Code of Federal Regulations

I inspected to ensure that it is ready for

use.

(b) Each engine of a lifeboat or a rescue boat must be run ahead and astern for not less than 3 minutes, unless the ambient temperature is below the required for

: minimal temperature

I starting the engine.

(d) Each battery for starting the engine of a lifeboat or a rescue boat, or for energizing a searchlight, a fixed inEstallation of a radio in a lifeboat, or a portable radio, must be brought up to full charge at least once a week if the battery is

(1) of a type that charging; and

requires re

(2) Not connected to a device that keeps it continuously charged. *(e) The transmitter of each fixed installation of a radio in a lifeboat and that of each portable radio must be tried out at least once a week with a dummy antenna load.

$131.565 Monthly tests and inspections.

(a) Each lifesaving appliance, including lifeboat equipment, must be inspected monthly against the checklist required by §131.545(a)(1) of this subpart to ensure that it is aboard and in good order. A report of the inspection, including a statement on the condition of the appliance, must be entered in che vessel's logbook.

(b) Each Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) and each Search and Rescue Transponder SART), other than an EPIRB or SART n an inflatable liferaft, must be tested monthly. The EPIRB must be tested using the integrated test circuit and the output indicator (test button) to letermine that it works.

$131.570 Quarterly inspections.

(a) Each apparatus that controls a ifeboat winch, including motor conrollers, emergency switches, master switches, and limit switches, must be _nspected once each 3 months.

(b) The inspection must involve the removal of drain plugs and the opening of drain valves to ensure that enclosures are free of water.

(c) The date of the inspection required by this section and the condition of the equipment must be entered in the vessel's logbook.

§ 131.575 Yearly inspections and repair.

(a) Each lifeboat, rescue boat, rigid liferaft, buoyant apparatus, and life float must be stripped, cleaned, and thoroughly inspected and repaired as needed at least once a year. This procedure includes emptying and cleaning each fuel tank and refilling it with fresh fuel.

(b) Each davit, winch, fall, and other launching-appliance must be thoroughly inspected at least once a year, and repaired as needed.

(c) Each item of survival equipment with an expiration date must be replaced during the annual inspection and repair if this date has passed.

(d) Each battery used in an item of survival equipment and clearly marked with an expiration date must be replaced during the annual inspection and repair if this date has passed.

(e) Except a storage battery used in a lifeboat or in a rescue boat, each battery used in an item of survival equipment and not clearly marked with an expiration date must be replaced during the annual inspection and repair.

(f) Compliance with the requirements of this section does not relieve the master or person in charge of the duty of compliance with requirements in § 131.540(a) of this subpart to keep the equipment ready for immediate use when the vessel is under way.

§ 131.580 Servicing of inflatable liferafts, inflatable lifejackets, inflatable buoyant apparatus, and inflated rescue boats.

(a) An inflatable liferaft or inflatable buoyant apparatus must be serviced at a facility specifically approved by the Commandant for the particular brand, and in accordance with servicing procedures meeting the requirements of part 160, subpart 160.151, of this chapter

(1) No later than the month and year on its servicing sticker affixed under 46 CFR 160.151–57(n), except that servicing may be delayed until the next scheduled inspection of the vessel, provided

that the delay does not exceed 5 months; and

(2) Whenever the container is damaged or the container straps or seals are broken.

(b) Each inflatable lifejacket and hybrid inflatable lifejacket or work vest must be serviced:

(1) Within 12 months of its initial packing; and

(2) Within 12 months of each subsequent servicing, except that servicing may be delayed until the next scheduled inspection of the OSV, provided that the delay does not exceed 5 months.

(d) Each hybrid inflatable lifejacket or work vest must be serviced in accordance with the manual provided under § 160.077-29 of this chapter.

(e) Repair and maintenance of inflatable rescue boats must follow the manufacturers' instructions. Each repair, except an emergency repair made aboard the vessel, must be made at a servicing facility approved by the Commandant (G-MSE).

[CGD 82-004 and CGD 86-074, 62 FR 49340, Sept. 19, 1997, as amended by USCG-200211118, 67 FR 58541, Sept. 17, 2002]

§ 131.585 Periodic servicing of hydrostatic-release units.

(a) Except a disposable hydrostaticrelease unit with an expiration date, each hydrostatic-release unit must be serviced

(1) Within 12 months of its manufacture and within 12 months of each subsequent servicing, except when a servicing due after 12 months is delayed not more than 5 months until the next scheduled inspection of the vessel; and (2) In compliance with subpart 160.062 of this chapter.

(b) The springs of each spring-tensioned gripe used with a hydrostaticrelease unit must be renewed when the unit is serviced and tested.

§ 131.590 Firefighting equipment.

(a) The master shall ensure that the vessel's required firefighting equipment is on board in the prescribed location and always ready for use, other

than when the equipment is being serviced.

(b) The master shall, at least once each 12 months, nsure the performance of the tests and inspections of each portable fire extinguisher, semiportable fire extinguisher, and fixed fire-extinguishing system aboard described by Table 132.350 of this subchapter.

(c) The master shall keep records of these tests and inspections, showing the dates of their performance, the number or other identification of each unit undergoing them, and the name of the person or company conducting

them. The records must be made available to the marine inspector upon request and must be kept for the period of validity of the vessel's current Certificate of Inspection.

(d) The conducting of tests and inspections required by this section does not relieve the master of his or her responsibility to maintain the prescribed firefighting equipment in working order for use at any time when the vessel is under way.

Subpart F-Logs

§ 131.610 Logbooks and records.

(a) Each OSV must by statute, or by regulations in this subchapter, have certain logbooks or records. The master shall make all entries required by statute, or by regulations in this subchapter.

(b) 46 U.S.C. 11301 states that a vessel of the United States, except one on a voyage from a port in the United States to a port in Canada, shall have an official logbook if the vessel is

(1) On a voyage from a port in the United States to a foreign port; or

(2) Of at least 100 gross tons and on a voyage between a port in the United States on the Atlantic Ocean and one on the Pacific Ocean.

(c) The Coast Guard gratuitously furnishes to masters of vessels of the United States the official logbook as Form CG-706B or CG-706C, depending upon the number of persons employed as crew. The first several pages of this logbook list various acts of Congress governing logbooks and the entries required in them.

(d) When a voyage is completed, or after a specified time has elapsed, the master shall file the official logbook containing required entries with the OCMI at or nearest the port where the vessel may be.

(e) Unless an official logbook is required, the owner, operator, or master shall supply an alternative log or record for making entries required by law, including regulations in this subchapter. This log or record need not be filed with this OCMI, but must be kept available for review by a marine inpector for a year after the date that the latest entry concerns.

131.620 Matters that must be logged. The following matters must be enered in each vessel's logbook:

(a) Safety Orientation for Offshore Workers. As held. See § 131.320.

(b) Tests and inspection of Steering Gear, Whistle, and Means of Commuication. Before departure. See 131.505.

(d) Verification of Compliance with Applicable Stability Requirements. See 131.513.

(e) Periodic Sanitary Inspections. After periodic sanitary inspections

nade by the master. See § 131.515.

(f) Hatches and Other Openings. Each Opening and closing, or departure from Dort without closing (except by vessels on protected waters). See § 131.520.

(g) Tests of Emergency Lighting and Power. Weekly, monthly, and twiceearly. See § 131.525.

(h) Abandon-Ship Training and Drills, and Firefighting Training and Drills. As held. See $$131.530 and 31.535.

(i) Inspection of Lifeboat Winches. Once each 3 months. See § 131.570.

131.630 Entries in official logbooks.

On each vessel required to have an Official Logbook, the items required by 16 U.S.C. 11301, as well as the items required by $131.620, must be entered in che logbook.

(a) This section prescribes markings necessary for the guidance of persons aboard in case of an emergency. The markings may be modified or omitted if they are unnecessary, because either the vessel is small or particular circumstances warrant, and if the cognizant OCMI approves.

(b) Each stateroom notice, directional sign, and the like must be printed in English and in other languages appropriate to the service of the vessel.

§ 131.805 General alarm bell, switch.

The switch in the pilothouse that activates the general alarm bell must be clearly and permanently identified either by letters on a metal plate or with a sign in red letters on a suitable background that state the following: "GENERAL ALARM."

§ 131.810 General alarm bell.

Each general alarm bell must be identified by red letters at least 13 millimeters (2-inch) high that state the following: "GENERAL ALARMWHEN BELL RINGS GO TO YOUR STATION."

§ 131.815 Alarm for fixed gaseous fireextinguishing system.

Each alarm for a fixed gaseous fireextinguishing system must be conspicuously identified, using the following statement: "WHEN ALARM SOUNDS, LEAVE AT ONCE: [CARBON DIOXIDE] [HALON] BEING RELEASED."

§ 131.820 Branch lines of fire-extinguishing system.

The valves of each branch line in the fire extinguishing system must be plainly and permanently marked, indicating the spaces served.

§ 131.825 Controls of fire-extinguishing system.

Each control cabinet or space containing a valve or manifold for a fire extinguishing system must be distinctly marked in conspicuous red letters at least 50 millimeters (2 inches) high that state the following: "FIRE APPARATUS FOR [CARBON DIOXIDE] [HALON]".

§ 131.830 Fire-hose stations.

Each fire station must be identified in red letters and figures at least 50 millimeters (2 inches) high that state the following: "FIRE STATION #1," "*** 2," "***3," and so on. Where the hose is not so stowed in the open or behind glass as to be readily seen, this identification must be so placed as to be readily seen from a distance.

§ 131.835 Portable fire extinguishers.

(a) Except as provided by paragraph (b) of this section, ach portable fire extinguisher must be marked with a number, and the site of its stowage must be marked with a corresponding number at least 13 millimeters (2inch) high.

(b) If only one type and size of portable fire extinguisher is carried, the number may be omitted.

§ 131.840 Emergency lighting.

Emergency lighting must be marked with a letter "E" at least 13 millimeters (1⁄2-inch) high.

§ 131.845 Instructions for shift of steer ing gear.

(a) Instructions, including diagrams, for a shift of steering gear and for a shift to the alternative steering stations must be on water-resistant material and posted at each steering station and in the steering-engine room, relating, in order, the different steps to take in either shift.

(b) The instructions must indicate each clutch or pin to be "in" or "out" and each valve or switch to be "open" or "closed" in a shift to any means of steering which the vessel is equipped.

for

(c) The instructions must specify that each steering wheel or lever, and each rudder, must be amidships before any shift of steering gear or steering stations.

(d) Each clutch, gear, wheel, lever. valve, or switch used during any shift of steering gear or steering stations must be numbered or lettered on a metal plate or painted so that the numbers or letters are recognizable at a reasonable distance.

§ 131.850 Rudder orders.

At each steering station there must be installed a suitable notice on the wheel or lever, or in some other place directly in the helmsman's line of sight, to indicate the direction in which to turn the wheel or lever for "right rudder" and for "left rudder."

§ 131.855 Lifeboats and rescue boats. (a) The following must be plainly marked or painted on each side of th

Dow of each lifeboat and rescue boat in lock capital letters and numbers: (1) The name of the vessel.

(2) The number of the boat. (The Doats on each side of the vessel must be umbered from forward to aft. If there re boats on both sides of the vessel, he odd numbers must be on the staroard side.)

(3) For each vessel in ocean service, he name of the port whose marking on he stern is required by § 67.123 of this hapter.

(b) The following must be plainly arked or painted on each side of the ow of each lifeboat and rescue boat in lock capital letters and numbers:

(1) The length and beam of the boat. (2) The number of persons the boat ill hold. This number must

(i) Be the number of persons the boat equipped for; and

(ii) Not be greater than the number persons the boat is approved for, as hown on its nameplate.

(1) The number of the boat. (2) The name of the vessel.

(d) Each lifeboat and rescue boat ust be marked with Type II retro-reective material approved under subart 164.018 of this chapter. The arangement of the retro-reflective mateial must comply with IMO Resolution 1.658(16).

131.860 Rigid liferafts.

(a) The following must be plainly harked or painted, near one entrance f each rigid liferaft:

(1) The name of the vessel.

(2) For each vessel in ocean service, he name of the port whose marking on he stern is required by §67.123 of this hapter.

(b) The length of the painter must be plainly marked or painted, near one en-rance of each rigid liferaft.

(c) The number of persons the rigid iferaft is approved for must be plainly marked or painted, over each entrance o each raft, in letters and numbers at east 102 millimeters (4 inches) high and in a color contrasting to that of Che raft. This number must

(1) Be the number of persons the rigid liferaft is equipped for; and

(2) Not be greater than the number of persons the rigid liferaft is approved for, as shown on its nameplate.

(d) The rigid liferaft must be marked with the words "SOLAS A pack" or "SOLAS B pack", to reflect the pack inside.

§ 131.865 Inflatable liferafts and inflatable buoyant apparatus.

The number of the inflatable liferaft or inflatable buoyant apparatus and the number of persons it is approved for must be marked or painted, in a conspicuous place in the immediate vicinity of each raft and each apparatus, in letters and numbers at least 38 millimeters (1-1⁄2 inches) high and in a color contrasting to that of the raft or apparatus. Each raft or apparatus stowed on the side of a vessel must be numbered like a liferaft in compliance with § 199.178 (c) and (d) of this chapter. No letters or numbers may go on the liferaft or on the container of the apparatus.

§ 131.870 Life floats and buoyant apparatus.

(a) The name of the vessel must be plainly marked or painted on each life float or buoyant apparatus, and on each oar and paddle.

(b) The number of persons each life float or buoyant apparatus is approved for must be plainly marked or painted on each float or apparatus in letters and numbers at least 38 millimeters (1– 1⁄2 inches) high and in a color contrasting to that of the float or apparatus. This number must

(1) Be the number of persons the float or apparatus is equipped for; and

(2) Not be greater than the number of persons the float or apparatus is approved for, as shown on its nameplate.

§ 131.875 Lifejackets, immersion suits, and ring buoys.

(a) Each lifejacket, immersion suit, and ring life buoy must be marked in block capital letters with the vessel's

name.

(b) Each container for lifejackets and immersion suits must be marked in letters and numbers at least 50 millimeters (2 inches) high with the number,

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