25.25-5—Life preservers and other lifesaving equipment required.
(a)
No person may operate a vessel to which this subpart applies unless it meets the requirements of this subpart.
(b)
Each vessel not carrying passengers for hire, less than 40 feet in length must have at least one life preserver (Type I PFD), buoyant vest (Type II PFD), or marine buoyant device intended to be worn (Type III PFD), approved under subchapter Q of a suitable size for each person on board. Kapok and fibrous glass life preservers that do not have plastic-covered pad inserts as required by subparts and of this chapter are not acceptable as equipment required by this paragraph.
(c)
Each vessel carrying passengers for hire and each vessel 40 feet in length or longer not carrying passengers for hire must have at least one life preserver approved under subchapter Q of a suitable size for each person on board. Kapok and fibrous glass life preservers which do not have plastic-covered pad inserts as required by subparts and of this chapter are not acceptable as equipment required by this paragraph.
(d)
In addition to the equipment required by paragraph (b) and (c) of this section, each vessel 26 feet in length or longer must have at least one approved ring life buoy, and each uninspected passenger vessel of at least 100 gross tons must have at least three ring life buoys. Ring life buoys must be constructed per subpart 160.050 of part 160 of this chapter. The exception is a ring life buoy that was approved prior to May 9, 1979, under former subpart 160.009 of part 160 of this chapter (see 46 CFR chapter I, revised as of October 1, 1979), which may be used as long as it is in good and serviceable condition.
(e)
Each vessel not carrying passengers for hire may substitute an immersion suit for a life preserver, buoyant vest, or marine buoyant device required under paragraphs (b) or (c) of this section. Each immersion suit carried in accordance with this paragraph must be of a type approved under subpart of this chapter.
(f)
On each vessel, regardless of length and regardless of whether carrying passengers for hire, an approved commercial hybrid PFD may be substituted for a life preserver, buoyant vest, or marine buoyant device required under paragraphs (b) or (c) of this section if it is—
(3)
In the case of a Type V commercial hybrid PFD, worn when the vessel is underway and the intended wearer is not within an enclosed space.
[CGD 72-172R, 38 FR 8117, Mar. 28, 1973, as amended by CGD 77-081, 47 FR 10558, Mar. 11, 1982; CGD 82-075a, 49 FR 4483, Feb. 7, 1984; CGD 78-174A, 51 FR 4350, Feb. 4, 1986; CGD 78-174, 60 FR 2485, Jan. 9, 1995; CGD 97-057, 62 FR 51042, Sept. 30, 1997; USCG-1999-5040, 67 FR 34775, May 15, 2002]