LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES 111
30. How many life-buoys are required to be carried by a foreign-going
steamer not certified to carry passengers?
Not less than six At least half the number shall have self-igniting
life-buoy lights placed near them, such lights to be provided with
means for attachment to the life-buoys.
One Me-buoy must be carried on each side of the navigating bridge,
and must be fitted in exactly the same way as in passenger steamers.
31. Give a brief description and specification of a life-jacket*
A life-jacket is a life-saving appliance to be fitted on the wearer's
body, and secured in position by means of tapes.
The required buoyancy may be supplied by cork, kapok, or other
approved substance, but must not depend on air compartments.
The covers may be of cotton, linen, or other approved material.
The tapes, two in number, must be of linen or cotton thread web
1J inches wide, not less than 110 inches long. They must be capable
of bearing a strain of 200 Ibs.
The sewing must be done with good quality thread, the ends of the
stitching being securely finished off.
The weight of a Standard kapok life-jacket should not exceed
2 Ibs. 4 ozs., and the weight of a Standard cork life-jacket should not
exceed 5 Ibs. 4 ozs.
The buoyancy must be so distributed that when the wearer is inert
in the water the position of the body should be as near the vertical
as possible.
It should be so arranged that it will keep the wearer's head clear
of the water when floating in the inert position.
In the event of the wearer being rendered unconscious, the head
should be so supported that it would not fall forward and the face become
submerged.
The jacket must be reversible, z.e., it must satisfy the above con-
ditions even if it is adjusted on the wearer back to front or upside
down.
32. What is meant by an approved life-jacketl
An approved life-jacket shall mean a jacket of approved material
and construction which is capable of floating in fresh water for 24
hours with 16J Ibs. of iron suspended from it, or any other approved
appliance of equal buoyancy and capable of being fitted on the body.