§ 199.620 § 199.620 Alternatives for all vessels in a specified service. Link to an amendment published at 89 FR 97402, Dec. 6, 2024.(a)Vessels operating in oceans; coastwise; Great Lakes; lakes, bays, and sounds; and rivers service may comply with alternative requirements to subparts A through E of this part as described in this section for the services specified in table 199.620(a) of this section. (b)As an alternative to a lifebuoy approved under approval series 160.150, vessels may carry a lifebuoy approved under approval series 160.050. (c)As an alternative to a lifejacket meeting the approval requirements in § 199.70, vessels may carry a lifejacket approved under approval series 160.002, 160.005, 160.055, or 160.077. (d)Vessels may carry lifejackets as follows:
(1)If lifejackets are stowed in cabins, staterooms, or berthing areas that are readily accessible to each watch or work station, the requirement in § 199.70(b)(2)(iv) to have lifejackets at each watch or work station need not be met.
(2)If the vessel carries lifejackets that are designated extended-size, then the number of child-size lifejackets carried to meet § 199.70(b)(1)(i) may be reduced. To take the reduction in child-size lifejackets, extended-size lifejackets having the same lower size limit must be substituted for all of the required adult lifejackets. The number of child-size lifejackets required depends on the lower size limit of the extended-size lifejackets and is calculated by any one of the following formulas where PC is the number of child-size lifejackets expressed as a percentage of the number of lifejackets required under § 199.70(b)(1):
(i)PC = LS ÷ 4.1, where LS equals the lower size limit expressed in kilograms.
(ii)PC = LS ÷ 9, where LS equals the lower size limit expressed in pounds.
(iii)PC = (LS−81) ÷ 7.6, where LS equals the lower size limit expressed in centimeters.
(iv)PC = (LS−32) ÷ 3, where LS equals the lower size limit expressed in inches. (e)As an alternative to lights approved under approval series 161.112, vessels may use lights for lifejackets and immersions suits approved under series 161.012. However, lifejacket lights bearing Coast Guard approval number 161.012/2/1 are not permitted on vessels certificated to operate on waters where water temperature may drop below 10 °C (50 °F). (f)An embarkation ladder may be a chain ladder approved under approval series 160.017. (g)Vessels having widely separated accommodation and service spaces may have, as an alternative to the requirements of § 199.130(b), all required lifeboats and 50 percent of the required liferafts stowed as close as possible to the accommodation and service space that normally holds the greatest number of persons, with the remainder of the liferafts stowed as close as possible to each other accommodation and service space. (h)As an alternative to a line-throwing appliance that meets the requirements in § 199.170, vessels may carry a line-throwing appliance approved under approval series 160.031, which may have an auxiliary line that is at least 150 meters (500 feet). (i)Lifeboats, rescue boats, and rigid liferafts may carry the equipment specified in table 199.175 of this part for vessels on a short international voyage. (j)As an alternative to meeting the survival craft equipment requirements of § 199.175, a vessel may carry the equipment specified in table 199.620(j) of this section under the vessel's category of service. Each item in the table has the same description as in § 199.175. (k)As an alternative to liferafts that meet the requirements in §§ 199.201(a) and 199.261(a), vessels may—
(1)Carry inflatable liferafts approved under approval series 160.051; and
(2)Have liferafts with a capacity less than six persons. (l)As an alternative to the SOLAS A Pack, vessels may have a SOLAS B Pack for each inflatable liferaft.
(m)[Reserved] (n)As an alternative to carrying spare parts and repair equipment as required in § 199.190(c), a vessel need not carry spare parts and repair equipment if it operates daily out of a shore base where spare parts and repair equipment are available.
(o)Deckhands may be used to operate the survival craft and launching arrangements.
(p)Training and drill subjects required under § 199.180 may be omitted if the vessel is not fitted with the relevant equipment, installation or system.
(q)For a new liferaft or inflatable buoyant apparatus, the first annual servicing may be deferred to two years after initial packing if so indicated on the servicing sticker. Table 199.620()—Alternative Requirements for All Vessels in a Specified Service Section or paragraph in this part:Service and reference to alternative requirement section or paragraphOceansCoastwiseGreat LakesLakes, bays and soundsRivers199.70(a): Lifebuoy approval series199.620(b)199.620(b)199.620(b)199.620(b)199.620(b).199.70(b): Lifejacket approval series199.620(c)199.620(c)199.620(c)199.620(c)199.620(c).199.70(b)(1): Number of lifejackets carriedNo Alternative199.620(d)199.620(d)199.620(d)199.620(d).199.70(b)(4)(i): Lifejacket light approval seriesNo Alternative199.620(e)199.620(e)Not ApplicableNot Applicable.199.100(b): Manning of survival craftNo AlternativeNo AlternativeNo AlternativeNo Alternative199.620(o).199.110(f): Embarkation ladder199.620(f)199.620(f)199.620(f)199.620(f)199.620(f).199.130(b): Survival craft stowage positionNo AlternativeNo Alternative199.620(g)199.620(g)199.620(g).199.170: Line-throwing appliance approval series199.620(h)199.620(h)Not ApplicableNot ApplicableNot Applicable.199.175: Lifeboat, rescue boat, and rigid liferaft equipment199.620(i)199.620(i)199.620(j)199.620(j)199.620(j).199.180 Training and drills199.620(p)199.620(p)199.620(p)199.620(p)199.620(p).199.190: Spares and repair equipment199.620(n)199.620(n)199.620(n)199.620(n)199.620(n).199.190(g)(3): Service Intervals for inflatable liferaft or inflatable buoyant apparatus199.620(q)199.620(q)199.620(q)199.620(q)199.620(q).199.201(a)(2) or 199.261: Inflatable liferaft equipment199.620(l)199.620(l)199.620(l)199.620(l)199.620(l).199.201(a)(2) or 199.261: Liferaft approval seriesNo Alternative199.620(k)199.620(k)199.620(k)199.620(k).Alternative applies if lifebuoy is orange.Alternative applies only to cargo vessels that are less than 500 tons gross tonnage.Alternative applies to cargo vessels that are less than 500 tons gross tonnage and to all passenger vessels.Alternative applies to passenger vessels limited to operating no more than 50 nautical miles from shore.Table 199.620()—Survival Craft Equipment Item No.ItemGreat LakesLakes, bays and soundsRiversLifeboatRigid liferaftRescue boatLifeboatRigid liferaftRescue boatLifeboatRigid liferaftRescue boat1Bailer1111112Bilge pump113Boathook1111114Bucket11119Fire extinguisher11111112Flashlight11113Hatchet21115Instruction card11118Ladder1120Oars, units111111Paddles22221Painter21111111123Pump11126Repair kit11127Sea anchor12128Searchlight1131Signal, hand flare666632Signal, parachute flare4433Skates and fenders11111134Sponge222235Survival instructions111138Tool kit11139Towline111111Notes:Each liferaft approved for 13 persons or more must carry two of these items.Not required for boats of self-bailing design.Not required for inflated or rigid-inflated rescue boats.Oars not required on a free-fall lifeboat; a unit of oars means the number of oars specified by the boat manufacturer.Rescue boats may substitute buoyant paddles for oars, as specified by the manufacturer.Not required for a rigid rescue boat.Required if specified by the manufacturer.Required only if the lifeboat is also the rescue boat.[CGD 84-069, 61 FR 25313, May 20, 1996; 61 FR 40281, Aug. 1, 1996, as amended at 63 FR 52820, Oct. 1, 1998; 63 FR 56066, Oct. 20, 1998; USCG-2001-10224, 66 FR 48621, Sept. 21, 2001; USCG-2001-11118, 67 FR 58542, Sept. 17, 2002]
(1)If lifejackets are stowed in cabins, staterooms, or berthing areas that are readily accessible to each watch or work station, the requirement in § 199.70(b)(2)(iv) to have lifejackets at each watch or work station need not be met.
(2)If the vessel carries lifejackets that are designated extended-size, then the number of child-size lifejackets carried to meet § 199.70(b)(1)(i) may be reduced. To take the reduction in child-size lifejackets, extended-size lifejackets having the same lower size limit must be substituted for all of the required adult lifejackets. The number of child-size lifejackets required depends on the lower size limit of the extended-size lifejackets and is calculated by any one of the following formulas where PC is the number of child-size lifejackets expressed as a percentage of the number of lifejackets required under § 199.70(b)(1):
(i)PC = LS ÷ 4.1, where LS equals the lower size limit expressed in kilograms.
(ii)PC = LS ÷ 9, where LS equals the lower size limit expressed in pounds.
(iii)PC = (LS−81) ÷ 7.6, where LS equals the lower size limit expressed in centimeters.
(iv)PC = (LS−32) ÷ 3, where LS equals the lower size limit expressed in inches. (e)As an alternative to lights approved under approval series 161.112, vessels may use lights for lifejackets and immersions suits approved under series 161.012. However, lifejacket lights bearing Coast Guard approval number 161.012/2/1 are not permitted on vessels certificated to operate on waters where water temperature may drop below 10 °C (50 °F). (f)An embarkation ladder may be a chain ladder approved under approval series 160.017. (g)Vessels having widely separated accommodation and service spaces may have, as an alternative to the requirements of § 199.130(b), all required lifeboats and 50 percent of the required liferafts stowed as close as possible to the accommodation and service space that normally holds the greatest number of persons, with the remainder of the liferafts stowed as close as possible to each other accommodation and service space. (h)As an alternative to a line-throwing appliance that meets the requirements in § 199.170, vessels may carry a line-throwing appliance approved under approval series 160.031, which may have an auxiliary line that is at least 150 meters (500 feet). (i)Lifeboats, rescue boats, and rigid liferafts may carry the equipment specified in table 199.175 of this part for vessels on a short international voyage. (j)As an alternative to meeting the survival craft equipment requirements of § 199.175, a vessel may carry the equipment specified in table 199.620(j) of this section under the vessel's category of service. Each item in the table has the same description as in § 199.175. (k)As an alternative to liferafts that meet the requirements in §§ 199.201(a) and 199.261(a), vessels may—
(1)Carry inflatable liferafts approved under approval series 160.051; and
(2)Have liferafts with a capacity less than six persons. (l)As an alternative to the SOLAS A Pack, vessels may have a SOLAS B Pack for each inflatable liferaft.
(m)[Reserved] (n)As an alternative to carrying spare parts and repair equipment as required in § 199.190(c), a vessel need not carry spare parts and repair equipment if it operates daily out of a shore base where spare parts and repair equipment are available.
(o)Deckhands may be used to operate the survival craft and launching arrangements.
(p)Training and drill subjects required under § 199.180 may be omitted if the vessel is not fitted with the relevant equipment, installation or system.
(q)For a new liferaft or inflatable buoyant apparatus, the first annual servicing may be deferred to two years after initial packing if so indicated on the servicing sticker. Table 199.620()—Alternative Requirements for All Vessels in a Specified Service Section or paragraph in this part:Service and reference to alternative requirement section or paragraphOceansCoastwiseGreat LakesLakes, bays and soundsRivers199.70(a): Lifebuoy approval series199.620(b)199.620(b)199.620(b)199.620(b)199.620(b).199.70(b): Lifejacket approval series199.620(c)199.620(c)199.620(c)199.620(c)199.620(c).199.70(b)(1): Number of lifejackets carriedNo Alternative199.620(d)199.620(d)199.620(d)199.620(d).199.70(b)(4)(i): Lifejacket light approval seriesNo Alternative199.620(e)199.620(e)Not ApplicableNot Applicable.199.100(b): Manning of survival craftNo AlternativeNo AlternativeNo AlternativeNo Alternative199.620(o).199.110(f): Embarkation ladder199.620(f)199.620(f)199.620(f)199.620(f)199.620(f).199.130(b): Survival craft stowage positionNo AlternativeNo Alternative199.620(g)199.620(g)199.620(g).199.170: Line-throwing appliance approval series199.620(h)199.620(h)Not ApplicableNot ApplicableNot Applicable.199.175: Lifeboat, rescue boat, and rigid liferaft equipment199.620(i)199.620(i)199.620(j)199.620(j)199.620(j).199.180 Training and drills199.620(p)199.620(p)199.620(p)199.620(p)199.620(p).199.190: Spares and repair equipment199.620(n)199.620(n)199.620(n)199.620(n)199.620(n).199.190(g)(3): Service Intervals for inflatable liferaft or inflatable buoyant apparatus199.620(q)199.620(q)199.620(q)199.620(q)199.620(q).199.201(a)(2) or 199.261: Inflatable liferaft equipment199.620(l)199.620(l)199.620(l)199.620(l)199.620(l).199.201(a)(2) or 199.261: Liferaft approval seriesNo Alternative199.620(k)199.620(k)199.620(k)199.620(k).Alternative applies if lifebuoy is orange.Alternative applies only to cargo vessels that are less than 500 tons gross tonnage.Alternative applies to cargo vessels that are less than 500 tons gross tonnage and to all passenger vessels.Alternative applies to passenger vessels limited to operating no more than 50 nautical miles from shore.Table 199.620()—Survival Craft Equipment Item No.ItemGreat LakesLakes, bays and soundsRiversLifeboatRigid liferaftRescue boatLifeboatRigid liferaftRescue boatLifeboatRigid liferaftRescue boat1Bailer1111112Bilge pump113Boathook1111114Bucket11119Fire extinguisher11111112Flashlight11113Hatchet21115Instruction card11118Ladder1120Oars, units111111Paddles22221Painter21111111123Pump11126Repair kit11127Sea anchor12128Searchlight1131Signal, hand flare666632Signal, parachute flare4433Skates and fenders11111134Sponge222235Survival instructions111138Tool kit11139Towline111111Notes:Each liferaft approved for 13 persons or more must carry two of these items.Not required for boats of self-bailing design.Not required for inflated or rigid-inflated rescue boats.Oars not required on a free-fall lifeboat; a unit of oars means the number of oars specified by the boat manufacturer.Rescue boats may substitute buoyant paddles for oars, as specified by the manufacturer.Not required for a rigid rescue boat.Required if specified by the manufacturer.Required only if the lifeboat is also the rescue boat.[CGD 84-069, 61 FR 25313, May 20, 1996; 61 FR 40281, Aug. 1, 1996, as amended at 63 FR 52820, Oct. 1, 1998; 63 FR 56066, Oct. 20, 1998; USCG-2001-10224, 66 FR 48621, Sept. 21, 2001; USCG-2001-11118, 67 FR 58542, Sept. 17, 2002]