---
kind: "section"
citation: "33 C.F.R. § 149.315"
title: "33"
number: "149.315"
heading: "What embarkation, launching, and recovery arrangements must rescue boats meet?"
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/33/149.315"
---

# §149.315. What embarkation, launching, and recovery arrangements must rescue boats meet?

- (a) Each rescue boat must be capable of being launched in a current of up to 5 knots. A painter may be used to meet this requirement.
- (b) Each rescue boat embarkation and launching arrangement must permit the rescue boat to be boarded and launched in the shortest possible time.
- (c) If the rescue boat is one of the deepwater port's survival craft, then the rescue boat must comply with the muster and embarkation arrangement requirements of [§ 149.310](/cfr/33/149.310.md) of this part.
- (d) The rescue boat must comply with the embarkation arrangement requirements of [46 CFR 108.555](/cfr/46/108.555.md).
- (e) If the launching arrangement uses a single fall, the rescue boat may have an automatic disengaging apparatus, approved under approval series 160.170, instead of a lifeboat release mechanism.
- (f) The rescue boat must be capable of being recovered rapidly when loaded with its full complement of persons and equipment. If a lifeboat is being used as a rescue boat, rapid recovery must be possible when loaded with its lifeboat equipment and a rescue boat's complement of at least six persons.
- (g) Each rescue boat launching appliance must be fitted with a powered winch motor.
- (h) Each rescue boat launching appliance must be capable of hoisting the rescue boat, when loaded with its full complement of persons and equipment, at a rate of not less than 59 feet per minute.
- (i) The operator may use an onboard crane to launch a rescue boat if the crane's launching system meets the requirements of this section.

## Notes

### Amendments

[USCG-1998-3884, 71 FR 57651, Sept. 29, 2006, as amended by USCG-2013-0397, 78 FR 39179, July 1, 2013]

### Authority

Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1504, 1509; DHS Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4.

### Source

Source: USCG-1998-3884, 71 FR 57651, Sept. 29, 2006, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[USCG-1998-3884, 71 FR 57651, Sept. 29, 2006, as amended by USCG-2013-0397, 78 FR 39179, July 1, 2013]