How many life buoys should a commercial vessel have at a minimum?

A commercial vessel is required to have at least two life buoys to ensure safety and preparedness for emergencies. This regulation is in place to provide sufficient means for crew members to throw a buoy to someone who has fallen overboard or to assist individuals in distress in the water. Having more than one life buoy enhances the vessel's ability to respond to emergencies quickly and effectively. The additional buoy can be vital if it is needed simultaneously for multiple people or if one buoy is lost or becomes inoperable during a rescue operation. Thus, the requirement of having at least two life buoys ensures a minimum level of safety and readiness that is critical in maritime environments where emergencies can arise unexpectedly.