Us Coast Guard Life Ring Requirements

The best life jackets are ones the user will wear.

Us coast guard life ring requirements.

This article will briefly identify where exactly these requirements are found in title 46. Coast guard requirements specify the life ring should be a uniformly sized ring. A ring life buoys must be approved under approval series 160 050 or 160 150 for solas approved equipment. Required information and the test report from the accepted independent laboratory as per 46 cfr 160 049.

The body can be constructed in one or two pieces. Child life jacket requirements on a vessel that is underway children under 13 years of age must wear an appropriate u s. Evidence that an acceptable follow up factory inspection program with the accepted independent laboratory is in place. The coast guard commandant s approval and associated number the amount size length of attached line color markings availability and condition are all requirements for ring life buoys on board commercial fishing industry vessels.

Two piece rings are assembled with cold setting glues appropriate for outdoor conditions. 1915 158 b 2 on floating vessels under 200 feet 61 m in length at least one 30 inch 0 76 m u s. The coast guard has arrived at three difference classifications each designed to describe a life jacket suitable for various uses. B each ring life buoy must have a floating electric water light approved under approval series 161 010.

Inflatable life jackets are more comfortable encouraging regular use. The offshore life jacket type i. Provide approved life rings with an attached line on all docks walkways and fixed installations on or adjacent to water more than five feet deep. Coast guard approved ring life buoy with line attached shall be located at the gangway.

Ring life buoys shall be located one forward one aft and one at the access to the gangway. Have attached lines that are at least 90 feet in length. The operator must ensure that the light to the ring life buoy is attached by a lanyard of 12 thread manila or a synthetic rope of equivalent strength not less than 3 feet nor more. You must also have one type v personal flotation device like a ring or cushion that you can throw to someone in the water.

Life rings may be painted orange so long as the coast guard approval information is not covered or obscured. Unicellular plastic life ring buoy. Unless it is used in a quick release system. For serious sailors those who will be heading offshore or making long coastal runs the offshore life jacket must have at least 22 pounds of buoyancy.

Life rings should weigh no less than 5 1 2 lbs. Strips of type ii retroreflective material approximately 2 inches wide should be applied around the ring at four evenly spaced points. Have attached lines at least inch in diameter. Coast guard approved life jacket unless they are 1 below deck or 2 within an enclosed.