They may have that as an alternative John, but there is still a lot of tonnage around of the older vintage. They I am sure do not carry such as you describe. So am asking if the old shipping acts are still in force with the advances made in life saving appliances a supplementary to the old. I have been on ships that do not carry lifeboats, but liferafts instead, these come under tonnage and crew number laws however. The law re. motor lifeboats used to be fuel enough to steam 100 miles, but also carried oars as well. The Merchant shipping acts I have not read for over 30 years as was no need really as were always told of any changes, up until 2002 as far as I am aware the law regarding life saving equipment was more or less what it had been 50 years before that date. Cheers John S