4,3 |
1,15 |
0,6 |
5,8 |
1,24 |
0,7 |
8,4 |
1,34 |
0,8 |
13,4 |
1,45 |
0,9 |
28,9 |
1,57 |
| (iv) | it shall be capable of turning the body in the water from any position to a safe floating position with the body inclined backwards from its vertical position; |
| (v) | it shall not be adversely affected by oil or oil products; |
| (vi) | it shall be a highly visible colour; |
| (vii) | it shall be fitted with an approved whistle, firmly secured by a cord; |
| (viii) | the buoyancy of the life-jacket required to provide the foregoing performance shall not be reduced by more than 5 per cent after 24 hours’ submergence in fresh water. |
| (d) | A life-jacket, the buoyancy of which depends on inflation, may be permitted for use by the crews of all ships except passenger ships and tankers provided that— |
| (i) | it has two separate inflatable compartments; |
| (ii) | it is capable of being inflated both mechanically and by mouth; and |
| (iii) | it complies with the requirements of paragraph (c) of this Regulation with either compartment inflated separately. |
| (e) | Life-jackets shall be so placed as to be readily accessible and their position shall be plainly indicated. |