Section 288:
Power to make rules as to life saving appliances.
(1) The Central Government may,
subject to the condition of previous publication, make rules prescribing the life saving appliances to
be carried by every Indian ship going to sea from any port or place in India.
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may
provide for all or any of the following matters namely:--
(a) the arranging of ships into classes, having regard to the services in which they are
employed, the nature and duration of the voyage and the number of persons carried;
(b) the number, description and mode of construction of the boats, life-rafts, line throwing
appliances, life-jackets and life-buoys to be carried by ships according to the classes in which the
ships are arranged;
(c) the equipment to be carried by any such boats and rafts and the method to be provided to
get the boats and other life saving appliances into the water, including oil for use in stormy
weather;
(d) the provision in ships of a proper supply of lights inextinguishable in water and fitted for
attachment to life-buoys;
(e) the quantity, quality and description of buoyant apparatus to be carried on board ships
either in addition to or in substitution for boats, life-rafts, life-jackets and life-buoys;
(f) the position and means of securing the boats, life-rafts, life-jackets, life-buoys and buoyant
apparatus;
(g) the marking of boats, life-rafts, and buoyant apparatus so as to show their dimensions and
the number of persons authorised to be carried on them;
(h) the meaning of life-boats and the qualifications and certificates of life-boatmen;
1[(hh) the training of crew in launching and using life-rafts;]
(i) the provision to be made for mustering the persons on board and for embarking them in
the 2[boats or rafts] (including provision for the lighting of, and the means of ingress to and egress
from, different parts of the ship);
(j) the provision of suitable means situated outside the engine room whereby any discharge of
water into the 2[boats or rafts] can be prevented;
(k) the assignment of specific duties to each member of the crew in case of emergency;
(l) the manner in which a notice given under section 287 or section 290 shall be
communicated to the customs collector;
(m) the practice in ships of boat drills, and fire drills;
(n) the provision in ships of means of making effective distress signals by day and by night;
(o) the provision in ships, engaged on voyages in which pilots are likely to be embarked, of
suitable pilot ladders and of ropes, lights and other appliances designed to make the use of such
ladders safe;
(p) the periodical examination of any appliances or equipment required by any rules made
under this Act to be carried by ships; and
(q) the fees to be charged for the grant of any certificate under sub-section (3) of section 290.
Notes:
1. Ins. by Act 21 of 1966, s. 8 (w.e.f. 28-5-1966).
2. Subs. by s. 8, ibid., for "boats" (w.e.f. 28-5-1966).