Emergency and life-saving equipment on ships
Life-saving equipment
Merchant ships
You can find information on the life-saving appliances that ships must carry in the Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances Regulations for Ships Other Than Ships of Classes III to VI(A)) Regulations 1999.
Passenger ships
There are different requirements for different types of passenger ships.
Download information about requirements for life-saving appliances on passenger ships on domestic voyages.
You must also read the amendments to these regulations.
Download information about which lifejackets must be carried on passenger ships.
Roll-on Roll-off (Ro-Ro) passenger ships
Ro-Ro passenger ships must be fitted with emergency equipment lockers for emergency situations.
Large commercial yachts
The Large Commercial Yacht Code includes rules on life-saving equipment for certain types of ship of less than 3,000 gross tonnage.
Small commercial vessel and pilot boats
The Small Commercial Vessels Code sets out rules on life-saving equipment for certain vessels of less than 24 metres.
Small passenger boats on inland waters
The Inland Waters Small Passenger Boat Code includes rules on life-saving equipment for inland vessels that carry no more than 12 passengers.
Pleasure craft
Some pleasure craft do not have to carry certain life-saving equipment. Download the regulations for pleasure craft.