Title 46

SECTION 28.120

28.120 Survival craft.

§ 28.120 Survival craft.

(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) through (h) of this section and 28.305, each vessel must carry the survival craft specified in table 28.120(a), table 28.120(b), or table 28.120(c), as appropriate for the vessel, in an aggregate capacity to accommodate the total number of individuals on board.

(b) The requirements of this section do not apply to vessels less than 10.97 meters (36 feet) in length with 3 or fewer individuals on board which operate within 12 miles of the coastline.

(c) A buoyant apparatus may be substituted instead of the requirements in this section for vessels 10.97 meters (36 feet) or more in length with 3 or fewer individuals on board which operate within 12 miles of the coastline.

(d) Each survival craft installed on board a vessel before September 15, 1991, may continue to be used to meet the requirements of this section provided the survival craft is -

(1) Of the same type as required in tables 28.120(a), 28.120(b), or 28.120(c), as appropriate for the vessel type; and

(2) Maintained in good and serviceable condition.

(e) Each inflatable liferaft installed on board a vessel before September 15, 1991, may continue to be used to meet the requirements for an approved inflatable liferaft, provided the existing liferaft is -

(1) Maintained in good and serviceable condition as required by table 28.140; and

(2) Equipped with the equipment pack required by tables 28.120(a), 28.120(b), or 28.120(c), as appropriate for the vessel type. Where no equipment pack is specified in tables 28.120(a), 28.120(b), or 28.120(c), a coastal service pack is the minimum required.

(f) A lifeboat may be substituted for any survival craft required by this section, provided it is arranged and equipped in accordance with part 199 of this chapter.

(g) The capacity of an auxiliary craft carried on board a vessel that is integral to and necessary for normal fishing operations will satisfy the requirements of this section for survival craft, except for an inflatable liferaft, provided the craft is readily accessible during an emergency and is capable of safely holding all individuals on board the vessel. If the auxiliary craft is equipped with a Coast Guard required capacity plate, the boat must not be loaded so as to exceed the rated capacity.

(h) A vessel less than 10.97 meters (36 feet) in length that meets the flotation provisions of 33 CFR part 183 is exempt from the requirement for survival craft in paragraph (a) of this section for operation on -

(1) Any waters within 12 miles of the coastline.

(2) Rivers.

Table 28.120(a) - Survival Craft for Documented Vessels

Area	Vessel type	Survival craft required
Beyond 50 miles of coastline	All	Inflatable liferaft with SOLAS A pack.
Between 20-50 miles of coastline, cold waters	All	Inflatable liferaft with SOLAS B pack.
Between 20-50 miles of coastline, warm waters	All	Inflatable liferaft.
Beyond Boundary Line, between 12-20 miles of coastline, cold waters	All	Inflatable liferaft.
Beyond Boundary Line, within 12 miles of coastline, cold waters	10.97 meters (36 feet) or more in length	Inflatable buoyant apparatus. See note 2.
Beyond Boundary Line, within 12 miles of coastline, cold waters	Less than 10.97 meters (36 feet) in length	Buoyant apparatus. See note 2.
Beyond Boundary Line, within 20 miles of coastline, warm waters	All	Life float. See note 2.
Inside Boundary Line, cold waters; or Lakes, bays, sounds, cold waters; or Rivers, cold waters	10.97 meters (36 feet) or more in length	Inflatable buoyant apparatus. See note 2.
Inside Boundary Line, cold waters; or Lakes, bays, sounds, cold waters; or Rivers, cold waters	Less than 10.97 meters (36 feet) in length	Buoyant apparatus. See note 2.
Inside Boundary Line, warm waters; or Lakes, bays, sounds, warm waters; or Rivers, warm waters	All	None.
Great Lakes, cold waters	10.97 meters (36 feet) or more in length	Inflatable buoyant apparatus. See note 2.
Great Lakes, cold waters	Less than 10.97 meters (36 feet) in length	Buoyant apparatus. See note 2.
Great Lakes, beyond 3 miles of coastline, warm waters	All	Buoyant apparatus. See note 2.
Great Lakes, within 3 miles of coastline, warm waters	All	None.

Note: 1. The hierarchy of survival craft in descending order is lifeboat, inflatable liferaft with SOLAS A pack, inflatable liferaft with SOLAS B pack, inflatable liferaft with coastal service pack, inflatable buoyant apparatus, life float, buoyant apparatus. A survival craft higher in the hierarchy may be substituted for any survival craft required in this table.

2. If a vessel carriers 3 or fewer individuals within 12 miles of the coastline, see § 28.120 (b) and (c) for carriage substitution.

Table 28.120(b) - Survival Craft for Undocumented Vessels With Not More Than 16 Individuals on Board

Area	Vessel type	Survival craft required
Beyond 20 miles of coastline	All	Inflatable buoyant apparatus.
Beyond Boundary Line, between 12-20 miles of coastline, cold waters	All	Inflatable buoyant apparatus.
Beyond Boundary Line, within 12 miles of coastline, cold waters	10.97 meters (36 feet) or more in length	Buoyant apparatus.
Beyond Boundary Line, within 12 miles of coastline, cold waters	Less than 10.97 meters (36 feet) in length	Buoyant apparatus. See note 2.
Beyond Boundary Line, within 20 miles of coastline, warm waters	All	Life float. See note 2.
Inside Boundary Line, cold waters; or Lakes, bays, sounds, cold waters; or rivers, cold water	10.97 meters (36 feet) or more in length	Buoyant apparatus.
Inside Boundary Line, cold waters; or Lakes, bays, sounds, cold waters; or Rivers, cold water	Less than 10.97 meters (36 feet) in length	Buoyant apparatus See note 2.
Inside Boundary Line, warm waters; or Lakes, bays, sounds, warm waters; or Rivers, warm waters	All	None.
Great Lakes, cold waters	All	Buoyant apparatus. See note 2.
Great Lakes, beyond 3 miles of coastline warm waters	All	Buoyant apparatus. See note 2.
Great Lakes, within 3 miles of coastline warm waters	All	None.

2. If a vessel carries 3 or fewer individuals within 12 miles of the coastline, see § 28.120 (b) and (c) for carriage substitution.

Table 28.120(c) - Survival Craft for Undocumented Vessels With More Than 16 Individuals on Board

Area	Vessel type	Survival craft required
Beyond 50 miles of coastline	All	Inflatable liferaft with SOLAS A pack.
Between 20-50 miles of coastline, cold waters	All	Inflatable liferaft with SOLAS B pack.
Between 20-50 miles of coastline, warm waters	All	Inflatable liferaft.
Beyond Boundary Line, between 12-20 miles of coastline, cold waters	All	Inflatable liferaft.
Beyond Boundary Line, within 12 miles of coastline, cold waters	10.97 meters (36 feet) or more in length	Inflatable buoyant apparatus.
Beyond Boundary Line, within 12 miles of coastline, cold waters	Less than 10.97 meters (36 feet) in length	Buoyant apparatus.
Beyond Boundary Line, within 20 miles of coastline, warm waters	All	Life float.
Inside Boundary Line, cold waters; or Lakes, bays, sounds, cold waters; or Rivers, cold waters	10.97 meters (36 feet) or more in length	Inflatable buoyant apparatus.
Inside Boundary Line, cold waters; or Lakes, bays, sounds, cold waters; or Rivers, cold waters	Less than 10.97 meters (36 feet) in length	Buoyant apparatus.
Inside Boundary Line, warm waters; or Lakes, bays, sounds, warm waters; or Rivers, warm waters	All	None.
Great Lakes, cold waters	10.97 meters (36 feet) or more in length	Inflatable buoyant apparatus.
Great Lakes, cold waters	Less than 10.97 meters (36 feet) in length	Buoyant apparatus.
Great Lakes, beyond 3 miles of coastline warm waters	All	Buoyant apparatus.
Great Lakes, within 3 miles of coastline warm waters	All	None.

Note: 1. The hierarchy of survival craft in descending order is lifeboat, liferaft with SOLAS A pack, Inflatable liferaft with SOLAS A pack, liferaft with SOLAS B pack, Inflatable liferaft with SOLAS B pack, Inflatable liferaft with coastal service pack, inflatable buoyant apparatus, life float, buoyant apparatus. A survival craft higher in the hierarchy may be substituted for any survival craft required in this table.

[CGD 96-046, 61 FR 57273, Nov. 5, 1996; CGD 96-046, 61 FR 68162, Dec. 27, 1996, as amended by CGD 96-046, 62 FR 46676, Sept. 4, 1997; USCG-2002-13058, 67 FR 61278, Sept. 30, 2002; USCG-2014-0688, 79 FR 58279, Sept. 29, 2014]