160.015-2—General requirements for lifeboat winches.
(a)
The requirements of this subpart apply to all new construction of lifeboat winches. Lifeboat winches approved and in use prior to the regulations in this subpart may be continued in service if in satisfactory condition.
(b)
Lifeboat winches for use with gravity davits shall have grooved drums of such size that there will be only one wrap of wire on the drum. Lifeboat winches for use with mechanical davits need not be grooved and may be designed to take more than one wrap.
(c)
Lifeboat winches shall be designed to lower under the force of gravity alone. There shall be no provisions for power lowering. A suitable hand wheel shall be attached to the winch to overhaul the falls in addition to any hand cranks provided.
(d)
If the lifeboat winch is to be used in conjunction with nested lifeboats where the same falls are used for both boats, suitable means shall be provided for rapidly retrieving the falls by hand power.
(e)
The installation of lifeboat winches shall be such that the fleet angle for grooved drums does not exceed 8 degrees, and for nongrooved drums does not exceed 4 degrees.
(f)
Suitable hand cranks shall be provided for hoisting in addition to any other means for hoisting.
(g)
Suitable fabric covers shall be provided, so fitted over exposed mechanisms that ice formations may be readily broken adrift when necessary to operate the winch.
(h)
Falls shall not lead past any position that may be needed for the operation of the winch, such as hand cranks, pay-out wheels, brake levers, etc.
(i)
Where falls lead along a deck they shall be suitably covered and so arranged that the top of the cover does not exceed 12 inches above the deck.
(j)
Lifeboat winches shall be so designed that when located aboard merchant vessels the operator can observe the movement of the lifeboat during the lowering operation.
(k)
For the purpose of calculations and conducting tests, the working load is the maximum load in pounds applied to the winch for which approval is desired.
(k-1) The exterior of a winch shall be designed to minimize such crevices, pockets, and inaccessible areas that when corroded would require disassembly of the winch for their scaling and painting.
(k-2) [Reserved]
(l)
The requirements of this subpart shall be complied with unless other arrangements in matters of construction details, design, strength, equivalent in safety and efficiency are approved by the Commandant.
[CGFR 49-18, 14 FR 5111, Aug. 17, 1949, as amended by CGFR 58-31, 23 FR 6883, Sept. 6, 1958; CGD 72-133R, 37 FR 17038, Aug. 24, 1972]