CFR > Title 46 - Shipping > CHAPTER I—COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY > SUBCHAPTER K—SMALL PASSENGER VESSELS CARRYING MORE THAN 150 PASSENGERS OR WITH OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS FOR MORE THAN 49 PASSENGERS (parts 114 to 123) > PART 117—LIFESAVING EQUIPMENT AND ARRANGEMENTS > SUBPART A—General Provisions (§117.10 to §117.25) > 117.15—Applicability to existing vessels.

117.15—Applicability to existing vessels.

An existing vessel must comply with the requirements of this part except as otherwise specified by this section.
(a) Before March 11, 2001, or 10 years after the vessel's keel was laid or the vessel was at a similar stage of construction, whichever is later, an existing vessel may comply with the requirements in effect for the vessel prior to March 11, 1996, for the number and type of survival craft, stowage arrangements, and launching appliances for survival craft.
(b) On or before March 11, 2001, or 10 years after the vessel's keel was laid or the vessel was at a similar stage of construction, whichever is later, an existing vessel must:
(1) Be equipped with the number of survival craft required for its route under §§ 117.202, 117.204, 117.205, 117.206, 117.207, or 117.208 of this part, as applicable; and
(2) Comply with the stowage and launching appliance requirements for survival craft in §§ 117.130 through 117.150 of this part, inclusive.
(c) Each inflatable liferaft, inflatable buoyant apparatus, life float, and buoyant apparatus on the vessel on March 11, 1996, may be used to meet the requirements of this part as long as the survival craft is in good and serviceable condition.
(d) New installations of lifesaving equipment on an existing vessel, which are completed to the satisfaction of the cognizant Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection, (OCMI) on or after March 11, 1996, must comply with the regulations in this part. Replacement of existing lifesaving equipment installed before March 11, 1996, must meet the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section.
(e) A combination flare and smoke distress signal approved in accordance with § 160.023 in subchapter Q of this chapter, may be used on an existing vessel until the expiration date of the distress signal but no later than March 11, 1999, as one of the distress signals required by § 117.68 of this part.
(f) Until February 1, 1999, a Coast Guard approved 121.5/243 MHz Class A Emergency Position Indicating Radiobeacon (EPIRB) may be used to meet the requirement for an EPIRB under § 117.64 of this part, if the EPIRB:
(1) Is operable;
(2) Is installed to automatically float-free and activate;
(3) Was manufactured on or after October 1, 1988; and
(4) Was installed on the vessel on or before March 11, 1996.
(g) Until February 1, 1999, a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Type Accepted VHF-FM Class C EPIRB may be used to meet the requirement for an EPIRB on a vessel operating on a Great Lakes route under § 117.64 of this part, if the EPIRB;
(1) Is operable; and
(2) Was installed on the vessel on or before March 11, 1996.
(h) Until March 11, 1997 an existing vessel on a limited coastwise route need not comply with § 117.64 of this part.
(i) An existing vessel need not comply with § 117.78(a)(4) of this part.
(j) An existing vessel must comply with either § 117.210 of this part or with the regulations for rescue boats that were in effect for the vessel prior to March 11, 1996.
[CGD 85-080, 61 FR 911, Jan. 10, 1996; 61 FR 24464, May 15, 1996]