🔍 Key Concepts

• 46 CFR requirements for lifesaving appliances on Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs) • Manufacturer’s recommendations vs. minimum regulatory inspection/maintenance intervals • Why fuel in lifeboats needs periodic replacement (age, contamination, reliability)

💭 Think About

• Think about how critical lifeboat engines are in an emergency and how often regulators are likely to require fuel replacement to ensure they start reliably. • Compare this interval with other recurring safety inspections or drills you know (e.g., monthly, annual, multi‑year) and decide which option best fits a regulatory minimum for fuel change. • Ask yourself: would a safety‑critical fuel supply reasonably be allowed to sit unchanged for 3–4 years, or is there a more conservative time frame?

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify in 46 CFR for MODUs the specified maximum interval for changing lifeboat fuel (look in the lifesaving equipment/maintenance sections). • Check whether any of the options (36 or 48 months) seem too long for a safety‑critical engine fuel, based on typical marine practice. • Confirm that the chosen interval aligns with other periodic maintenance requirements for lifesaving appliances (often tied to annual or biennial cycles).