---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 C.F.R. § 117.70"
title: "46"
number: "117.70"
heading: "Ring life buoys."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/46/117.70"
---

# §117.70. Ring life buoys.

- (a) A vessel must have one or more ring life buoys as follows:
  - (1) A vessel of not more than 7.9 meters (26 feet) in length must carry a minimum of one life buoy of not less than 510 millimeters (20 inches) in diameter;
  - (2) A vessel of more than 7.9 meters (26 feet) in length, but not more than 19.8 meters (65 feet), must carry a minimum of one life buoy of not less than 610 millimeters (24 inches) in diameter; and
  - (3) A vessel of more than 19.8 meters (65 feet) in length must carry a minimum of three life buoys of not less than 610 millimeters (24 inches) in diameter.
- (b) **Each ring life buoy on a vessel must—**
  - (1) Be approved in accordance with [§ 160.050](/cfr/46/160.050.md) in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant, including, but not limited to, approval series 160.150;
  - (2) Be readily accessible;
  - (3) Be stowed in a way that it can be rapidly cast loose;
  - (4) Not be permanently secured in any way; and
  - (5) If on a vessel on an oceans or coastwise route, be orange in color.
- (c) At least one ring life buoy must be fitted with a lifeline. If more than one ring life buoy is carried, at least one must not have a lifeline attached. Each lifeline on a ring life buoy must:
  - (1) Be buoyant;
  - (2) Be at least 18.3 meters (60 feet) in length;
  - (3) Be non-kinking;
  - (4) Have a diameter of at least 7.9 millimeters (5/16-inch);
  - (5) Have a breaking strength of at least 5 kilonewtons (1,124 pounds); and
  - (6) Be of a dark color if synthetic, or of a type certified to be resistant to deterioration from ultraviolet light.
- (d) At least one ring buoy must be fitted with a floating waterlight, unless the vessel is limited to daytime operation, in that case no floating waterlight is required.
  - (1) Each floating waterlight must be approved in accordance with [§ 161.010](/cfr/46/161.010.md) in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant, including, but not limited to, approval series 160.110.
  - (2) Each ring life buoy with a floating waterlight must have a lanyard of at least 910 millimeters (3 feet) in length, but not more than 1,830 millimeters (6 feet), securing the waterlight around the body of the ring life buoy.
  - (3) Each floating waterlight installed after March 11, 1997, on a vessel carrying only one ring life buoy, must be attached to a lanyard with a corrosion-resistant clip. The clip must have a strength of at least 22.7 kilograms (50 pounds) and allow the waterlight to be quickly disconnected from the ring life buoy.

## Notes

### Amendments

[CGD 85-080, 61 FR 911, Jan. 10, 1996, as amended by CGD 97-057, 62 FR 51047, Sept. 30, 1997; CGD 85-080, 62 FR 51350, Sept. 30, 1997; USCG-2014-0688, 79 FR 58283, Sept. 29, 2014; USCG-2015-0867, 80 FR 62469, Oct. 16, 2015]

### Authority

Authority: 46 U.S.C. 2103, 3306; E.O. 12234, 45 FR 58801, 3 CFR, 1980 Comp., p. 277; DHS Delegation 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4.

### Source

Source: CGD 85-080, 61 FR 911, Jan. 10, 1996, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[CGD 85-080, 61 FR 911, Jan. 10, 1996, as amended by CGD 97-057, 62 FR 51047, Sept. 30, 1997; CGD 85-080, 62 FR 51350, Sept. 30, 1997; USCG-2014-0688, 79 FR 58283, Sept. 29, 2014; USCG-2015-0867, 80 FR 62469, Oct. 16, 2015]