(a) Except as provided by § 131.545(e) of this subpart, ach lifesaving appliance and each item of equipment for a lifeboat, liferaft, survival craft, rescue boat, life float, or buoyant apparatus must be in good working order and ready for immediate use before the vessel leaves port and at any time when the vessel is away from port.
(b) Each deck where a lifeboat, liferaft, survival craft, rescue boat, life float, or buoyant apparatus is stowed, launched, or boarded must be kept clear of obstructions that would interfere with the breaking out, launching, or boarding of the lifesaving appliance.
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 131.540