(a) Except as allowed by paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) of this section, each vessel certificated to operate on a limited coastwise route shall be provided with the survival craft required by §§117.204 (a) through (d) of this part, as applicable.

(b) Each vessel without overnight accommodations operating in cold water, between two points, with a set schedule on a specific route that maintains a 15 minute radio communications schedule with an operation base, may be provided with life floats of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 100% of the total number of persons permitted on board.

(c) Each vessel operating in warm water may be provided with life floats of an aggregate capacity that will accommodate at least 50% of the total number of persons permitted on board.

(d) Each vessel certificated to operate on a limited coastwise route within three miles of land in warm water, and is equipped with an FCC type accepted Category 1 406 MHz EPIRB installed to float free and automatically activate, is not required to carry survival craft.