The Commandant is required by law and by regulation to approve certain items. of equipment or materials before such equipment or material may be installed or used on merchant vessels subject to inspection or on certain other uninspected vessels and motorboats. The Commandant's approval of equipment or material is published in the Federal Register, as well as in a booklet, CG-190, entitled "Equipment Lists," and CG-190-1. Terminations of approval are also published in the Federal Register. The booklet entitled "Equipment Lists" has a separate part containing a complete list of formerly approved equipment which may be continued in service so long as such equipment or material is in good and serviceable condition.

4-1-10. ACCEPTABLE EQUIPMENT OR MATERIAL

The regulations in Chapter I of Title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, also specify

that certain items of equipment or material may be accepted for use on board inspected vessels after certain actions are taken for control purposes. For this type of equipment no formal approvals are published in the Federal Register. However, listings are published from time to time in the "Proceedings of the Merchant Marine Council'' or Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circulars. The following types of equipment and material appear in this category:

4-1-10A. Marine Engineering Items

Miscellaneous items of marine engineering equipment and material, such as pipe, tubing, valves, fittings, flanges, castings, forgings, and bolting, may be accepted if the manufacturer submits to the Commandant (MMT) an affidavit that the applicable requirements will be met. The filing of an affidavit is to assure compliance with current requirements, as well as to make a public record of reliable manufacturers.

4-1-10B. Welding Electrodes

The manufacturers of arc welding electrodes must submit their electrodes to tests prescribed by the Commandant. These tests are to ascertain that such electrodes are satisfactory for the intended application. These tests are prescribed jointly with the American Bureau of Shipping and the Bureau of Ships of the Navy Department. The tests may be performed by the Coast Guard, American Bureau of Shipping, or the Bureau of Ships. However, most of the tests are conducted by the American Bureau of Shipping or the Bureau of Ships. The regulations in 46 CFR 56.01-25 require that covered steel arc welding electrodes

intended for use in the welded fabrication of machinery appurtenances and pressure containing parts shall be of a type acceptable to the Commandant. Therefore, covered steel arc welding electrodes found to be acceptable to the Commandant are listed by brand names in the booklet, CG-190, "Equipment Lists,'' and current changes are published periodically in the "Proceedings of the Merchant Marine Council.''

4-1-10C. Electrical Equipment

The regulations in 46 CFR Parts 110-113 (Subchapter J--Electrical Engineering) require that manufacturers of certain items of electrical equipment, such as junction boxes, lighting fixtures and fittings, panels, switches, annunciators, salinity indicator equipment, etc., shall shall submit plans for their equipment to the Commandant (MMT) for consideration and acceptance prior to use of such equipment on inspected vessels. If the plans of the equipment meet the requirements of the regulations, then such equipment is considered satisfactory for use on inspected vessels. For convenience this equipment is listed in a booklet, CG-293, "Miscellaneous Electrical Equipment List." Notices of current changes are published in Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circulars.

4-1-10D. Ships' Stores and Supplies

The Dangerous Cargo Regulations in 46 CFR Part 147 (Subchapter N) require that certain items of ships' stores and supplies shall be tested and certificated by the Coast Guard before such items may be carried and used on board inspected vessels. The items found satisfactory for use as ships' stores and supplies are listed by certificate numbers in the booklet, CG-190, "Equipment Lists. Current changes are published in the "Proceedings of the Merchant Marine Council."'

4-1-15. SPECIFICATIONS FOR EQUIPMENT, CERTAIN MATERIALS, AND METHODS OF FABRICATION

During World War II it was found that specifications for certain items of equipment required to be approved by the Commandant provided greater uniformity in the manufacturing thereof by various manufacturers. Certain items of equipment, which would not meet the minimum standards nor the intent of the regulations regarding such items, were more easily rejected. In the latter part of 1945 the Commandant established a Subchapter Q entitled "Specifications" in Chapter I of Title 46, Code of Federal Regulations. The purpose for "Subchapter Q--Specifications'' was to bring together in one subchapter all the specification regulations pertaining to items of equipment or material required to be approved by the Commandant or to meet certain minimum standards. This action also separated mandatory requirements dealing primarily with operation and construction of inspected vessels from specification requirements primarily applicable to manufacturers of approved equipment or material used material used on board vessels. These specification regulations

are

in 46 CFR Parts 160-164. Each specification is assigned a subpart designated by a basic number consisting of six arabic numbers. This subpart number is also used as the basic number for reference to the specifications, as well as approvals granted under such specification. No two specifications or subparts have the same number. Since the approval of equipment has been a function of the Commandant, as well as the former Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation for many years, basic approval numbers were assigned to items of approved equipment and material, which are also used as the specification and subpart numbers when published in the Federal Register and Code of Federal Regulations. In order to have uniformity

in certain types of equipment, or in quality of certain materials, a number of specifications do not require each manufacturer to obtain prior specific approval of the Commandant. The specifications and approvals have been sepa rated into 5 categories designated as "Lifesaving Equipment," "Electrical Equipment," "Engineering Equipment,' "Construction,'' and ''Materials.''

4-1-20. APPROVED EQUIPMENT OR

MATERIAL

Each specification published in 46 CFR Parts 160-164 (Subchapter Q--Specifications) is a complete entity. The specification sets forth other applicable specifications, materials permitted to be used, type sizes of equipment, construction and workmanship, markings required, inspections required, and procedures for approval if required. The specification is intended primarily for the manufacturer of equipment or material. The marine inspector also benefits because applicable requirements are together in one document. The requirements in the specification for approval must be followed. If the Commandant is satisfied that the item of equipment or material is satisfactory for the purpose intended, the approval thereof is published in the Federal Register. The approval applies only to an item which is manufactured in conformance with the details of the approved plans, specifications, or other data referred to in the approval. Such an approval does not apply to an item which is manufactured

with changes in design or material not previously approved by the Commandant.

4-1-25. RESPONSIBILITIES OF MARINE INSPECTORS

The marine inspector is responsible for determining whether or not equipment or material is manufactured in accordance with the Coast Guard approval. The marine inspector must perform inspections when required by the specifications. This This responsibility is also mentioned in many laws where the public has assumed that certain equipment or material if approved by the Coast Guard will in an emergency perform its intended use. Some of the laws provide penalties for failure of lifesaving equipment to meet the requirements of the Commandant.

4-1-30. UNSATISFACTORY EQUIPMENT REPORTED TO COMMANDANT (MMT)

When a factory or shop inspection is made of equipment or materials required to be Coast Guard approved before use on inspected vessels, or on uninspected vessels when required by law, and the marine inspector is not satisfied that the equipment or materials meet the requirements of the applicable specification or regulation, a complete report shall be made to the Commandant (MMT). If the unsatisfactory conditions are serious, the OCMI and district commander shall take immediate steps to suspend the approval, pending instructions from the Commandant.

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4-2-1. PURPOSE

This part contains special instructions regarding factory or shop inspections of equipment or material required to be used on board vessels as required by regulations in Chapter 1 of Title 46, Code of Federal Regulations. These instructions implement the requirements in application specification subparts in 46 CFR Parts 160-164 (Subchapter Q-Specifications).

4-2-5. ASSIGNMENTS OF MARINE

INSPECTORS

When necessary marine inspectors may be assigned to perform factory inspections continuously. Where it is impossible to assign a marine inspector to a plant continuously, then the marine inspector shall be required to make unannounced visits at irregular intervals. In accordance with the applicable specification requirements, random samples shall be selected for testing and inspection, to assure compliance with the requirements.

4-2-10. LIFESAVING EQUIPMENT

The tests and inspections of lifesaving equipment shall be made at all places of manufacture of approved devices. The tests and inspections shall be conducted in accordance with the applicable specification requirements, which are minimum, and other tests or inspections should be made when deemed necessary. Their purpose is to prevent the failure of life saving devices under actual service conditions caused by faulty manufacture or fabrication contrary to approved samples and drawings.

4-2-15. INITIAL INSPECTION OF LIFE PRESERVERS

The specifications for life preservers place a definite obligation on the marine inspector to inspect all life preservers. By this inspection the marine inspector shall satisfy himself that the life preservers meet all the applicable requirements. It is the marine inspector's responsibility and duty to carry out with care and diligence the inspection and test procedures provided for in the specifications, as well as such other tests and inspections as he may deem necessary to insure that each life preserver presented to him for inspection is in all respects in full compliance with the applicable requirements before marking it with his approval stamp.

4-2-25. INITIAL INSPECTION OF BUOYANT CUSHIONS

4-2-25A. Applicable Requirements

In the late winter and spring months of the year production of buoyant cushions for the approaching boating season is generally at a peak. During this period, unscheduled inspections should be made, whenever possible, at places where buoy ant cushions are manufactured. The marine inspector shall satisfy himself that the buoyant cushions being produced are in full compliance with applicable Coast Guard requirements. The specification requirements are in 46 CFR Subparts 160.047 and 160.048, and do not provide for regularly scheduled factory inspections of buoyant cushions. However, they do provide that unscheduled inspections may be made at the place of manufacture at any time.