Lifeboats on cargo steamers shall be provided with a separate set of davits for each lifeboat required. When this requirement makes it necessary to install additional davits, it is recommended that the additional davits be of the mechanical type, to facilitate quick and safe launching. The old type of davits with "turning out gear" is not considered as mechanical davits.
Cargo vessels shall carry sufficient lifeboats to accommodate every person on board, and in addition thereto shall carry a sufficient number of approved life rafts to accommodate at least twenty-five per cent of the total number of persons on board.
Before entering the War Zone all the lifeboats and life rafts shall be cleared away and made ready for launching, and the master or officer in charge, shall assure himself that all the required equipment is in the lifeboats and life rafts, in good order, and ready for immediate service. Steamers which are not equipped with mechanical davits shall have all the lifeboats swung out (weather permitting) and ready for immediate launching before entering the War Zone.
Cargo vessels contracted for after May 1, 1917, and serving trades within the War Zone, shall be equipped on each side with lifeboats of sufficient capacity to accommodate all persons on board based upon an allowance of 15 cubic feet per person, and in addition thereto shall be equipped with a sufficient number of approved life rafts to accommodate at least twenty-five per cent of all persons on board.
All the boats and rafts must be stowed in such a way that they can be launched in the shortest possible time and that, even under unfavorable conditions of list and trim from the point of view of the handling of the boats and rafts, it may be possible to embark in them as large a number of persons as possible.
The arrangements must be such that it may be possible to launch on either side of the vessel as large a number of boats and rafts as possible.
The davits shall be of such strength that the boats can be lowered with their full complement of persons and equipment, the vessel being assumed to have a list of 15 degrees.
The davits must be fitted with a gear of sufficient power to insure that the boat can be turned out against the maximum list under which the lowering of the boats is possible on the vessel in question.