Life Saving

Question 1

How many extra PFD’s are required for a vessel in stand-by service for one hundred (100) persons when the number of passengers is usually fifty (50)?

Answer 1

Ref: 33 CFR 143.405(a)(17)

50 more PFDs

Question 2

What is the PFD requirement for a vessel in standby service?

Answer 2

Ref: 33 CFR 143.405(a)(17)
Coast Guard approved life preservers for 50 percent of the number of persons on the most populated facility that the standby vessel is designated to assist

Question 3

When do PFD’s require distress marker lights?

Answer 3

Ref: 46 CFR 180.75

Vessel’s operating in oceans, coastwise or great lakes routs.

Question 4

Would you accept a weak link that is missing the manufacturer’s certification tag?

Answer 4

Ref: 46 CFR 180.130(b)

You could if the wire used can be shown to have the breaking properties required for its application.

Question 5

How many ring buoys are required on a 22 passenger “T-S” that is 55ft long? What size ring buoys are acceptable? (LS)

Answer 5

Ref: 46 CFR 180.70(a)(2)

One 24 inch ring buoy

Question 6

What are the servicing requirements for a hydrostatic release?

Answer 6

Ref: 46 CFR 185.740 and 46 CFR 160.062-4(f)
Within 12 months of its manufacture and with 12 months of each subsequent servicing:
(i) The device must be manually operated to determine if it releases.
(ii) If the device releases, it must pass the submergence test contained in paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section, at a depth between 5 feet and 15 feet and be marked as required in paragraph (f)(5) of this section.
(iii) If the device fails to release or fails to pass the submergence test required in paragraph (f)(3)(ii) of this section, the device must be disassembled, repaired, and tested in accordance with the requirements contained in paragraph (f)(4) of this paragraph.

Question 7

When is a float free link not required for life floats or buoyant apparatus?

Answer 7

Ref: 46 CFR 180.130(a)(1)

When the vessel operates only on waters not as deep as the sea painter’s length.

Question 8

Drop nets in a life float must drop a minimum of _____________ inches”.

Answer 8

Ref: 46 CFR 160.027(f)

36

Question 9

What can be substituted for life floats? (LS)

Answer 9

Ref: 46 CFR 180.200(a)(2)
Buoyant apparatus may be used to meet requirements for the life floats if the buoyant apparatus was installed on board the vessel on or before March11, 1996