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National
United States Regulations
33 CFR PART 144—LIFESAVING APPLIANCES







Title 33: Navigation and Navigable Waters

PART 144—LIFESAVING APPLIANCES



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Authority: 43 U.S.C. 1333d; 46 U.S.C. 3102(a); 46 CFR 1.46.

Subpart 144.01—Manned Platforms
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§ 144.01-1 Life floats.
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Each manned platform shall be provided with at least two approved life floats. The life floats shall have sufficient capacity to accommodate all persons present at any one time.

[CGFR 56–4, 21 FR 903, Feb. 9, 1956]

§ 144.01-5 Location and launching of life floats.
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The life floats shall be distributed in accessible locations and mounted on the outboard sides of the working platform in such a manner as to be readily launched.

[CGFR 56–4, 21 FR 903, Feb. 9, 1956]

§ 144.01-10 Equipment for life floats.
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(a) Each lifefloat shall be provided with a painter. This painter shall be a manila rope not less than 2 3/4 inches in circumference and of a length not less than three times the distance from the deck where the lifefloat is stowed to the low water line. Alternatively, the painter may be of other material provided it has equal strength to the size of manila rope specified and is not less than 1/2 inch in diameter.

(b) Each life float must have a water light of an approved automatic electric type constructed in accordance with 46 CFR Subpart 161.010, except a water light constructed in accordance with former 46 CFR Subpart 161.001 that was installed before January 1, 1972, may be retained in an existing installation as long as it is maintained in good condition. The water light must be attached to the life float by a 12-thread manila or equivalent synthetic lanyard not less than 2 meters (6 feet) nor more than 4 meters (12 feet) in length. The water light must be mounted on a bracket so that when the life float is launched, the water light will pull free of the bracket.

(c) Two paddles shall be provided for each life float. The paddles shall not be less than five feet nor more than six feet long. The paddles shall be stowed in such a way that they will be readily accessible from either side of the life float when in the water.

[CGFR 56–4, 21 FR 903, Feb. 9, 1956]

Editorial Note: For Federal Register citations affecting §144.01–10, see the List of CFR Sections Affected, which appears in the Finding Aids section of the printed volume and on GPO Access.

§ 144.01-15 Alternates for life floats.
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(a) Approved lifeboats, approved life rafts or approved inflatable life rafts may be used in lieu of approved life floats for either all or part of the capacity required. When either lifeboats or life rafts are used approved means of launching will be required. Inflatable life rafts, when used, shall be distributed and mounted as required for life floats under §144.01–5.

(b) The equipment required for a lifeboat is a bailer, boat hook, bucket, hatchet, lantern, life line, two life preservers, matches, full complement of oars and steering oar, painter, plug, and rowlocks, of the same type, kind, and character as required for lifeboats carried on vessels engaged in navigating bays, sounds, and lakes other than the Great Lakes, and rivers.

(c) The equipment required for a life raft is a boat hook, life line (if not a Type A life raft), full complement of oars and steering oar, painter, and rowlocks of the same type, kind, and character as required for life rafts carried on cargo and miscellaneous vessels navigating on bays, sounds, and lakes other than the Great Lakes.

(d) Inflatable liferafts shall be approved by the Coast Guard under approval series 160.151. An approved “Limited Service” or “Ocean Service” liferaft installed on board a platform before May 9, 1997, may continue to be used to meet the requirements of this section provided it is maintained in good and serviceable condition.

[CGFR 56–4, 21 FR 903, Feb. 9, 1956, as amended by CGFR 60–35 25 FR 10132, Oct. 25, 1960; CGD 85–205, 62 FR 35392, July 1, 1997]

§ 144.01-20 Life preservers.
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(a) An approved life preserver shall be provided for each person on a manned platform. The life preservers shall be located in easily accessible places.

(b) All kapok and fibrous glass life preservers which do not have plastic-covered pad inserts shall be removed from service.

(c) Each life preserver carried on a manned platform must have a personal flotation device light that is approved under Subpart 161.012 of 46 CFR Part 161. Each light must be securely attached to the front shoulder area of the life preserver.

(d) Each life preserver carried on a manned platform must have at least 200 sq. cm (31 sq. in.) of retroreflective material attached on its front side, at least 200 sq. cm on its back side, and at leat 200 sq. cm of material on each of its reversible sides. The material must be Type I material that is approved under 46 CFR 164.018. The material attached on each side of a life preserver must be divided equally between the upper quadrants of the side, and the material in each quadrant must be attached as closely as possible to the shoulder area of the life preserver.

[CGFR 60–35, 25 FR 10132, Oct. 25, 1960, as amended by CGD 78–160, 47 FR 9383, Mar. 3, 1982; USCG–1998–3799, 63 FR 35530, June 30, 1998]

§ 144.01-25 Ring life buoys.
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(a) Each manned platform must have at least four approved ring life buoys constructed in accordance with 46 CFR Subpart 160.050; except ring life buoys approved under former 46 CFR Subpart 160.009 may be used as long as they are in good and serviceable condition. One ring life buoy must be placed on a suitable rack on each side of a manned platform in an accessible place. The ring life buoy must always be capable of being cast loose and may not be permanently secured in any way.

(b) Each ring life buoy must have a water light of an approved automatic electric type constructed in accordance with 46 CFR Subpart 161.010. A water light constructed in accordance with former 46 CFR Subpart 161.001 that was installed before January 1, 1972 may be retained in an existing installation as long as it is maintained in good condition. The water light must be attached to the ring life buoy by a 12-thread manila or equivalent synthetic lanyard not less than 1 meter (3 feet) nor more than 2 meters (6 feet) in length. The water light must be mounted on a bracket near the ring life buoy so that when the ring life buoy is cast loose, the water light will pull free of the bracket.

[CGFR 56–4, 21 FR 903, Feb. 9, 1956, as amended by CGD 79–165b, 45 FR 65208, Oct. 2, 1980; CGD 80–155b. 47 FR 10533, Mar. 11, 1982]

§ 144.01-30 First-aid kit.
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On each manned platform a first-aid kit approved by the Commandant or the U.S. Bureau of Mines shall be provided and kept in the custody of the person in charge.

[CGFR 56–4, 21 FR 903, Feb. 9, 1956, as amended by CGD 73–177R, 40 FR 8176, Feb. 26, 1975]

§ 144.01-35 Litter.
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On each manned platform a Stokes litter, or other suitable safety litter capable of being safely hoisted with an injured person, shall be provided and kept in an accessible place.

[CGFR 68–154, 33 FR 18626, Dec. 17, 1968]

§ 144.01-40 Emergency communications equipment.
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On manned platforms means of communication by radio and/or wire telephone shall be provided for contacting the shore or vessels in the vicinity for aid in the event of an emergency.

[CGFR 56–4, 21 FR 903, Feb. 9, 1956]

Subpart 144.10—Unmanned Platforms
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§ 144.10-1 Lifesaving equipment.
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(a) Except as allowed in paragraph (b) of this section, no person may be on an unmanned platform unless the following lifesaving equipment is readily accessible on the platform:

(1) A life preserver or a Type I—Personal flotation device, listed in Table 1, for each person.


Table 1_Life Preservers and Equivalent Performance Flotation Devices
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Equivalent to performance
Devices marked type marked
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160.002 Life preserver.................... Type I_Personal flotation
device.
160.003 Life preserver.................... Type I_Personal flotation
device.
160.004 Life preserver.................... Type I_Personal flotation
device.
160.005 Life preserver.................... Type I_Personal flotation
device.
160.055 Life preserver.................... Type I_Personal flotation
device.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


(2) An approved ring life buoy (Type IV PFD) for every two persons, but no more than four devices are required. Each ring life buoy must be of a type constructed in accordance with 46 CFR subpart 160.050; except a ring life buoy that was approved under former 46 CFR subpart 160.009 may be used as long as it is in good and serviceable condition.

(3) Each ring life buoy under paragraph (a)(2) of this section must have an approved automatic electric water light that is attached as described in §144.01–25(b).

(b) The ring life buoys required in paragraph (a)(2) of this section may be kept on a manned vessel that remains alongside the platform if there is no available space to keep them on the platform.

[CGD 73–177R, 40 FR 8176, Feb. 26, 1975, as amended by CGD 80–155b, 47 FR 10533, Mar. 11, 1982]

§ 144.10-10 Other lifesaving equipment.
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Any lifesaving equipment on an unmanned platform that is not required in §144.10–1 must meet the standards contained in Subpart 144.01 of this part.

[CGD 73–177R, 40 FR 8176, Feb. 26, 1975]

Subpart 144.20—Requirements for U.S. and Undocumented MODU's
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Authority: Sec. 4, 67 Stat. 462 (43 U.S.C. 1333) as amended; 49 CFR 1.46(z).

§ 144.20-1 Applicability.
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This subpart applies to each MODU operating on the OCS that is not inspected under 46 CFR subchapter I-A.

[CGD 82–075b, 49 FR 4377, Feb. 6, 1984]

§ 144.20-5 Exposure suits.
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This section applies to each MODU except those operating south of 32 degrees North latitude in the Atlantic Ocean or south of 35 degrees North latitude in all other waters.

(a) Each MODU must carry an exposure suit for each person on board. The exposure suit must be stowed in a readily accessible location in or near the berthing area of the person for whom the exposure suit is provided.

(b) In addition to the exposure suits required by paragraph (a) of this section, each watch station and work station must have enough exposure suits to equal the number of persons normally on watch in, or assigned to, the station at one time. However, an exposure suit need not be provided at a watch or work station for a person whose cabin, stateroom, or berthing area (and the exposure suits stowed in that location) is readily accessible to the station.

(c) Each exposure suit on a MODU must be of a type approved under 46 CFR 160.171.

(d) Each exposure suit must have a personal flotation device light that is approved under 46 CFR 161.012. Each light must be securely attached to the front shoulder area of the exposure suit.

(e) Each exposure suit on a MODU must be provided with a whistle of the ball type or multi-tone type, of corrosion resistant construction, and in good working order. The whistle must be attached to the exposure suit by a lanyard without hooks, snaps, clips, etc., that is long enough to permit the whistle to reach the mouth of the wearer. If the lanyard allows the whistle to hang below the waist of the wearer, the whistle must be stowed in a pocket on the exposure suit, or with the lanyard coiled and stopped off.

(f) No stowage container for exposure suits may be capable of being locked.

[CGD 82–075b, 49 FR 4377, Feb. 6, 1984, as amended by CGD 84–090, 50 FR 3904, Jan. 29, 1985; USCG–2000–7223, 65 FR 40057, June 29, 2000]

Subpart 144.30—Requirements for Foreign MODU's
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Authority: Sec. 4, 67 Stat. 462 (43 U.S.C. 1333) as amended; 49 CFR 1.46(z).

§ 144.30-1 Applicability.
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This subpart applies to each MODU engaged in OCS activities that is documented under the laws of a foreign nation.

[CGD 82–075b, 49 FR 4377, Feb. 6, 1984]

§ 144.30-5 Exposure suits.
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Each foreign MODU must meet the requirements of §144.20–5 of this chapter, except as follows:

(a) Exposure suits (immersion suits, survival suits, etc.) approved by the nation under which the MODU is documented may be used in lieu of suits approved under 46 CFR 160.071, provided that they are accepted by the Commandant as providing equivalent thermal protection to the wearer. (Requests for acceptance of such suits should be sent to Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard, (G-MSE), Washington, DC 20593–0001, along with technical data supporting the thermal performance of the suits.)

(b) Personal flotation device lights approved by the nation under which the MODU is documented may be used in lieu of lights approved under 46 CFR 161.012.

[CGD 82–075b, 49 FR 4377, Feb. 6, 1984, as amended by CGD 88–052, 53 FR 25121, July 1, 1988; CGD 96–026, 61 FR 33665, June 28, 1996]