Ring life buoys.
The number of ring life buoys with which steamers must be provided is as follows: Vessels under 400 feet in length, 12, of which 6 must be luminous; vessels of 400 feet in length and less than 600 feet, 18, of which 9 must be luminous; vessels of 600 feet in length and less than 800 feet, 24, of which 12 must be luminous; vessels of 800 feet in length and over, 30, of which 15 must be luminous.
Ring life buoys shall not be permanently secured in any way, but shall be so placed as to be readily accessible in an emergency. Their location shall be plainly indicated in the vessel's station bill.
One of the buoys on each side of the vessel shall have a life line attached of at least 15 fathoms in length.
Luminous buoys are those having attached an efficient self-igniting light which can not be extinguished in water.
All the life buoys and life jackets shall be so placed as to be readily accessible to the persons on board; their position shall be plainly indicated so as to be known to the persons concerned.
The life buoys shall always be capable of being rapidly cast loose, and shall not be permanently secured in any way. The owner of any vessel who neglects or refuses to provide and equip his vessel with such lifeboats, floats, rafts, life preservers, line-carrying projectiles, and the means of propelling them, drags, pumps, or other appliances, as are required under the provisions of this section, or under the regulations of the Board of Supervising Inspectors, approved by the Secretary of Commerce, authorized by and made pursuant hereto, shall be fined not less than $500, nor more than $5,000, and every master of a vessel who shall fail to comply with the requirements of this section, and the regulations of the Board of Supervising Inspectors, approved by the Secretary of Commerce, authorized by and made pursuant hereto, shall upon conviction be fined not less than $50, nor more than $500.