46 CFR §160.051-7
Verified against eCFR.gov as of June 20, 2026View official text on eCFR.gov ↗
To obtain Coast Guard approval, each Coastal Service inflatable liferaft must comply with subpart 160.151, with the following exceptions:
- (a)Canopy requirements (IMO LSA Code chapter IV/4.1.1.5, (incorporated by reference, see § 160.051-5 of this subpart)). The canopy may—
- (b)Viewing port (IMO LSA Code, chapter IV/4.1.1.5.5). The liferaft need not have the viewing port.
- (c)Rainwater collection (IMO LSA Code, chapter IV/4.1.1.5.6). The liferaft need not have the means of rainwater collection.
- (d)Capacity (IMO LSA Code, chapter IV/4.1.2.1). The carrying capacity must be not less than four persons.
- (e)Floor insulation (IMO LSA Code, chapter IV/4.2.2.2). The floor may be uninsulated.
- (f)Boarding ramps (IMO LSA Code, chapter IV/4.2.4.1). The liferaft need be provided with boarding ramps only if the combined cross-section diameter of the buoyancy chambers is greater than 500 mm (19.5 in).
- (g)Stability (IMO LSA Code, chapter IV/4.2.5). Each Coastal Service inflatable liferaft must either meet the stability criteria in § 160.151-17(a) or be fitted with water-containing stability pockets meeting the following requirements:
- (1)The total volume of the pockets must be not less than 25 percent of the minimum required volume of the principal buoyancy compartments of the liferaft.
- (2)The pockets must be securely attached and evenly distributed around the periphery of the exterior bottom of the liferaft. They may be omitted at the locations of inflation cylinders.
- (3)The pockets must be designed to deploy underwater when the liferaft inflates. If weights are used for this purpose, they must be of corrosion-resistant material.
- (h)Lamp (IMO LSA Code, chapter IV/4.1.3.4). The liferaft need not have the manually controlled interior lamp.
- (i)Markings (IMO LSA Code, chapter IV/4.2.3.6). The words “COASTAL SERVICE” must appear on the container, and the type of equipment pack must be identified as “Coastal Service”. No “SOLAS” markings may appear on the container.
- (j)Drop test. The drop test required under paragraph 1/5.1 of IMO Revised recommendation on testing (incorporated by reference, see § 160.051-5 of this subpart) and 160.151-27(a) may be from a lesser height, if that height is the maximum height of stowage marked on the container.
- (k)Loading and seating test. For the loading and seating test required under paragraph 1/5.7 of IMO Revised recommendation on testing and § 160.151-27(a), the loaded freeboard of the liferaft must be not less than 200 mm (8 in.).
- (l)Cold-inflation test. The cold-inflation test required under paragraph 1/5.17.3.3.2 of IMO Revised recommendation on testing and § 160.151-27(a) must be conducted at a test temperature of −18 °C (0 °F).