Marine Exchange of Alaska

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• Ports and Waterways Safety Regulations
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• Miscellaneous Federal, State & Local Regulations
• Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Reference Guide

Regulations Home > Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Reference Guide Links > All Vessels - Lifesaving Equipment

All Vessels - Lifesaving Equipment Readiness, Maintenance & Inspection of

• Maintenance & Inspection of Lifesaving Equipment
• Distress Signals
• EPIRB
• Fire Extinguishers
• Portable Fire Extinguishers for Vessels 65 feet (19.8 meters) or more in Length

Maintenance & Inspection of Lifesaving Equipment

46 CFR 28.140

Requirements:

The master or individual in charge of a vessel must ensure that each item of lifesaving equipment be in good working order, ready for immediate use and readily accessible before the vessel leaves port and at all times when the vessel is operated.

Except for an inflatable liferaft or an inflatable buoyant apparatus less than two years of age, each item of lifesaving equipment, including unapproved equipment, must be maintained and inspected in accordance with Table 46 CFR 28.140.

An escape routefrom a space where an individual may be employed or an accommodation space must not be obstructed.

Table 46 CFR 28.140

Maintenance & Inspection of Lifesaving Equipment

* Water activated batteries must be replaced after use.

Maintenance and inspection must:

• be done in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines
• Inflatable liferafts or inflatable buoyant apparatus must be serviced at a facility approved by the CG and by the manufacturer of the survival craft.

Note 1: Except new inflatable liferafts or new inflatable buoyant apparatus within two years of the manufacture date.

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Distress Signals

46 CFR 28.145

Acceptability:

1. All Flares and signaling devices must be replaced by their expiration dates
2. Flares required on vessels operating beyond 50 milesfrom the coast must be approved under 46 CFR
   1. 160.136 (parachute)
   2. 160.121 (hand)
   3. 160.122 (smoke)
3. Flares required on vessels operating 3-50 milesfrom the coast must be approved under 46 CFR:
   1. 160.136 or 160.036 (parachute)
   2. 160.121 or 160.021 (hand)
   3. 160.122 or 160.022 or 160.037 (smoke)
4. Any 3 Coast Guard approved flares are acceptable in coastal waters.
5. Distress flag must be in accordance with 46 CFR 160.072.
6. Electric distress light must be in accordance with 46 CFR 161.013.

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EPIRB

46 CFR 28.150, 46 CFR 25.26

Applies to: All commercial fishing industry vessels operating on the high seas (beyond 3nm of the coastline).

Type Required:

1. Fishing vessels 36 feet or more in length:
   1. A float-free, automatically activated Category 1 406 MHz EPIRBunless there is a builder’s certification stating the vessel was built with sufficient buoyant material to keep the flooded vessel afloat (see para. B).
2. Fishing vessels less than 36 feet in length, or a fishing vessel 36 feet or more in length having a builder’s certification stating the vessel was built with sufficient buoyant materialto keep the flooded vessel afloat:
   1. A float-free, float free, automatically activated Category 1 406 MHz EPIRB,
   2. or
   3. A manually activated Category 2 406 MHz EPIRB.

Note: The "grandfathering" exception allowing the substitution of a post-Oct ‘88, 121.5/243.0 MHz Class A or B EPIRB installed on or before 24Apr93 expired 1Feb98. All EPIRBs carried to meet vessel requirements must be of the proper 406 MHz type.

Exemptions:

1. A skiff or workboat does not require an EPIRB if it is stored, when not working, aboard a mother ship equipped with an EPIRB.
2. The District Commander may grant other exemptions.

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Fire Extinguishers

46 CFR 28.155, 46 CFR 28.160, 46 CFR 25.30

Note:

1. One B-II replaces two B-I fire extinguishers.
2. Outboard boats less than 26 feet in length are not required to carry fire extinguishers if their construction will not permit the entrapment of explosive or flammable gases or vapors.

For vessels 65 feet or more in length:

1. See following page for table containing portable fire extinguishers plus
2. Ensure each carries the minimum number of B-II extinguishers as listed here:

Excess fire detection and protection equipment is permitted if:

• It does not endanger the crew or vessel,
• It is listed and labeled by an independent, national testing laboratory such as UL, FM, etc.
• It is in accordance with appropriate industry standards for design, installation, testing and maintenance.

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Portable Fire Extinguishers for Vessels 65 feet (19.8 meters) or more in Length:

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