Each buoyant work vest carried aboard must be approved under subpart 160.053 of this chapter or, as a commercial hybrid personal flotation device, under subpart 160.077 of this chapter.
(a) An approved buoyant work vest is an item of safety apparel and may be carried aboard for wear by a crew member when working near or over the water.
(b) The vest may not count towards the vessel's complement of lifejackets.
(c) The vest may not be worn instead of a lifejacket during a drill.
The master shall ensure that no work vest is stowed where any lifejacket is stowed.
Each buoyant work vest must be subject to examination by a marine inspector, to determine its serviceability. If found serviceable, it may continue in service; but no buoyant work vest is stamped as inspected. If not found serviceable, and if determined irreparable by the inspector, a buoyant work vest must be destroyed in the presence of the inspector.
authority: 33 U.S.C. 1321(j);
46 U.S.C. 3306,
6101,
10104; E.O. 12234, 3 CFR, 1980 Comp., p. 277; E.O. 12777, 3 CFR, 1991 Comp., p. 351; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1. Section 131.990 also issued under sec. 617, Pub. L. 111-281, 124 Stat. 2905
source: CGD 82-004 and CGD 86-074, 62 FR 49340, Sept. 19, 1997, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 46 CFR 131.710