(a) The master or person in charge shall ensure that the lifeboats, rescue boats, liferafts, and lifefloats, are properly maintained at all times, and that all equipment for the vessel required by the regulations in this subchapter is provided, maintained, and replaced as indicated or when necessary and no less frequently than required by paragraph (b) of this section.

(b) The master shall ensure that:

(1) Each lifeboat has been stripped, cleaned and thoroughly overhauled at least once in each year.

(2) The fuel tanks of motor propelled lifeboats have been emptied and fuel changed once every twelve months.

(3) Each lifefloat has been cleaned and thoroughly overhauled once every twelve months.

(4) Each inflatable liferaft has been serviced at a facility specifically approved by the Commandant for the particular brand, and in accordance with servicing procedures meeting the requirements of part 160, part 160.151, of this chapter—

(i) No later than the month and year on its servicing sticker affixed under 46 CFR 160.151-57(n), except that servicing may be delayed until the next scheduled inspection of the vessel, provided that the delay does not exceed 5 months; and

(ii) Whenever the container is damaged or the container straps or seals are broken.

[CGD 83-005, 51 FR 896, Jan. 9, 1986, as amended by USCG-2001-11118, 67 FR 58541, Sept. 17, 2002; USCG-2014-0688, 79 FR 58287, Sept. 29, 2014]