Explanatory note

These Rules further amend the Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances) Rules 1965 by prescribing:—

(1)requirements for lifebuoy marker smoke signals (Schedule 11A);

(2)different requirements for line-throwing appliances (Schedule 13);

(3)different requirements for parachute distress rocket signals for life-boats and liferafts (Schedule 14 Part III) and for ships (Schedule 18);

(4)different requirements for hand held distress flare signals for lifeboats and liferafts (Schedule 14 Part IV);

(5)different requirements for buoyant smoke signals for lifeboats (Schedule 14 Part V).

The same amendments are being made for fishing vessels, which will come into operation at the same time as these Rules, in the Fishing Vessels (Safety Provisions) (Amendment No. 2) Rules 1978. (S.I. 1978/1873.)