The Government has withdrawn their application to the European Commission for permission to reduce the number of liferafts to be carried on certain coastal and estuarial passenger ferries.
See Lords Question 15 January. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201314/ldhansrd/text/140115-0001.htm#14011578000366.
It appears that the UK tried to get the exemption for most ferries (EC classes B, C and D) with Class B being ferries like the Scillonian that operate up to 20 miles from the coast (further out and in bigger seas than Classes C and D). They subsequently dropped Class B before the Nov 2013 COSS meeting hoping thereby to get EC approval but failed (hence the decision attached).
This exemption would have reduced the maximum capacity of liferafts from 120% of the maximum permitted number of passengers to 100%. According to officials, that would only apply in the summer and not far from land, and there are plenty of rescue helicopters!
The European Commission has rejected this application, OJ 349/107 of 21 December 2013.
A victory for common sense and safety.
The Chain ferries would not need them! I think they are thus equipped!
One runs more risk of being thrown overboard from a wheel chair in the case of one ferry operator in the south West (B). On not paying for a three wheeled wheel chair which they claimed had two.
Since they cannot count it might be necessary for them to have life rafts to throw after those whom they have peremptorily thrown over board in to a very fast moving current.
The story is not apocryphal