(a) The master or individual in charge of a vessel must ensure that each item of lifesaving equipment must be in good working order, ready for immediate use, and readily accessible before the vessel leaves port and at all times when the vessel is operated.
(b) Each item of lifesaving equipment, including unapproved equipment, must be maintained and inspected in accordance with:
(1) Table 28.140 in this section;
(2) The servicing procedure under the subpart of this chapter applicable to the item's approval; and
(3) The manufacturer's guidelines.
(c) An inflatable liferaft or inflatable buoyant apparatus must be serviced no later than the month and year on its servicing sticker affixed under 46 CFR 160.151-57(n), and whenever the container is damaged or the container straps or seals are broken. It must be serviced at a facility specifically approved by the Commandant for the particular brand.
(d) An escape route from a space where an individual may be employed or an accommodation space must not be obstructed.
Table 28.140--Scheduled Maintenance and Inspection of Lifesaving Equipment----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interval
Item ------------------------------------------------ Regulation
(1) Inflatable wearable personal ...................... Servicing............. 28.140
flotation device (Type V
commercial hybrid).(2) Personal flotation devices, ...................... Inspect, clean and 28.140
exposure suits and immersion suits. repair as necessary.(3) Buoyant apparatus and life ...................... Inspect, clean and 28.140
floats. repair as necessary.(4) Inflatable liferaft............ ...................... Servicing \1\......... 28.140(5) Inflatable buoyant apparatus... ...................... Servicing \1\......... 28.140(6) Hydrostatic release............ ...................... Servicing \1\......... 28.140(7) Disposable hydrostatic release. ...................... Replace on or before 28.140
expiration date.(8) Undated batteries.............. ...................... Replace............... 28.140(9) Dated batteries \2\ and other ...................... Replace on or before 25.26-50, 28.140
items. expiration date.(10) EPIRB......................... Test.................. ...................... 25.26-50----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\1\ For a new liferaft or inflatable buoyant apparatus, the first annual servicing may be deferred to two years
from the date of first packing if so indicated on the servicing sticker.\2\ Water activated batteries must be replaced whenever they are used. [CGD 88-079, 56 FR 40393, Aug. 14, 1991; 56 FR 49822, Oct. 1, 1991, as amended at USCG-2001-11118, 67 FR 58540, Sept. 17, 2002; USCG-2004-18884, 69 FR 58344, Sept. 30, 2004]