What safety and survival equipment are required for watercraft?
Each watercraft must meet or exceed applicable USCG, Department, and Service design and equipment requirements and be outfitted based on expected conditions with other equipment necessary for safe operation. Personnel must maintain all USCG-required personal safety equipment as mandated by USCG regulations and State and local laws. A. Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs): (1) Conventional PFDs. Exhibit 1 shows USCG-approved PFDs. PFDs must be international orange in color and equipped with retroreflective tape in accordance with 485 DM 22. We permit deviations from this requirement when there are special mission requirements (i.e., special law enforcement operations) that we cannot otherwise satisfy. The Project Leader of the organizational unit must authorize deviations in writing before they conduct the activity. The written authorization must identify alternate safety measures they will use, such as a visual display signal, whistle, strobe light, etc. The Project Leader will authorize
