- (a) Each lifeboat, rescue boat, rigid liferaft, buoyant apparatus, and life float must be stripped, cleaned, and thoroughly inspected and repaired as needed at least once a year. This procedure includes emptying and cleaning each fuel tank and refilling it with fresh fuel.
- (b) Each davit, winch, fall, and other launching-appliance must be thoroughly inspected at least once a year, and repaired as needed.
- (c) Each item of survival equipment with an expiration date must be replaced during the annual inspection and repair if this date has passed.
- (d) Each battery used in an item of survival equipment and clearly marked with an expiration date must be replaced during the annual inspection and repair if this date has passed.
- (e) Except a storage battery used in a lifeboat or in a rescue boat, each battery used in an item of survival equipment and not clearly marked with an expiration date must be replaced during the annual inspection and repair.
- (f) Compliance with the requirements of this section does not relieve the master or person in charge of the duty of compliance with requirements in § 131.540(a) of this subpart to keep the equipment ready for immediate use when the vessel is under way.