5.

1 Rescue boats
5.1.1 General requirements
5.1.1.1. Except as provided by this section, all rescue boats shall comply with the requirements of paragraphs
4.4.1 to 4.4.7.4 inclusive, excluding paragraph 4.4.6.8, and 4.4.7.6, 4.4.7.8, 4.4.7.10, 4.4.7.11 and 4.4.9, except
that, for all rescue boats, an average mass of 82.5 kg shall apply to paragraph 4.4.2.2.1. A lifeboat may be
approved and used as a rescue boat if it meets all of the requirements of this section, if it successfully completes
the testing for a rescue boat required in regulation III/4.2, and if its stowage, launching and recovery
arrangements on the ship meet all of the requirements for a rescue boat.

5.1.1.2. Notwithstanding the requirements of paragraph 4.4.4 required buoyant material for rescue boats may be
installed external to the hull, provided it is adequately protected against damage and is capable of withstanding
exposure as specified in paragraph 5.1.3.3.

5.1.1.3. Rescue boats may be either of rigid or inflated construction or a combination of both and shall:

.1. be not less than 3.8 m and not more than 8.5 m in length; and

.2. be capable of carrying at least five seated persons and a person lying on a stretcher all wearing immersion
suits, and lifejackets if required. Notwithstanding paragraph 4.4.1.5, seating, except for the helmsman, may be
provided on the floor, provided that the seating space analysis in accordance with paragraph 4.4.2.2.2 uses
shapes similar to figure 1, but altered to an overall length of 1190 mm to provide for extended legs. No part of a
seating space shall be on the gunwale, transom, or on inflated buoyancy at the sides of the boat.

Figure 1
5.1.1.4. Rescue boats which are a combination of rigid and inflated construction shall comply with the appropriate
requirements of this section to the satisfaction of the Administration.

5.1.1.5. Unless the rescue boat has adequate sheer, it shall be provided with a bow cover extending for not less
than 15% of its length.

5.1.1.6. Every rescue boat shall be provided with sufficient fuel, suitable for use throughout the temperature
range expected in the area in which the ship operates, and be capable of manoeuvring at a speed of at least 6
knots and maintaining that speed, for a period of at least 4 h, when loaded with its full complement of persons
and equipment.

5.1.1.7. Rescue boats shall have sufficient mobility and manoeuvrability in a seaway to enable persons to be
retrieved from the water, marshal liferafts and tow the largest liferaft carried on the ship when loaded with its full
complement of persons and equipment or its equivalent at a speed of at least 2 knots.

5.1.1.8. A rescue boat shall be fitted with an inboard engine or outboard motor. If it is fitted with an outboard
motor, the rudder and tiller may form part of the engine. Notwithstanding the requirements of paragraph 4.4.6.1,
petrol-driven outboard engines with an approved fuel system may be fitted in rescue boats provided the fuel
tanks are specially protected against fire and explosion.

5.1.1.9. Arrangements for towing shall be permanently fitted in rescue boats and shall be sufficiently strong to
marshal or tow liferafts as required by paragraph 5.1.1.7.

5.1.1.10. Unless expressly provided otherwise, every rescue boat shall be provided with effective means of
bailing or be automatically self-bailing.

5.1.1.11. Rescue boats shall be fitted with weathertight stowage for small items of equipment.
5.1.1.12. Every rescue boat shall be so arranged that an adequate view forward, aft and to both sides is provided
from the control and steering position for safe launching and manoeuvring and, in particular, with regard to
visibility of areas and crew members essential to man-overboard retrieval and marshalling of survival craft.

5.1.2 Rescue boat equipment

5.1.2.1. All items of rescue boat equipment, with the exception of boat-hooks which shall be kept free for fending
off purposes, shall be secured within the rescue boat by lashings, storage in lockers or compartments, storage in
brackets or similar mounting arrangements, or other suitable means. The equipment shall be secured in such a
manner as not to interfere with any launching or recovery procedures. All items of rescue boat equipment shall be
as small and of as little mass as possible and shall be packed in suitable and compact form.

5.1.2.2. The normal equipment of every rescue boat shall consist of:

.1. sufficient buoyant oars or paddles to make headway in calm seas. Thole pins, crutches or equivalent
arrangements shall be provided for each oar. Thole pins or crutches shall be attached to the boat by lanyards or
chains;

.2. a buoyant bailer;

.3. a binnacle containing an efficient compass which is luminous or provided with suitable means of illumination;

.4. a sea-anchor and tripping line or fitted with a hawser of adequate strength not less than 10 m in length;

.5. a painter of sufficient length and strength, attached to the release device complying with the requirements of
paragraph 4.4.7.7 and placed at the forward end of the rescue boat;

.6. one buoyant line, not less than 50 m in length, of sufficient strength to tow a liferaft as required by paragraph
5.1.1.7;

.7. one waterproof electric torch suitable for Morse signalling, together with one spare set of batteries and one
spare bulb in a waterproof container;

.8. one whistle or equivalent sound signal;

.9. a first-aid outfit in a waterproof case capable of being closed tightly after use;

.10. two buoyant rescue quoits, attached to not less than 30 m of buoyant line;

.11. a searchlight with a horizontal and vertical sector or at least 6° and a measured luminous intensity of 2500 cd
which can work continuously for not less than 3 h;

.12. an efficient radar reflector;

.13. thermal protective aids complying with the requirements of section 2.5 sufficient for 10% of the number of
persons the rescue boat is permitted to accommodate or two, whichever is the greater; and

see footnote
.14. portable fire-extinguishing equipment of an approved type suitable for extinguishing oil fires .

5.1.2.3. In addition to the equipment required by paragraph 5.1.2.2, the normal equipment of every rigid rescue
boat shall include:

.1. a boat hook;

.2. a bucket; and

.3. a knife or hatchet.

5.1.2.4. In addition to the equipment required by paragraph 5.1.2.2 the normal equipment for every inflated
rescue boat shall consist of:

.1. a buoyant safety knife;

.2. two sponges;

.3. an efficient manually operated bellows or pump;

.4. a repair kit in a suitable container for repairing punctures; and

.5. a safety boat-hook.

5.1.3 Additional requirements for inflated rescue boats

5.1.3.1. The requirements of paragraph 4.4.1.4 and 4.4.1.6 do not apply to inflated rescue boats.

5.1.3.2. An inflated rescue boat shall be constructed in such a way that, when suspended by its bridle or lifting
hook:

.1. it is of sufficient strength and rigidity to enable it to be lowered and recovered with its full complement of
persons and equipment;

.2. it is of sufficient strength to withstand a load of 4 times the mass of its full complement of persons and
equipment at an ambient temperature of 20 ± 3°C, with all relief valves inoperative; and

.3. it is of sufficient strength to withstand a load of 1.1 times the mass of its full complement of persons and
equipment at an ambient temperature of -30°C, with all relief valves operative.

5.1.3.3. Inflated rescue boats shall be so constructed as to be capable of withstanding exposure:

.1. when stowed on an open deck on a ship at sea;

.2. for 30 days afloat in all sea conditions.

5.1.3.4. In addition to complying with the requirements of paragraph 4.4.9, inflated rescue boats shall be marked
with a serial number, the maker’s name or trade mark and the date of manufacture.

5.1.3.5. The buoyancy of an inflated rescue boat shall be provided by either a single tube subdivided into at least
five separate compartments of approximately equal volume or two separate tubes neither exceeding 60% of the
total volume. The buoyancy tubes shall be so arranged that the intact compartments shall be able to support the
number of persons which the rescue boat is permitted to accommodate, each having a mass of 82.5 kg, when
seated in their normal positions with positive freeboard over the rescue boat’s entire periphery under the following
conditions:

.1. with the forward buoyancy compartment deflated;

.2. with the entire buoyancy on one side of the rescue boat deflated; and

.3. with the entire buoyancy on one side and the bow compartment deflated.

5.1.3.6. The buoyancy tubes forming the boundary of the inflated rescue boat shall on inflation provide a volume
3
of not less than 0.17 m for each person the rescue boat is permitted to accommodate.

5.1.3.7. Each buoyancy compartment shall be fitted with a non-return valve for manual inflation and means for
deflation. A safety relief valve shall also be fitted unless the Administration is satisfied that such an appliance is
unnecessary.
5.1.3.8. Underneath the bottom and on vulnerable places on the outside of the inflated rescue boat, rubbing
strips shall be provided to the satisfaction of the Administration.

5.1.3.9. Where a transom is fitted it shall not be inset by more than 20% of the overall length of the rescue boat.

5.1.3.10. Suitable patches shall be provided for securing the painters fore and aft and the becketed lifelines
inside and outside the boat.

5.1.4 Additional requirements for fast rescue boats

5.1.4.1. Fast rescue boats shall be so constructed as to capable of being safely launched and retrieved under
adverse weather and sea conditions.

5.1.4.2. Except as provided by this section, all fast rescue boats shall comply with the requirements of section
5.1, except for paragraphs 4.4.1.5.3, 4.4.1.6, 4.4.7.2, 5.1.1.6 and 5.1.1.10.

5.1.4.3. Notwithstanding paragraph 5.1.1.3.1, fast rescue boats shall have a hull length of not less than 6 m and
not more than 8.5 m, including inflated structures or fixed fenders.

5.1.4.4. Fast rescue boats shall be provided with sufficient fuel, suitable for use throughout the temperature range
expected in the area in which the ship operates, and be capable of manoeuvring, for a period of at least 4 h, at a
speed of at least 20 knots in calm water with a crew of 3 persons and at least 8 knots when loaded with its full
complement of persons and equipment.

5.1.4.5. Fast rescue boats shall be self-righting or capable of being readily righted by not more than two of their
crew.

5.1.4.6. Fast rescue boats shall be self-bailing or be capable of being rapidly cleared of water.

5.1.4.7. Fast rescue boats shall be steered by a wheel at the helmsman’s position remote from the tiller. An
emergency steering system providing direct control of the rudder, water jet, or outboard motor shall also be
provided.

5.1.4.8. Engines in fast rescue boats shall stop automatically or be stopped by the helmsman’s emergency
release switch, should the rescue boat capsize. When the rescue boat has righted, each engine or motor shall be
capable of being restarted provided that the helmsman’s emergency release, if fitted, has been reset. The design
of the fuel and lubricating systems shall prevent the loss of more than 250 ml of fuel or lubricating oil from the
propulsion system, should the rescue boat capsize.

5.1.4.9. Fast rescue boats shall, if possible, be equipped with an easily and safely operated fixed single-point
suspension arrangement or equivalent.

5.1.4.10. A rigid fast rescue boat shall be constructed in such a way that, when suspended by its lifting point, it is
of sufficient strength to withstand a load of 4 times the mass of its full complement of persons and equipment
without residual deflection upon removal of the load.

5.1.4.11. The normal equipment of a fast rescue boat shall include a VHF radiocommunication set which is
hands-free and watertight.