1.5.1 Lifesaving and Safety Equipment

1.5 Legislation applicable to recreational craft of 13.7 metres in length and greater

▪Merchant Shipping (Life Saving

Appliances) Rules 1993 (S.I. No. 380 of 1993). These apply to craft constructed after 1986.

Legislation

1.5.1 Lifesaving and Safety Equipment

▪Merchant Shipping (Life

Saving Appliances) Rules 1983 (Amendment) Rules 1993 (S.I. No. 381 of 1993).

Applicable legislation:

▪Merchant Shipping Life Saving

▪Merchant Shipping (Life

Appliances Rules.

Saving Appliances) Rules 1983 (Amendment) (No. 2) Rules 1993 (S.I. No. 382 of 1993).

Lifesaving appliances consist of items of lifesaving equipment such as lifejackets, liferafts, flares, lifebuoys, EPIRBs, etc.

Under these Rules, recreational craft with a length of 13.7 m or greater are classed as Class XII vessels. The lifesaving appliances requirements applicable to Class XII vessels under these Rules are set out in Table B. The requirements differ depending on the length and area of operation of the vessel.

There are different Rules for craft constructed before and after 1986, as follows:

▪Merchant Shipping (Life Saving

Appliances) Rules 1983 (S.I. No. 302 of 1983). These apply to craft constructed before 1986.

Table B: Class XII boats – Mandatory Lifesaving Equipment

Lifesaving Equipment	Recreational Craft (1)* 13.7 - 21.3 metres length Restricted operations	Recreational Craft (2)+ 13.7 - 21.3 metres length Seagoing (post 1986)
Lifebuoys
Lifebuoy for each 2 persons carried on board. (Minimum of 2)	✓
One Lifebuoy fitet d with self-activating smoke and light signal	✓

Lifesaving Equipment	Recreational Craft (1)* 13.7 - 21.3 metres length Restricted operations	Recreational Craft (2)+ 13.7 - 21.3 metres length Seagoing (post 1986)
One Lifebuoy fitet d with buoyant line (18 m)	✓	✓
2 Lifebuoys, one fti et d with smoke/ light signal		✓
Lifejacket
Lifejacket for each person on board	✓
Lifejacket for each person on board with light fitet d		✓
Pyrotechnics
Six parachute flares or red star rockets	✓	✓
Waterproof container for flares	✓	✓
Rescue Signal Table	✓	✓
Liferaft of sufficient capacity for all persons on board		✓
Launching instructions/posters for liferaft on display		✓
Training Manual for onboard safety equipment		✓
Maintenance instructions for safety equipment		✓