The Hong Kong Government has noticed ClassNK of the special requirements for Life-saving appliances and Equipment on board Hong Kong flagged vessels through "Some Frequently Asked Technical Information / Requirements for Hong Kong Registered Cargo Ships".
Following requirements are to be applied to all Hong Kong ships regardless of date of construction. And the compliance with this regulation will be confirmed at the first survey after 15 December 2012 in respect of the Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate.

1. Liferafts, if located at the aft/forward end of the ship and at a distance of more than 100 m from the closest survival craft, as required by SOLAS regulation III/31.1.4, should be regarded as "remotely located survival craft" with regard to SOLAS regulation III/7.2.1.4, and the area where these remotely located survival crafts are stowed shall be provided with:

(1) a minimum number of 2 lifejackets and 2 immersion suits.
(2) adequate means of illumination, complying with SOLAS regulation III/16.7, either fixed or portable, which shall be capable of illuminating the liferaft stowage position as well as the area of water into which the liferaft should be launched. Portable lights, when used, shall have brackets to permit their positioning on both sides of the ship; and
(3) an embarkation ladder or other means of embarkation enabling descent to the water in a controlled manner in accordance with SOLAS regulation III/11.7.
In this regard, a knotted rope is not acceptable for this purpose.

2. Wire rope grips "bulldog grips" are not accepted. Where wire rope grips "bulldog grips" are found to have been used on primary load-bearing terminations, arrangements are to be made by the operators to have them replaced wedge socket etc.

For any questions about the above, please contact:

NIPPON KAIJI KYOKAI (ClassNK)
Material and Equipment Department, Administration Center, Head Office
Address: 4-7 Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8567, Japan
Tel.: +81-3-5226-2020
Fax: +81-3-5226-2057
E-mail: eqd@classnk.or.jp

Attachment:
1. An example of Wire rope grips and Wedge sockets