444 RINS.
Part III “Ship Arrangements and Outfit”
8 LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES
8.1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
8.1.1 The present Section of the Rules
comprises norms of equipment of inland navi-
gation ships with life-saving appliances as well
as requirements for its stowage on board a
ship.
8.1.2 Norms of supply of ships with life-
saving appliances are assigned on condition
that a ship is intended to operate in basins of
a category corresponding with her class.
When a ship is allowed to operate in basins
of a category higher than her class, she shall
be equipped by the norms for the relevant
higher basin category.
When a ship permanently operates in ba-
sins of a category lower than her class, then,
upon agreement with the Branch Office she
may be equipped with due regard of the cate-
gory of the basin.
8.1.3 In ships operating northwards 66°30'
N. L. and in the Baikal lake and being
equipped with free-fall liferafts not fitted with
devices of a type approved by the River Reg-
ister which provide boarding without getting
into the water, an immersion suit shall be
provided for each crew member engaged in
rescue operations on such liferafts.
8.1.4 On ships of class “P” of all types
other than passenger ships lifeboats may be
replaced by working boats of capacity equal to
lifeboats provided that their freeboard com-
plies with the requirements of 8.4.8 and outfit
— with the requirements of 8.4.13.
8.1.5 Prototypes of life-saving appliances
shall be tested according to the Test and
Maintenance Manual of Life-Saving Appli-
ances of the River Register.
N o t e . A prototype is an item of one dimen-
sion-type batch made according to the same
documentation and of the same materials.
8.1.6 Unless specified otherwise, all life-
saving appliances mentioned in the present
Section shall meet the following requirements:
.1 not be damaged in stowage throughout
the air temperature range –30 tî +50 °Ñ;
.2 operate throughout the water tempera-
ture range 0 °Ñ tî 30 °Ñ;
.3 be rot-proof, corrosion-resistant and
not be unduly affected by water, oil, oil prod-
ucts or fungal attack;
.4 be resistant to deterioration (maintain
its qualities) where exposed to sunlight;
.5 be of highly visible colour which assists
in detection;
.6 be fitted with retro-reflective material
where it will assist in detection, with due re-
gard of the requirements of the present Sec-
tion;
.7 if they shall be used at rolling or pitch-
ing, be capable of satisfactory operation in
that environment.
8.1.7 The period of acceptability of life-
saving appliances and outfit items, which are
subject to deterioration with age, shall be de-
termined. Such life-saving appliances and
outfit items shall be marked with a means
determining their age or the date by which
they shall be replaced.
8.1.8 Materials used for manufacturing the
life-saving appliances and arrangements as
well as welded structures shall comply with
the requirements of Part V RINS.
8.1.9 Requirements of the present Section
other than those stated in 8.1.6–8.1.8, 8.4.1,
 8 Life-Saving Appliances 445
8.4.15, 8.4.17, 8.4.21, 8.5.5 – 8.5.7, 8.8.3, 8.2.3 Equipment with collective life-saving
8.8.5, 8.8.6, 8.9.4, 8.9.6, 8.9.8 and 8.9.17 ap- appliances of hydrofoils, hovercrafts and
ply to ships in service. skimming ships shall be taken according to
8.1.10 When performing re-equipment, the norms specified in Table 8.2.3.
modernization or re-classification of ship life- T a b l e 8.2.3
saving appliances shall be brought in confor- Category of Number of people for which liferafts are
mity with requirements of the present Section navigation area provided, %
of the Rules. “Ì” 100
8.1.11 Hull of a landing-stage, fire-watch “Δ 20
craft or jetty pontoon throughout the periph- “Д* 10
ery in the waterline area shall be guarded by a “Ë” 
rescue handrail. * For ships entering lakes and reservoirs of cate-
gory “P”.
8.2 NORMS OF EQUIPMENT WITH 8.2.4 Equipment with collective life-saving
COLLECTIVE LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES appliances of self-propelled ships other than
8.2.1 Passenger ships, crew boats, special those mentioned in 8.2.1 and 8.2.3, and
purpose ships as well as self-propelled and crewed non-self-propelled oil tankers shall
non-self-propelled ferries shall be equipped comply with the norms specified in Ta-
with collective life-saving appliances accord- ble 8.2.4 with due regard of 8.2.5 and 8.2.6.
ing to the norms specified in Table 8.2.1 with
due regard of 8.2.13 and 8.3.5. On these ships T a b l e 8.2.4
Number of people for which collective
of naviga-

intended for operation in basins of categories

Length of
a ship, m
Category

tion area
life-saving appliances are provided, %
“P”, “O” southwards 66°30' S.L. lifeboats life-saving
may be replaced by liferafts. lifeboats liferafts
buoyancy aids
T a b l e 8.2.1 ≤ 30  100 
Number of people for which collective “Ì” > 30 100
of naviga-

Length of


a ship, m
Category

tion area

life-saving appliances are provided, %

life-saving ≤ 30  100 
lifeboats liferafts “Δ
buoyancy aids > 30 100  
≤ 30  100  ≤ 30   100
“Ì” “Д
> 30 20 80  > 30  100 
≤ 30  100  “Ë”   
“Δ
> 30 15 85 
≤ 30  50 50 In ships less than 30 m in length intended
“Д* for operation in basins of categories “M” and
> 30 7.5 10 20
≤ 30   20 “O” and ships over 30 m in length intended
“Д
> 30 7.5  20 for operation in basins of category “P”
≤ 30   20 equipped with lifeboats for 100 % of persons,
“Ë”
> 30   20 liferafts may be omitted.
* For ships entering lakes and reservoirs of cate-
gory “P”. 8.2.5 Non-passenger ships permitted for
carriage of organized groups of people shall be
8.2.2 Passenger ships intended for opera- equipped with life-saving equipment accord-
tion in areas of category “M” shall be ing to Table 8.2.4 with due regard of the total
equipped with engined lifeboat. number of persons onboard.
Passenger ships intended for operation in
areas of categories “M”, “O” and lakes or 8.2.6 In ships mentioned in 8.2.4 which are
reservoirs of category “P” shall be equipped intended for operation in basins of categories
with at least one engined lifeboat for towing “M” and “O” other than oil tankers intended
liferafts. The rest lifeboats may be replaced by for oil transportation with flash point below
liferafts. 60°C lifeboats may be replaced by liferafts.
446 RINS. Part III “Ship Arrangements and Outfit”
8.2.7 Equipment of non-self-propelled
ships other than oil tankers with collective
life-saving appliances shall be taken according
to the norms specified in Table 8.2.7 with due
regard of directions of 8.2.8 – 8.2.10.
T a b l e 8.2.7
Number of people for which collective
of naviga-
Where capacity of liferafts exceeds the es-
tablished norms, a number of life-saving de-
vices may be reduced to the number corre-
sponding to the total number of persons pro-
vided with collective life-saving appliances.
8.3 SUPPLY NORMS FOR INDIVIDUAL

Length of
a ship, m
Category

tion area

life-saving appliances are provided, % LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES

life-saving
liferafts
buoyancy aids
8.3.1 A ship shall be equipped with life-
“Ì” 100 jackets for 100 % of persons onboard.
 
“Δ ≤ 30 50 50 8.3.2 Additional lifejackets shall be pro-
> 30 100  vided on every ship for 2 per cent of persons
onboard.
8.2.8 In non-self-propelled ships intended On ships intended for operation in basins
for operation in areas of categories “P” and of categories “M” and “O” additional life-
“Ë” collective life-saving appliances may be jackets shall be provided in the wheelhouse
dispensed with. and the machinery space for the attending
8.2.9 Non-self-propelled ferries intended personnel in a number equal to a number of
for operation in areas of categories “M” and the persons on duty.
“O” and lakes or reservoirs of category “P” 8.3.3 Passenger ships shall be equipped
shall be equipped according to the norms with additional lifejackets suited for children
specified in Table 8.2.1. for at least 10 % of the number of passengers.
8.2.10 Non-crewed non-self-propelled 8.3.4 Equipment of ships with lifebuoys
ships may not be equipped with life-saving shall comply with the norms specified in Ta-
appliances. ble 8.3.4.
T a b l e 8.3.4
8.2.11 It is recommended to equip passen- Number of lifebuoys
ger ships of classes “M” and “O” over 30 m Types of ships
Length of a total including
in length in which free-fall liferafts are ap- ship L, m with self- with a
plied, with embarkation appliances preventing igniting buoy lifeline
people from getting into the water. Passenger on
ships, crew ≤ 15 2 1 each
8.2.12 Ships intended for operation in ba- boats, self- 15 < L ≤ 30 4 1 deck
propelled fer- 30 < L ≤ 60 8 1 one at
sins of categories “M” and “O” northwards ries, special > 60 12 1 each
66°30' N. L., passenger ships and crew boats purpose ships side
intended for operation in basins of category Hydrofoils, ≤ 15 1  1
“P” northwards 66°30' N. L., and ships in- hovercrafts, 15 < L ≤ 30 2  1
tended for operation on the Baikal lake or skimming 30 < L ≤ 60 4  1
permanent operation on the Onega and the ships > 60 6  1
Ladoga lakes shall be equipped with lifeboats Cargo ships,
and liferafts for 100 % of persons onboard. tugboats, fish- ≤ 30 2 1 1
ing vessels, > 30 4 1 1
8.2.13 Where capacity of lifeboats provided worksite craft
in a ship exceeds the established norms, a Non-self-
≤ 30 2 1 1
number of liferafts or life-saving buoyancy propelled
> 30 4 1 1
ships
aids may be reduced to the number corre-
sponding to the number of persons provided 8.3.5 Self-propelled and non-self-propelled
with collective life-saving appliances. ferries intended for operation on crossroads
 8 Life-Saving Appliances
on rivers and canals of categories “P” and
“Ë” are allowed to be equipped with one life-
buoy per each 5 m of the overall length of the
ferry; here, life-saving appliances required by
Table 8.2.1 need not be fitted.
8.3.6 Coast vessels of 30 m and less in
length shall be equipped with two lifebuoys on
each deck, and those over 30 m in length –
with four lifebuoys on each deck. One of the
lifebuoys located on the main deck shall be
equipped with a lifeline.
8.3.7 On ships of classes “O”, “P” and
“Ë” up to 30 m in length all life-saving buoy-
ancy aids may be replaced by lifebuoys as-
suming that one lifebuoy may hold two per-
sons; here, lifebuoys required by Ta-
ble 8.3.4 may be considered.
8.4 LIFEBOATS
8.4.1 Strength of a lifeboat and lifting
hooks lifeline be sufficient to enable it to be
safely lowered into the water when loaded
with its full permitted complement of persons
and equipment.
Points of lifeboat hanging shall be located
in such a way as to ensure lifeboat launching
in fully loaded condition without loss of sta-
bility.
8.4.2 The lifeboat filled with water up to
the top edge of a gunwale with a full com-
plement of persons and equipment shall keep
buoyancy and stability. Here, the lifeboat shall
not have a list and the freeboard shall be not
less than 20 mm.
8.4.3 Stability of the lifeboat is considered
sufficient when the residual freeboard is at
least 100 mm when the lifeboat is loaded with
50 % of the number of persons permitted to
accommodate seated to one side of the cen-
treline.
8.4.4 Buoyancy of the lifeboat filled with
water with a full complement of persons and
equipment shall be ensured by buoyancy of
the material of the lifeboat or by water-tight
air boxes or buoyant material.
Material of the lifeboat hull and elements
which ensure buoyancy (water-tight air boxes,
447
benches, buoyant material) shall comply with
8.1.6.
8.4.5 Length of the water-tight air boxes
shall not be more than 600 mm. Installation
of air boxes of up to 1200 mm in length is
allowed provided that transverse tight bulk-
heads and longitudinal stiffeners are arranged
inside.
8.4.6 In order to ensure lifeboat damage
stability (see 8.4.2) the air boxes or buoyant
material shall be arranged along the sides.
Where it is impracticable, they may be lo-
cated in the bow, the stern and the midship
under thwarts but not by the bottom.
8.4.7 Where detachable boxes are installed,
the easy replacement, protection against dam-
age shall be provided and their shifting shall
be avoided.
8.4.8 Freeboard of the lifeboat in fully
loaded condition shall be not less than 0.4 of
its side depth. Freeboard of a working boat
used as a lifeboat (see 8.1.4) in fully loaded
condition shall be not less than 0.3 of its side
depth.
8.4.9 The number of persons permitted to
accommodate in the lifeboat is preliminary
defined by gross capacity taking at least
0.226 m3 per one person. Finally, the number
of persons shall be established at testing to
determine the number of adults which may
accommodate in the lifeboat so as not to ob-
struct rowing and conning.
8.4.10 Surface of the gunwale and the
sheer strake at a width of 150 mm shall be
painted with orange colour.
8.4.11 On the sheer strake at either sides
and in the bow of the lifeboat a water-proof
marking shall be made indicating a ship’s
name, a shipowner, main dimensions of the
lifeboat, permissible number of people and
date of testing.
8.4.12 Lifeboats shall be so designed or be
fitted with special arrangements as to provide
a possibility of boarding of helpless people out
of water.
448 RINS. Part III “Ship Arrangements and Outfit”
8.4.13 Lifeboat equipment shall be taken the engine handle shall not exceed 160 N per
according to the norms specified in Table one person.
8.4.13. Additional devices and appliances are al-
T a b l e 8.4.13 lowed to facilitate the engine start.
Category of navi-
Item gation area 8.4.17 The engine output shall provide life-
“Ì” “Δ “Д boat ahead speed with full complement of
1. First-aid outfit in watertight 1 1 1 persons and equipment on calm water of at
box, pcs. least 11 km/h and not more than 15 km/h.
2. Oars, set 1 1 1 Fuel store shall be sufficient for the engine
3. Spare oars, pcs.* 2 2 2** operation for at least 2 hours at running
4. Boat compass, pcs. 1  
mode. Built-in or portable capacities depend-
5. Throwing line at least 15 m in 1 1 
length, pcs. ing on the engine type (built-in or hinged)
6. Buoyant grabline or that 1 1 1 shall be provided for the fuel storage.
equipped with floats attached to
outer surface with loop slacks, pcs. 8.4.18 The engine and relevant appliances
7. Boat-hook of a length equal 1 1 1 shall be protected in such a way that faultless
to oar length, pcs. operation is provided at flooding of the life-
8. Draining hole plugs with lan- 2 2 2 boat up to the crankshaft axis line.
yards, pcs.
9. A rudder with accessories and 1 1 1 8.4.19 The engine start manual shall be
a boggin line, pcs. provided in the engined lifeboat.
10. Hatchet with lanyard, pcs. 1 1 
11. Rowlocks with lanyard, set 1 1 1 8.4.20 Cleats shall be installed at sides of
12. Spare rowlocks, pcs.* 2 2 2** the engined lifeboat near the stern to ensure
13. Painter 15 m in length, pcs. 1 1 1 the towing of liferafts.
14. Red hand flares, pcs. 6 3 
15. Bailer, pcs 1 1 1 8.4.21 Additional requirements for lifeboats
16. Electric lantern 1 1 1 of oil tankers:
17. Searchlight, pcs.*** 1 1  .1 the lifeboat shall be equipped with a
18. Fire extinguisher, pcs.*** 1 1 1 rigid watertight enclosure protecting people
19. White circular lantern 1 1 1 from fire, smoke and high temperature both
20. Clasp-knife attached to the 1 1 1 during lifeboat launching within a fire zone
boat and when passing that zone;
21.Whistles or equivalent sound 1 1 1 .2 the lifeboat hull shall be made of fire
signal means
resistant materials;
* Only for rowboats.
.3 design of the lifeboat shall be such that
** For lifeboats of ships entering reservoirs of
category “P”. boarding is ensured for not more than
*** Only for lifeboats with engine. 1.5 min;
.4 the lifeboat shall be equipped with de-
8.4.14 All items of the equipment excepting tailed performance manual during fire, as well
a boat-hook shall be secured at their stowage as set of medicines against burns and carbon
places. dioxide intoxication;
8.4.15 The engine of the lifeboat shall be .5 thermal insulation of the lifeboat hull
fitted with a reverse reduction gear or another shall provide air temperature inside the life-
device enabling to move astern. boat of not higher than 60 °C with due regard
of 8.4.21.2.
8.4.16 The engine of the lifeboat shall start N o t e . Requirements of 8.4.21 may not be ap-
manually within 2 min in any conditions pos- plied to lifeboats of oil tankers intended to carry oil
sible during the boat operation. A force on products with a flash point above 60 °Ñ.
 8 Life-Saving Appliances
8.5 LIFERAFTS
8.5.1 A liferaft shall be so designed that
neither the liferaft nor its equipment are dam-
aged after dropping into the water from a
height of at least 10 m.
8.5.2 The liferaft shall be capable of with-
standing a jump of a person having a mass of
75 kg on it from a height of 4.5 m above the
bottom both with and without the canopy
erected.
8.5.3 Design of the liferaft and its equip-
ment shall enable it of being towed at a speed
of 5.5 km/h on calm water with the design
number of persons and equipment. Herewith,
the liferaft shall keep stability.
8.5.4 Buoyancy chambers of inflatable lif-
eraft shall be divided into not less than two
separate compartments, each inflated through
a non-return inflation valve on each com-
partment. The buoyancy chambers shall be so
arranged that, in the event of any one of the
compartments being damaged or failing to
inflate, the intact compartments shall be able
to support, with positive freeboard, over the
liferaft’s entire periphery, the design number
of persons, each having a mass of 75 kg and
seated in their normal position.
Buoyancy of a rigid liferaft shall be ensured
by means of buoyant material located as close
as possible to the liferaft edges. The buoyant
material shall be low spreading flame or have
a relevant coating.
8.5.5 The liferaft of free-fall type shall be
so designed that it shall be capable of being
used when floating by either side.
8.5.6 Liferafts for ships of class “M” shall
be equipped with a canopy complying with
the following:
.1 protect occupants from drops, cold and
wind:
.2 provide adequate ventilation:
.3 have at least one viewing port;
.4 have entrances fitted with simple and
efficient closing arrangements;
.5 have sufficient headroom for sitting oc-
cupants.
449
8.5.7 The liferaft shall be fitted with life-
lines securely becketed around the inside and
outside periphery of the liferaft as well as with
means of drawing it up to a ship side and
holding during the boarding procedure.
8.5.8 If the float-free arrangements use a
weak link, it shall:
.1 not be broken by the force required to
pull the painter from the liferaft container;
.2 be of sufficient strength to permit the
inflation of the liferaft;
.3 break under a strain equal to 0.105n,
but of not more than 2.2±0.4 kN, where n is
liferaft capacity, persons.
8.5.9 If the float-free arrangements use a
hydrostatic release unit, it shall:
.1 be constructed of compatible materials
so as to prevent malfunction of the unit. Gal-
vanizing or other forms of metallic coating on
parts of the hydrostatic release unit not per-
mitted;
.2 automatically release the liferaft from a
ship at a depth of not more than 4 m;
.3 have drains to prevent the accumula-
tion of water in the hydrostatic chamber when
the unit is in its normal position;
.4 as to prevent release the liferaft from a
ship when seas wash over the unit;
.5 be permanently marked on the unit or
identification plate attached to the unit with
the date of manufacture, type and serial num-
ber and whether the unit is suitable for use
with liferafts designed for not less than 25
persons;
.6 be such that each part connected to
the painter system has a strength of not less
than that required for the painter.
8.5.10 Liferaft equipment shall comprise
the following:
.1 first-aid outfit in a waterproof case;
.2 two buoyant oars (paddles);
.3 a bailer;
.4 one rescue buoyancy aid attached to
buoyant line 15 m long;
.5 repair tool set for patching up of punc-
tures in the buoyant chamber (for inflatable
liferafts);
450 RINS. Part III “Ship Arrangements and Outfit”
.6 manual bellows for topping up (for in-
flatable liferafts);
.7 six hand flares for ships operating in
basins of category “M” and three hand flares
operating in basins of category “O”;
.8 one whistle or equivalent sound signal
means;
.9 two sponges;
.10 one knife with a handle made of
buoyant material, attached and stored on the
face side of the canopy close to the attaching
point of the painter to the liferaft;
.11 heat-reflecting means.
Note: heat-reflecting means shall be included
in the supply of liferafts for ships operating north-
wards 66°30' N. L. and in the Baikal lake.
8.5.11 A number of persons admitted for
accommodation in a liferaft shall be equal to
the least of the following values:
.1 the greatest number obtained from di-
vision of volume of main buoyant elements in
inflated condition, m3, on inflatable liferafts
or a volume of buoyant material, m3, on rigid
liferafts, by 0.096;
.2 the greatest integer obtained from divi-
sion of internal horizontal area of the bottom
section, m2, (including transverse thwarts) by
0.315;
.3 a number of persons each having a
mass of 75 kg and wearing a lifejacket and
seated in their normal position not obstructing
the use of liferaft equipment.
8.5.12 The liferaft shall be equipped with a
device to facilitate boarding from the water.
8.5.13 The floor of the liferaft shall be wa-
terproof and shall be capable to provide suffi-
cient insulation against cold.
8.5.14 Non-toxic gas shall be used for in-
flating a liferaft. Inflation shall be completed
within a period of 1 min at an ambient tem-
perature of +20°C and within a period of
3 min at an ambient temperature of –30°C.
8.5.15 Design of any liferaft shall provide
its using for not less than 3 days afloat.
8.5.16 Inflatable liferafts shall be capable of
topping up inflatable elements by manual bel-
lows.
8.5.17 Each inflatable liferaft shall be sur-
veyed and restowed at least every twelve
months.
8.5.18 Inflatable liferaft shall be packed in
a container or a durable case of a watertight
material of splash-proof construction. The
container or case together with stowed liferaft
shall keep positive buoyancy for at least
20 min.
The mass of stowed liferaft on ships not
equipped with liferaft launching arrangements
shall not exceed 80 kg.
8.5.19 Liferaft, case or container marking
shall be indelible and comprise the data on a
number of persons admitted for accommoda-
tion, serial number, date of manufacture,
manufacturer’s name or trademark.
Marking of the case or container shall in-
clude brief manual for bringing the liferaft in
service condition.
8.6 LIFE-SAVING BUOYANCY AIDS
8.6.1 Carrying capacity of a life-saving
buoyancy aid shall be sufficient for supporting
of the design number of persons being in the
water and grabbing it.
8.6.2 The number of persons n, supported
by the buoyancy aid shall be taken as the least
of the values calculated by the formulae:
n = Pp/Ð1; (8.6.2-1)
n = Q/q1, (8.6.2-2)
where Pp — aid periphery, m;
Ð1 — permissible periphery length per one
person, Ð1 = 0.3 m;
Q — carrying capacity, N;
q1 — carrying capacity per one person‚
q1 = 142 N.
8.6.3 Strength of the buoyancy aid shall be
such as no damages may occur after dropping
it into the water from a height of at least 10 m
which may impose its performance character-
istics.
8.6.4 The life-saving buoyancy aid shall
maintain stability regardless of the side being
above when afloat.
 8 Life-Saving Appliances
8.6.5 Floodability of the aid shall be pro-
vided by air boxes or equivalent floating means.
8.6.6 The life-saving buoyancy aid shall be
fitted with a lifeline, buoyant or fitted with
floats becketed around the periphery of the
aid with sags, the number of which shall cor-
respond to the number of supported persons.
8.6.7 The life-saving buoyancy aid shall be
coloured orange. An inscription “Life-saving
buoyancy aid” shall be made on a visible place
of the aid and the design number of persons
and the name of a ship shall be indicated.
8.6.8 Each life-saving buoyancy aid shall
be fitted with a towing line at least 18 m in
length and diameter of at least 8 mm. The
towing line shall be becketed to the aids in
such a way that it may be towed. The life-
saving buoyancy aid shall be fitted with a de-
vice to secure towing line of another life-
saving buoyancy aid.
8.7 LIFEBUOYS, LIFEJACKETS
AND IMMERSION SUITS
8.7.1 Construction of lifebuoys, lifejackets,
immersion suits and heat-reflecting means shall
meet standards and requirements stated below.
8.7.2 The materials for lifejackets, lifebuoys
immersion suits and heat-reflecting means
shall comply with 8.1.6.
Lifejackets, lifebuoys, immersion suits and
heat-reflecting means shall not sustain burn-
ing or continue melting after being totally
enveloped in a fire for a period of 2 s.
8.7.3 Lifebuoys shall:
.1 have an inner diameter of not less than
400 mm;
.2 be made of buoyant material; the life-
buoy buoyancy shall not depend upon any
loose materials or inflatable air chambers;
.3 be capable of supporting not less than
14.5 kg of steel or cast iron in fresh water for
a period of 24 h;
.4 have a mass of not less than 2.5 kg;
.5 be designed so as to withstand a drop
into the water from the height of 10 m with-
out impairing its performance characteristics
and damaging of the outfit attached;
451
.6 be fitted with a grabline not less than
9.5 mm in diameter and not less than 4 times
the outside diameter of the body of the buoy
in length secured at four equidistant points.
8.7.4 Lifebuoy shall bear an inscription
with the indication of the ship, port of registry
and testing stamp.
8.7.5 Grabline becketed to the lifebuoy
shall be of diameter at least 8 mm and not
less than 27.5 m in length.
8.7.6 Self-igniting buoys shall be becketed
to the lifebuoy with a line of 1.5 m in length.
The burning period of automatically igniting
light shall be not less than 45 min with lumi-
nous intensity of 2 cd.
8.7.7 Construction of a lifejacket for adult
shall be such as:
.1 persons, completely unfamiliar with the
lifejacket, can correctly use it without any
assistance, guidance or prior demonstration;
.2 it is comfortable to wear;
.3 it allows the wearer to jump from the
height of at least 4.5 m without injury and
without dislodging or damaging the lifejacket;
.4 it allows the wearer to swim for a short
distance and board a lifeboat or a liferaft.
8.7.8 The lifejacket shall have sufficient
buoyancy and stability in calm fresh water to:
.1 support above the water surface the
head of an exhausted or unconscious person
in order to lift the mouth not less than
120 mm clear of the water with the body in-
clined backwards at an angle of not less than
20° from the vertical position;
.2 turn the body of an unconscious person
in the water from any position to one where
the mouth is clear of the water in not more
than 5 s.
8.7.9 The lifejacket shall have buoyancy
which is not reduced by more than 5 % after
24 h submersion.
8.7.10 Lifejackets and lifebuoys shall be or-
ange in colour and be fitted with retro-
reflecting material in those places where it
assists in detection.
Each side of the lifejacket that may be the
outer one shall be provided with at least three
452 RINS. Part III “Ship Arrangements and Outfit”
strips of retro-reflecting material of
50 × 100 mm in dimension; two of those strips
shall be located on outer part and one of
them on a collar.
8.7.11 Each lifejacket shall be fitted with a
whistle securely fastened to it with a lace.
Each side of the lifejacket that may be the
outer one shall be provided with at least three
strips of retro-reflecting material of
50 × 100 mm in dimension; two of those strips
shall be located on outer part and one of
them on a collar.
Each lifejacket shall be fitted with an elec-
tric light.
8.7.12 The lifejacket shall bear a testing
stamp.
8.7.13 A child lifejacket shall be con-
structed and perform the same characteristics
as an adult lifejacket. In addition to afore-
mentioned requirements it shall:
.1 have such construction as it can be ad-
justed for the child body;
.2 lift the mouth of an exhausted or un-
conscious child clear of the water
.3 assist a child to board a survival craft
8.7.14 A child lifejacket shall bear an in-
delible inscription “Child” and marking indi-
cating the limits of child’s height or mass.
8.7.15 The immersion suit shall be con-
structed with waterproof materials such that:
.1 it can be unpacked and donned with-
out assistance within 2 min taking into ac-
count donning of any associated clothing,
donning of a lifejacket if the immersion suit
shall be worn in conjunction with a lifejacket;
.2 it shall cover the whole body with the
exception of the face. Hands shall also be
covered unless permanently attached gloves
are provided;
.3 it shall be provided with arrangements
to minimize or reduce free air in the legs of
the suit;
.4 following the jump from a height of
not less than 4,5 m, the ingress of water into
the suit shall not exceed 500 g.
8.7.16 An immersion suit which also com-
plies with the requirements of 8.7.7 – 8.7.9
may be classified as a lifejacket.
8.7.17 An immersion suit which shall per-
mit the person wearing it or a lifejacket, if the
immersion suit shall be worn in conjunction
with a lifejacket, to:
.1 climb up and down a vertical ladder of
at least 5 m in length;
.2 perform normal duties during aban-
donment;
.3 jump from a height of not less than 4,5
m into water without damaging or dislodging
the immersion suit or being injured;
.4 swim a short distance through the wa-
ter and board a survival craft.
8.7.18 An immersion suit which has buoy-
ancy and is designed to be worn without a
lifejacket shall be fitted with a light and a
whistle.
8.7.19 If the immersion suit shall be worn
in conjunction with a lifejacket, the lifejacket
shall be worn over the immersion suit. A per-
son wearing such an immersion suit shall be
able to don a lifejacket without assistance.
8.7.20 An immersion suit made of material
which has no inherent insulation shall be:
.1 marked with instructions that it shall
be worn in conjunction with warm clothing;
.2 so constructed that when worn in con-
junction with warm clothing and with a life-
jacket if the immersion suit continues to pro-
vide sufficient thermal protection, following
one jump by the wearer into the water from a
height of 4,5 m, to ensure that when it is
worn for a period of 1h in calm circulating
water at a temperature of 5°C the wearer’s
body core temperature does not fall more
than 2°C.
8.7.21 An immersion suit made of material
which has inherent insulation, with or without
a lifejacket if the immersion suit shall be worn
in conjunction with a lifejacket, shall provide
sufficient thermal protection, following one
jump by the wearer into the water from a
height of 4,5 m to ensure that when it is worn
for a period of 6 h in calm circulating water
 8 Life-Saving Appliances
at a temperature of 0 – 2 °C the wearer’s body
core temperature does not fall more than
2 °C.
8.7.22 The design of immersion suit or
immersion suit with a lifejacket shall allow a
person to turn in fresh water from a face-
down to a face-up position in not more than
5 s.
8.7.23 A thermal protective aid shall be
made of waterproof material and be so con-
structed that when used to enclose a person it
reduces heat loss from the wearer’s body.
8.7.24 The thermal protective aid shall:
.1 cover the whole body with the excep-
tion of the face. Hands shall also be covered
unless permanently attached gloves are pro-
vided;
.2 be capable of being unpacked and eas-
ily donned without assistance in the lifeboat
or liferaft;
.3 permit the wearer to remove it in the
water in not more than 2 min if it impairs
ability to swim.
8.7.25 The thermal protective aid shall
function properly throughout an air tempera-
ture range –30 °C to +20 °C.
8.8 LAUNCHING APPLIANCES
8.8.1 Each launching appliance shall be so
arranged that the life-saving appliance with
the design number of persons and equipment
can be safely launched against unfavourable
conditions of trim of up 5° and heel of up 15°
either way.
8.8.2 Each launching appliance shall be fit-
ted with brakes being capable to stop launch-
ing of the life-saving appliance and to hold it
securely with the design number of persons
and equipment.
8.8.3 The launching appliance and its at-
tachments shall be of sufficient strength to
withstand a static test with a proof load not
less than 1.5 times the maximum working
load.
8.8.4 On ships of all classes lifeboats shall
be installed below the boat davits. Where it is
453
impossible, upon agreement with the River
Register other equipment may be installed
instead of davits.
8.8.5 An arm of boat davits shall be so that
at lifeboat launching ships of classes “M” and
“O” without a list a clearance of 0.3 ± 0.05 m
is provided between a ship side or bossing
(rubbing strip, extended deck etc.) and the
lifeboat and at least 0.15 m when launching
lifeboats from ships of class “P”.
8.8.6 Strength of boat davits, falls, sheaves
and other elements of the launching equip-
ment shall be sufficient for safe boat launch-
ing to the water surface and hoisting a load of
the mass, kg,
G = 1.25(Q + qn), (8.8.3)
where Q — mass of the lifeboat with equip-
ment, kg;
q — mass of one person (75 kg);
n — number of persons in the lifeboat for
which the boat equal to: at dumping, launch-
ing and recovery — a design number of per-
sons onboard; at recovery of the davit arms
— a number of the crew members.
At strength calculations of elements of the
boat appliances on ships of classes “M” and
“O” a list of ship on either side of at least 15°
and trim of at least 5° shall be considered.
Length of falls of tackles shall be sufficient
for boat launching to the water at a list of a
light ship on either side of 15° and trim of 5°.
Herewith, at least three wraps of a rope shall
remain on the boat winch drum.
8.8.7 Boat launching period to the water
shall not exceed 5 min including preparation
for the launching and dumping over board.
The norm of time does not consider the
time for boarding the boat.
8.8.8 Launching appliance with electrical
drive shall be capable of recovering the life-
boat with equipment and the crew also by
means of a manual drive.
8.8.9 Ships shall be equipped with appli-
ances for dropping inflatable liferafts. Those
appliances may be omitted when a mass of
each liferaft does not exceed 80 kg.
454 RINS. Part III “Ship Arrangements and Outfit”
8.8.10 Where the liferafts are stowed in
hardly accessible places and no passages are
provided to them in ships less than 30 m in
length, special effective remote-controlled
dropping appliances shall be provided.
8.8.11 Steel wire ropes, natural and syn-
thetic fibre ropes shall meet the requirements
of Part V RINS and buckles, swivels, screw
turnbuckles and other loose components – the
requirements of Section 6 of the present Part
of the Rules.
8.8.12 Embarkation ladders shall have free
from sharp edges hard treads with a non-slip
surface of a length not less than 450 mm and
equally spaced in the horizontal position not
less than 380 mm apart.
8.9 STOWAGE OF LIFE-SAVING
APPLIANCES ONBOARD
8.9.1 Collective life-saving appliances shall
be stowed as close as practicable to the water
surface so as not to be damaged by wave
hammering.
8.9.2 Collective life-saving appliances shall
be stowed as close as practicable to the ac-
commodation and service spaces in the most
safe places with regard to explosions, fires,
touch by other ships, etc.
8.9.3 Collective life-saving appliances shall
be so stowed that to avoid obstacles for col-
lecting people at muster stations, simultane-
ous boarding on launched life-saving appli-
ances, dumping and launch of the life-saving
appliances.
8.9.4 In general, collective life-saving ap-
pliances shall be stowed in way of wall-sided
section of a ship’s side. They may be stowed
also in the area where an angle between the
vertical and tangent to outer shell plating laid
in a framing plane at a level of waterline of
light or ballasted ship does not exceed 45°.
When stowing side-launched lifeboats the
following requirements are to be met:
.1 bow extremity of the lifeboat shall not
extend over the plane of the fore peak bulk-
head;
.2 after extremity of the lifeboat shall be
located at a distance equal to at least its
length forward of the propeller plane on ships
with open propellers, and at least a half of its
length on ships with propellers in nozzles.
8.9.5 The lifeboat may be installed on the
stern of a ship in the centre line plane, if provi-
sion is made to prevent the lifeboat against
damage by protruding parts of the propeller and
the rudder or after structures during launching.
8.9.6 The lifeboat shall be installed on the
keel-blocks, the shape of which shall corre-
spond to its hull lines.
Keel-blocks shall be so designed as to pro-
vide quick launching without preliminary
hoisting.
8.9.7 For securing boats for navigation
which are installed on the keel-blocks, light
and easy releasing lashes shall be provided.
8.9.8 Boarding of people to the lifeboats
shall be provided directly from its stowage
place; no dumping or launching of the life-
boat shall be required before launching.
8.9.9 Passenger ships shall have embarka-
tion stations for boarding launched lifeboats
and liferafts from the main deck, fitted with
embarkation ladders.
Inflatable stairways may be used.
8.9.10 Liferafts and life-saving buoyancy
aids shall be reliably and easily secured; live-
saving appliances shall be so stowed as to be
easily released and float free when a ship is
immersed into the water.
8.9.11 Life-saving buoyancy aids and lif-
erafts are recommended to be stowed so as
they may be carried from one side to the
other.
8.9.12 Life-saving buoyancy aids may be
stored with one put over the other, with lin-
ings provided between the aids and measures
are taken to prevent the aids from shifting at
rolling or pitching.
8.9.13 Places of stowage of collective life-
saving appliances, approaches to them and the
 8 Life-Saving Appliances
water surface in the launching area shall be
illuminated.
8.9.14 Lifebuoys shall be uniformly distrib-
uted along the port and starboard at visible
and easily accessible places. Dead securing of
lifebuoys which does not enable its free-
floating when the ship is being flooded, is not
permitted.
8.9.15 Where ship’s outfit comprises two
lifebuoys with lifelines or self-igniting buoys,
such lifebuoys shall be stowed at the opposite
sides.
455
8.9.16 Lifejackets for cabin passengers shall
be stowed in cabins in easily accessible places.
8.9.17 Lifejackets for non-cabin passengers
shall be distributed in easily accessible places.
Not more than 20 lifejackets shall be stowed
at the same place. An inscription “Lifejack-
ets” shall be provided near lifejacket stowage
places.
Child lifejackets shall be stowed separately,
an inscription “Child lifejackets” shall be pro-
vided near lifejacket stowage places.
Stowage places of lifejackets shall be illu-
minated.