A lifejacket complying with the requirements shall be provided for every person on board the ship and, in addition:

1. For passenger ships on voyages of less than 24 hours, a number of infant lifejackets equal to at least 2.5% of the number of passengers on board shall be provided;
2. For passenger ships on voyages of 24 hours or greater, infant lifejackets shall be provided for each infant on board;
3. A number of lifejackets suitable for children equal to at least 10% of the number of passengers on board shall be provided or such greater number as may be required to provide a lifejacket for each child;
4. A sufficient number of lifejackets shall be carried for persons on watch and for use at remotely located survival craft stations. The lifejackets carried for persons on replica watch should be stowed on the bridge, in the engine control room and at any other manned copy watch station; and
5. If the adult lifejackets provided are not designed to fit persons weighing up to 140 kg and with a chest girth of up to 1,750 mm, a sufficient number of suitable accessories shall be available on board to allow them to be secured to such persons.
6. Lifejackets shall be so placed as to be readily accessible and their position shall be plainly indicated. Where, due to the particular arrangements of the ship, the lifejackets provided in compliance with the requirements of paragraph 2.1 may become inaccessible, alternative provisions shall be made to the satisfaction of the Administration which may include an increase in the number of lifejackets to be carried.
7. The lifejackets used in totally enclosed lifeboats, except free-fall lifeboats, shall not impede entry into the lifeboat or seating, including the operation of the seat belts in the lifeboat.
8. Lifejackets selected for free-fall lifeboats, and the manner in which they are carried or worn, shall not interfere with entry into the lifeboat, occupant safety or operation of the lifeboat.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION – LIFEJACKET

 An adult lifejacket shall be so constructed that:

1. Shall not sustain burning or continue melting after being totally enveloped in a fire for a period of 2 seconds.
2. At least 75% of persons, who are completely unfamiliar with the lifejacket, can correctly don it within a period of one minute without assistance, guidance or prior demonstration;
3. After demonstration, all persons can correctly don it within a period of one minute without assistance;
4. It is clearly capable of being worn in only one way or, as far as is practicable, cannot be donned incorrectly;
5. It is comfortable to wear;
6. It allows the wearer to jump from a height of at least 4.5 m into the water without injury and without dislodging or damaging the lifejacket.
7. Shall have buoyancy which is not reduced by more than 5% after 24h submersion in fresh water.
8. Shall be fitted with a whistle firmly secured by a cord

An adult lifejacket shall have sufficient buoyancy and stability in calm freshwater to:

1. Lift the mouth of an exhausted or unconscious person not less than 120 mm clear of the water with the body inclined backwards at an angle of not less than 20° from the vertical position;
2. Turn the body of an unconscious person in the water from any position to one where the mouth is clear of the water in not more than 5 s.
3. Shall allow the person wearing it to swim a short distance and to board a survival craft.

A child lifejacket shall be constructed and perform the same as an adult lifejacket except as follows:

1. Donning assistance is permitted for small children;
2. It shall only be required to lift the mouth of an exhausted or unconscious wearer clear of the water a distance appropriate to the size of the intended wearer;
3. Assistance may be given to board a survival craft, but wearer mobility shall not be significantly reduced.

In addition to the markings with approval information including the Administration which approved it, and any operational restrictions, a child lifejacket shall be marked with:

• The height or weight range for which the lifejacket will meet the testing and evaluation criteria recommended by the Organization in A.689.(17)
• A “child” symbol as shown in the “child’s lifejacket” symbol adopted by the Organization in A.760(18)

Inflatable lifejackets

A lifejacket which depends on inflation for buoyancy shall have not less than two separate compartments and comply with all requirements for ordinary lifejacket, and shall:

1. Inflate automatically on immersion, be provided with a device to permit inflation by a single manual motion and be capable of being inflated by mouth;
2. In the event of loss of buoyancy in any one compartment be capable of complying with all requirements for ordinary lifejacket;
3. Shall have buoyancy which is not reduced by more than 5% after 24h submersion in fresh water after inflation by means of the automatic mechanism.

Lifejacket light shall

1. Have a luminous intensity of not less than 0.75 cd in all directions of the upper hemisphere;
2. Have a source of energy capable of providing a luminous intensity of 0.75 cd for a period of at least 8 hours;
3. Be visible over as great a segment of the upper hemisphere as is practicable when attached to a lifejacket;
4. Be of white colour. If the light referred above is a flashing light it shall, in addition:
5. Be provided with a manually operated switch; and
6. Flash at a rate of not less than 50 flashes and not more than 70 flashes per min with an effective luminous intensity of at least 0.75 cd.