Merchant Shipping (Life Saving Appliances)

Rules, 1995
MINISTRY OF SURFACE TRANSPORT
(Shipping Wing)

New Delhi, the 10th July, 1993

(MERCHANT SHIPPING)

G.S.R. 344.—Whereas a draft of the Merchant Shipping (Life Saving Appliances)

Amendment Rules, 1994 was published as required by sub-section (1), of section 288 of the
Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 (44 of 1958) in the Gazette of India, Part II, Section 3, sub-section
(i) dated th 29th October, 1994, at pages 1753 to 1756 with the notification of the Government of
India in the Ministry of Surface Transport (Shipping Wing), No. GSR 531 dated the 28th
September 1994 inviting objections and suggestions from the date of publication of the said
notification in the Official Gazette;

And whereas copies of the said Gazette were made available to the public on the 29 th
October, 1994

And whereas no objections or suggestions have been received from the public on the said
draft ;

Now, therefore, in exercise of powers conferred by sub-section (1) and clauses (a) to (j)
and (n) of sub-section (2) of section 288 read with clauses (k) of sub-section (2) of section 435
and section 457 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 (44 of 1958), the Central Government
hereby makes the following rules to further amend the Merchant Shipping (Life Saving
Appliances) Rules, 1982, namely :-

1.(1) These rules may be called the Merchant shipping (Life Saving Appliances) Amendment
Rules, 1995.

(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.

(1) in rule 1 ;

(i) in sub rule (i) for the words and brackets "(Life-Saving Appliances)" the words and
brackets "(Life Savings Appliances for existing ships)" shall be substituted ;

(ii) for sub rule (3) following sub-rule shall be substituted namely :-

"(3) They shall apply to every existing Indian ship and Sailing Vessel going to sea, the keel
of which was laid before 1st day of July, 1986."
 (2) in rule 2,--

(i) for clause (b), the following clause shall be substituted, namely :-

"(b) "approved" means approved by the Nautical Advisor to the Government of India";

(ii) for clause (d), the following clause shall be substituted, namely :-

"(d) "Certificated person" means a person who holds a Certificate of Proficiency in a survival
craft, issued under the authority of, or recognized as valid by the Director General and includes a
deck officer holding a certificate of competency as a life boatman issued under the Merchant
Shipping (Life Boatmen's Qualifications and certificates) Rules, 1963';

(iii) after clause (e), the following clause shall be inserted namely :-

"(ea) "emergency position indicating radio beacon" means a station in the mobile service, the
omissions of which are intended to facilitate search and rescue operations complying with the
requirements specified in Part III of the Seventh Schedule of the Life-Saving Appliances Rules
1992".

(iv) after clause (g), the following clause shall be inserted, namely :-

"(ga) "immersion suit" means a protective suit which reduce body head loss of a person
wearing it in cold water complying with the requirements specified in Part IV of the Second
Schedule of the Life-Saving Appliances Rules 1992";

(v) after clause (m), the following clauses shall be inserted, namely :-

"(ma) "Life-Saving Appliances Rules, 1991" means the Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving
Appliances) Rules, 1991 published with the notification of the Government of India in the
Ministry of Surface Transport (Shipping Wing) No.G.S.R. 491 dated 22nd August 1991,";

(mb) "Muster list" means a list of the crew and passenger who are required to assemble at a
given muster station";

(mc) "Muster Station" means the area designated as such on board a ship for assembnly of
crew and passengers";

(iv) after clause (p) the following clause shall be inserted, namely :-

"(pb) "retro-reflective material" means a material which reflects in the opposite direction a
beam of light directed on it and complies with the requirements specified in the Sixth Schedule
to the Life-Saving Appliances Rules, 1991";

(vii) after clause (s) the following clause shall be inserted, namely :-
"(sa) "thermal protective aid" means a bag or suit made of waterproof material with a low
thermal conductivity complying with the requirements specified in part V of the Second
Schedule to the Life-Saving Appliances, Rules, 1991".

(3) in rule 4,--

(i) sub-rules (5) and (6) shall be omitted;

(ii) after sub-rule (13) the following sub-rule shall be inserted, namely :-

"(14) Every Shipp shall carry, for each lifeboat at least 3 immersion suits and a thermal
protectivity aid for every person the lifeboat is certified to carry, who are not provided with an
immersion suit :

Provided that such immersion suits or thermal protective aids need not be carried --

(i) If the lifeboats comply with the requirements of Part II and Part III or Part IV of the
Third Schedule to the Life-Saving Appliances rules, 1991; or

(ii) Where the Central Government is satisfied that provisions of thermal protective aids in
life-boat on any such ship is not necessary";

(4) in rule 5,--

(i) sub-rule (11) shall be omitted ;

(ii) after sub-rule (16) the following sub-rule shall be inserted, namely :-

"(17) Every ship shall carry, for each life-boat at least 3 immersion suits and a thermal
protective aid for every person the lifeboat is certified to carry, who is not provided with an
immersion suit ;

Provided that such immersion suits or thermal protective aids need not be carried--

(i) If the lifeboats comply with the requirements of Part II, Part III and Part IV of the Third
Schedule to the Life Saving Appliances rules 1991 ; or

(ii) where the Central Government is satisfied that provisions of thermal protective aids in
lifeboat on any such ship is not necessary".

(5) in rule 6, sub-rule (6) shall be omitted.

(6) in rule 7, sub-rule (12) shall be omitted

(7) in rule 8, sub-rule (6) shall be omitted

 (8) in rule 9, sub-rule (7) shall be omitted

(9) in rule 11, sub-rule (5) shall be omitted

(10) in rule 12,--

(i) in sub-rule (2)

(a) in clause (b) the words "at least half" shall be omitted ;

(b) the proviso shall be omitted ;

(ii) sub-rule (6) shall be omitted ;

(iii) after sub-rule (8) the following sub-rules shall be inserted, namely :-

"(9) Every such ship shall, in addition to the immersion suits specified as equipment in
lifeboats, liferafts and rescue boats, carry at least 3 immersion suits in every lifeboat.

(10) Every ship plying continuously in regions north of 23 ½0 North Latitude or south of 23
½0 South Latitude shall carry a thermal protective aid for every person not provided with an
immersion suits ;

Provided that the immersion suits and thermal protective aids need not be carried if the
ship carries--

(a)(i) totally enclosed lifeboats on each side of the ship of such aggregate capacity as well
accommodate the total number of persons on board ; or

(ii) totally enclosed lifeboats capable of being launched by free-fall over the stern of the ship of
such aggregate capacity as well accommodate the total number of persons on board and which
are boarded and launched directly from the stowed position, and

(b) lifecrafts on each side of the ship of such aggregate capacity as well accommodate the
total number of persons on board :.

(11) in rule 13,--

(i) in sub-rule (6), in clause (a) the words "at least half" shall be omitted ;

(ii) sub-rule (9), shall be omitted ;

(12) in rule 16, in sub-rule (7), in clause 9a), the words "at least one half" shall be omitted ;

(13) in rule 17, in sub-rule (3), clause 9a), for the word "half" the words "the total number of"
shall be substituted.
 (14) in rule 18.--

(i) in sub-rule (2)

(a) in clause (b), the words "at least half" shall be omitted:

(b) proviso shall be omitted ;

(ii) sub-rule (4) shall be omitted ;

(15) in rule 36, sub-rule (6) shall be omitted ;

(16) in rule 48, for sub-rule (2), the following sub-rule shall be substituted, namely :-

"(2) Lifecrafts complying with the requirements of Part I of the Second Schedule and the
hydrostatic release units specified in sub-rule (2-A) of rule 61 shall be serviced.--

(a) at intervals not exceeding 12 months in cases where it appears proper and reasonable the
Nautical Adviser may extended this period to 17 months ;

(b) at an approved servicing station which is competent to service them maintains proper
servicing facilities, spare parts and uses only properly trained personnel".

(17) in rule 54, in sub-rule (1), after clause (s), the following clause shall be inserted
namely:-

"(sa) either an approved radar reflector or a radar transpondent with means to secure them in
the operating position";

(18) for rule 56, the following rule shall be substituted, namely :-

"56 Communication and rescue equipment.—(1) Every ship shall carry--

(a) Three two-way radio telephone apparatuses.--

(b) One radar transponder for every survival craft or in lieu at least one radar transponder
beacon on each side so stowed that it can rapidly be placed in any survival craft ;

(c) float free emergency position indicting radio beacon ;

Provided any ship of less than 500 tons gross tonnage and any ship of class XI to XV, both
inclusive, of 24 metres or more in length may carry in lieu of the equipment specified above, one
two-way radio telephone apparatus and either rone radar transponder or a float free emergency
position indicating radio beacon so stowed that such equipment can rapidly be placed in any
survival craft. Vessels of class XI to XV, both inclusive of less than 24 metres in length may
either carry a radar transponder or float free emergency position indicating radio beacon.
 (2) Every motor lifeboat on ship of Class I, III, VIII and IX of more than 500 tons
gross tonnage shall be provided with a search lights. such light shall include a lamp of at least 80
wats, an efficient reflector, and source of power capable of working at last for 3 hours and which
will give effective illumination of light coloured object having a width of 18 metres at a distance
of 180 metres.

(19) in rule 58, in sub-rule (1), after clause (t), the following clause shall be inserted,
namely :--

"(u) an approved radar reflector and means to secure the same in operating positions.";

(20) in rule 61, after sub-rule (2) the following sub-rule shall b inserted namely :-

"(2-A) Every life-raft shall be stowed with an hydrostatic release unit as specified in the
Ninth schedule of the Life-Saving Appliances Rules 1991 with its painter permanently attached
to the ship so that as far as practicable, the life raft flogts free and if inflatable, inflates
automatically when the ship sinks. In addition every liferaft shall be stowed to permit release of
the same manually from its securing arrangement :

Provided that the liferaft required to be provided on ships under clause (b) of sub-rule (6) of rule
13 or clause (b) of sub-rule (7) of rule 16 may be secured to permit release of the liferaft
manually only.";

(21) for rule 63 and 64 the following rules shall be substituted namely :-

"63. Manning of survival craft and supervision;

(1) This rule applies to ships of Class I to XII

(2) Every ship referred to in sub-rule (1) shall be manned by :

(a) trained persons for mustering and assisting untrained persons ;

(b) certificated persons for operating the survival craft and launching arrangements required
for abandonment by the total number of person on board ;

(c) a certificated person in charge of each survival craft and in case of lifeboats a certificated
person shall also be nominated as second in command ;

(3) number of certificated persons referred to in clause (b) of sub-rule (1) shall in no case be
less that that specified in the following table :-

TABLE

_____________________________________________________________
Complement of survival craft Minimum number
of certificated persons
_____________________________________________________________

---less than 40 persons 2

---40 persons or more but

less than 60 persons 3

---60 persons or more but

less than 80 persons 4

---80 persons or more 5

_____________________________________________________________

Provided that the Nautical Adviser may permit persons competent in the handling and operating
of lifecrafts to be placed in charges of lifecrafts in lieu of persons specified in clause (b) of sub-
rule (1).

(4) On every such ship :

(a) the person in charge of the survival craft shall be provided with a list of survival craft
crew and it shall be the duty of the person in charge of the survival craft to ensure that the crew
under his command are acquainted with their duties.

(b) where a life-boat is required to carry a two-way radio telephone apparatus or a radar
transponder, a person capable of operating such equipment shall be assigned to such lifeboats ;

(c) a person who is capable of operating a lifeboat engine and capable of minor adjustment
thereto shall be assigned to every motor lifeboat.

(5) The master shall ensure that person referred to in sub-rule (1) are distributed equitabli
among the ship's survival crafts.

(6) Every person forming the crew of such ship shall be in possession of a certificate
indicating that he has attended an approved course on "Survival at Sea".

63. A Muster Station, Muster list and instruction.—(1) This rule applies to ships of
class I to XII, both inclusive.

(2) The master of every such ship referred to in sub-rule (1) shall

(a) provide clear instructions to be followed in the event of an emergency of every person on
board ;
(b) exhibit a muster list in accordance with the requirements specified in the Eighth
Schedule of the Life-Saving Appliances Rules, 1991 in conspicuous places throughout the ship
including the navigation bridge, engine room, crew accommodation and where applicable
passenger accommodation.

(3) Muster stations on passenger ship shall be in the vicinity of embarkation

station with ready access thereto ;

(4) Every such muster station on a passenger ship shall have ample room for
marshalling and instructing of the passengers.

(5) At every such muster station, passenger spaces and cabins illustrations
and instructions, at least in Hindi and English shall be conspicuously pasted to inform the crew
and passengers of

(i) their muster station

(ii) the essential action they must take in an emergency, and

(iii0 method of donning the life jacket.

63-B Operating instructions.—(1) This rule applies to ship of class I to XII.

(2) On every ship referred to in sub-rule (1) posters or signs shall be provided
on or in the vicinity of survival craft and their launching controls and shall--

(a) illustrate the purpose of controls and the procedures for operating the appliances with
relevant instructions and warning where necessary ;

(b) be easily seen under emergency lighting conditions ;

(c) use approved symbols.

64. A abandon ship training and drills.—(1) This rule applies to class I to XII.

(2) Every ship referred to in sub-rule (1) shall be provided with a training manual
complying with requirements specified in the Eleventh Schedule to the Life-Saving Appliances
Rules, 1991 which shall be placed in each crew mess and recreation rooms. Sufficient copies of
the manual shall be provided on the ship for the use of personnal in charge of survival craft.

(3) Every passenger ship shall conduct abandon ship drill and fire drill at least once
in seven days and such drill shall comply with the requirements in the Twelfth Schedule to the
Life Saving Appliances Rules, 1991.

(4) Every ship of Class I and III shall be so equipped as to muster passengers within
24 hours of their embarkation and on every such ship a muster of the passenger shall be held
within 24 hours of their embarkation and at every such muster every passenger shall be
instructed in the use of life jacket and the action to be taken in an emergency;

Provided that if only a small number of passengers have embarked at a port after the muster has
been held, attention of those passengers shall be drawn to instructions specified in sub-rule (5) of
Rule 63A.

(5) On passenger ships other than ships of Class I and III a muster of the passenger
shall be held on departure from port of embarkation and where for some unavoidable reasons it is
not possible to hold such master, the attention of the passengers shall be drawn to the emergency
in instructions specified in sub-rule (5) of rule 63A.

(6) Every ship shall hold a practice muster for the ships crew only, the abandon ship
drill and the fire drill within 24 hours of the ship leaving a port if more than 25 percent of crew
have not participated in abandon ship in the previous month. Each member of the crew shall
participate in at least one such drill every month. On ships which are engaged on voyage of less
than 48 hours, such drills may be held in ports.

(7) Every member of the crew, as soon as possible, but not later than 2 weeks after he
joins the ship, shall be given training on board in the use of life-saving appliances including
survival craft equipment, the details of which shall be included in the training manual specified
in sub-rule (1).

(8) The Master of every ship shall maintain record of,--

(a) dated when musters were held ;

(b) details of abandon ship drills and fire drills ;

(c) drills in use of life-saving appliances other than abandon ship drills; and

(d) details of on board training given to the crew members ;

Provided that where it is not possible for a full muster drill or training session to be held at the
appointed time, the records shall indicate the circumstances there of and the extent of muster drill
or training session held subsequently. Every such entry shall be made in the official log book
maintained under section212 of the Act";

(22) for rules 65 and 66 the following rules shall be substituted, namely :-

"65. Operational readiness, maintenance and inspections.—(1) This rule applies to

ships of Class I to XII, both inclusive, and to ships of class XIII, XIV and XV as far as
practicable.

(2) All life-saving appliances shall be in working order and ready for immediate use
of every ship when it leaves port and at all times during the voyage.
 (3) Every such ship shall be provided with an instruction book for on board
maintenance or life-saving appliances containing the general pattern specified in the Thirteenth
Schedule of Life-Saving Appliances Rules, 1991.

(4) Wire falls used in launching survival craft in every ship shall be turned and for
end at intervals of not more than 30 months and shall be renewed at intervals of not more than 5
years or at any time when deterioration of the falls deems it necessary. Every such changing of
falls and for end or renewal of falls shall be recorded on the board maintenance log specified in
sub-rule (8);

(5) Every such ship shall be provided spares and repaires equipment for life-saving
appliances and their components as per recommendations of the manufactures, or where no
recommendation exist to the satisfaction of the approving authority.

(6) On every such ship, weekly and monthly tests, and inspections shall be carried
out as detailed in the instructions for on board maintenance as specified in the Thirteenth
Schedule of Life-Saving Appliances Rules, 1991.

(7) Periodical maintenance of any safety equipment may be carried out when a ship
is at sea if the working order of the equipment is not affected for an appreciable period.

(8) An on board maintenance log shall be provided on every such ship in which the
master shall record the periodical maintenance and emergency repairs carried out on life-saving
appliances and the result thereof. The date when subsequent permanent repairs were carried out
shall also be recorded.

66. General Emergency Alarm System.—In ships of class I to XII both inclusive a
general emergency alarm system shall be provided in accordance with the requirements specified
in part 8 of the Seventh Schedule of the Life-Saving Appliances Rules, 1991 for summoning
crew and passengers to muster stations and for initiating actions included in the muster list, such
system shall be supplemented by either a public address system or other suitable means of
communication";

(23) for rule 68, the following rule shall be substituted, namely :--

"68. Distress Signals.—(1) Every ship of Class I, III and VIII shall carry 12 parachute
distress signals complying with the requirements of the Sixteenth Schedule.

(2) Every ship other than ships of Class I, III and VIII shall carry six parachute
signals complying with the requirements of the Sixteenth Schedule of Six Red Star Distress
signals complying with the requirements of this rule.

(3) Any red Star signals required under this rule shall be capable of omitting two or
more red stars either together or separately at or to a height of not less than 50 metres and each of
these stars shall burn with the minimum of 500 candle power for not less than 5 seconds.
 (4) All pyrotechnic / distress signals shall be packed in a water tight container and
shall be clearly and indelibly labelled to indicate their operation.";

(24) after rule 68, the following rule shall be inserted namely :-

"68. A High visible colur of life-saving appliances—Life Saving Appliances carried by every
ship shall be of a highly visible colour on all parts to assist location of survivors or survival
crafts and shall be fitted with the retro reflective material complying with the requirements of the
Sixth Schedule of the Life Saving Appliances Rules, 1991.";

(25). in the fifth Schedule in Part I, in para 3, after clause (h), the following lauses shall be
inserted, namely :-

"(i) In every ship of classes I to XII life jackets carried on board for the crew shall be fitted
with light complying with the requirements as specified in the Seventh Schedule of the Life-
Saving Appliances Rules, 1991.

(j) In ship of class I and III life jackets carried for passengers shall also be fitted with a light
complying with the requirements specified in the Seventh Schedule of the Life-Saving
Appliances Rules, 1991.

(k) Every such light shall be inspected by a competent person at intervals of not more than
15 months."

[ F.No. SR-11012/4/89-MA ]
O.P. Mahey, Under Secy.

NOTE.-- The principal rules were published in the Gazette of India, Part II, Section 3(i)
dated December, 21 1982 at page 1 to 79 vide Government Notification Ministry of Shipping
and Transport (Shipping Wing), No.GSR 769(E) dated 21.12.1982.