---
kind: "section"
citation: "33 C.F.R. § 149.320"
title: "33"
number: "149.320"
heading: "What are the requirements for ring life buoys?"
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/33/149.320"
---

# §149.320. What are the requirements for ring life buoys?

- (a) Ring life buoys must be approved under approval series 160.050 or 160.150, for SOLAS-approved equipment.
- (b) Each ring life buoy must have a floating electric water light approved under approval series 161.010. The operator must ensure that the light to the ring life buoy is attached by a lanyard of 12-thread manila, or a synthetic rope of equivalent strength, not less than 3 feet nor more than 6 feet in length. The light must be mounted on a bracket near the ring life buoy so that, when the ring life buoy is cast loose, the light will be pulled free of the bracket.
- (c) To each ring life buoy, there must be attached a buoyant line of 100 feet in length, with a breaking strength of at least 5 kilonewtons force. The end of the line must not be secured to the deepwater port.
- (d) Each ring life buoy must be marked with Type II retroreflective material, approved under approval series 164.018.

## Notes

### 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.