CFR > Title 46 - Shipping > CHAPTER I—COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY > SUBCHAPTER T—SMALL PASSENGER VESSELS (UNDER 100 GROSS TONS) (parts 175 to 186) > PART 180—LIFESAVING EQUIPMENT AND ARRANGEMENTS > SUBPART A—General Provisions (§180.10 to §180.25) > 180.15—Applicability to existing vessels.

180.15—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 §§ 180.202, 180.204, 180.205, 180.206, 180.207, or 180.208, as applicable; and
(2) Comply with the stowage and launching appliance requirements for survival craft in §§ 180.130 through 180.150, inclusive.
(c) A vessel that meets the following requirements shall be considered in compliance with the subdivision requirements contained in §§ 180.202, 180.204, 180.205, 180.206, 180.207 and 180.208 :
(1) The vessel was constructed before March 11, 2001.
(2) The vessel is of not more than 19.8 meters (65 feet) in length and carries not more than 49 passengers;
(3) The vessel meets the standards for collision bulkheads in § 179.310 of this chapter; and
(4) The vessel meets the standards for one-compartment subdivision in §§ 179.220 and 179.320 of this chapter, at least in way of the engine room and lazarette.
(d) 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 for these survival craft as long as the survival craft is continued in use on the vessel, and is in good and serviceable condition.
(e) 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.
(f) 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 § 180.68.
(g) 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 § 180.64, 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.
(h) 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 § 180.64, if the EPIRB:
(1) Is operable; and
(2) Was installed on the vessel on or before March 11, 1996.
(i) Until March 11, 1997, an existing vessel on a limited coastwise route, need not comply with § 180.64.
(j) An existing vessel need not comply with § 180.78(a)(4).
(k) An existing vessel must comply with § 180.210 or may comply with the regulations for rescue boats that were in effect for the vessel prior to March 11, 1996.
[CGD 85-080, 61 FR 975, Jan. 10, 1996; 61 FR 24464, May 15, 1996]