Liferafts and lifeboats are two types of survival craft carried on ships. Liferafts are collapsible and stored in canisters while lifeboats are open and require periodic inspections. There are three main types of liferafts - coastal, offshore, and ocean - which provide varying levels of protection and are suitable for different voyage lengths. Ship management companies must ensure all required safety equipment is provided on lifeboats and liferafts according to international regulations.

1. The Most Common Adopted Signals by Ship
Management Companies

3. TYPES OF SURVIVAL CRAFT

4. Liferafts versus Lifeboats
• Liferafts in general are collapsible, and
stored in a heavy-duty fiberglass canister,
and also contain some high-pressure gas (in
commercial models, usually compressed air)
to allow automatic inflation to the
operations size.
• SOLAS and military regulations require these
to be sealed, never opened by the ship's
crew; they are removed at a set periodicity
(annually on merchant vessels) and sent to a
certified facility to open and inspect the
liferaft and contents.
• In contrast, a lifeboat is open, and
regulations require a crew member to
inspect it periodically and ensure all required
equipment is present.
• Lifeboats have hulls and engines.

5. THREE TYPES OF LIFERAFTS

6. Coastal Life Raft
• The coastal life raft is designed for short-term
emergency use. They typically cost less
and take up less space than other types of
life rafts.
• They should be used only near a coast. It
would be dangerous to attempt returning to
shore on a coastal life raft from far out in the
ocean.
• Many coastal life rafts come equipped with
canopies to shield occupants from the
elements. Coastal life rafts commonly have
single layer floors and four low-walled sides.
•

7. • The offshore life raft, designed for
sustaining life in very demanding
climates, is equipped with two
buoyancy tubes and a canopy shelter.
• Since they are designed for longer-term
survival than coastal life rafts,
they do not capsize easily.
• An offshore life raft will commonly
have an inflatable floor with dual-wall
air chambers. Some include ballast
bags, which further protect the raft
from capsizing. While an offshore raft
is more expensive than the coastal life
raft, it offers greater protection.

8. Ocean Life Raft
• The ocean life raft offers the most
protection; it was designed to help
occupants survive a long period of
time at sea. Ocean life rafts
commonly come equipped with
plenty of survival gear, canopies to
protect you from the elements and
ballast bags to prevent the rafts from
capsizing. Ocean life rafts were
designed for vessels that travel long
distances across vast oceans, with
double-layered floors to help keep
occupants warm and safe.
• Ocean-going rafts are designed for
long-term survival of at least 30 days,
and are required equipment on most
commercial vessels.

9. • Liferafts can be
inflatable-can be inflate
or re-inflated by the
occupants.
• Rigid liferaft maybe
entirely rigid hull with
inflatable side.

10. • Ship-launched lifeboats are lowered
from davits on a ship's deck, and are
unsinkable in normal circumstances.
• The cover serves as protection from sun,
wind and rain, can be used to collect
rainwater, and is normally made of a
reflective or fluorescent material that is
highly visible.
• Lifeboats have oars, flares and mirrors for
signaling, first aid supplies, and food and
water for several days.
• Some lifeboats are more capably equipped
to permit self-rescue, with supplies such as a
radio, an engine and sail, heater,
navigational equipment, solar water stills,
rainwater catchments and fishing
equipment.

11. Life Raft Launching Method
• This method of launching a
liferaft causes inflatable
liferafts to automatically
launch themselves if the
ship sinks. (hydrostatic)
• The system is activated by
the water pressure.
• When the ship sinks, the
increasing water releases
the liferaft canister from its
cradle.

12. • The davit launched life raft is to
be connected to the davit then
inflated at the deck level, thus
enabling the passengers to board
the raft from the deck.
• The raft is then launched to the
water.
• The raft must be equipped with
an automatic release gear, which
makes release the raft
automatically under water if no
time is left for the manual
release.
• The throw overboard liferaft is
released from the cradle and
thrown overboard or slides
automatically when released.

13. LIFEBOATS

14. • A lifeboat is a small,
rigid boat carried for
emergency evacuation
in the event of a
disaster aboard a ship.
• The ship’s
tender of cruise
ships often double as
lifeboats.

15. • The International Convention for the Safety of Life at
Sea (SOLAS) and the International Life-Saving
Appliance Code (LSA) requires certain emergency
equipment be carried on each lifeboat and liferaft
used on international voyages. Modern lifeboats
carry an Emergency Position Indicating Radio
Beacon (EPIRB) and either a radar reflector or Search
and rescue Transporder(SART).

16. Open Lifeboat
• Has no roof , no
overhead protection.
Open lifeboats are
becoming obsolete now
because of stringent
safety norms, but one
may find them on older
ship.

17. • Closed lifeboats are the most
popular lifeboats that are used
on ships, for they are enclosed
which saves the crew from sea
water, strong wind and rough
weather.
• Water tight integrity is higher
in this type of lifeboat and it
can also get upright on its own
if toppled over by waves.
• Are classified as – Partially
(with foldable
canopy)enclosed and fully
enclosed lifeboats.

18. • Free fall lifeboat is
similar to an enclosed
lifeboat but the process
of launching is entirely
different. The free fall
life boat is located at
the aft of the ship,
which provides a
maximum clear area for
free fall.

19. LIFEBOAT LAUNCHING

20. DAVITS AND FREE FALL

21. Davits: Offload Mechanism
• The off load mechanism releases
the boat after the load of the
boat is transferred to water or
the boat has been lowered fully
into the sea. When the boat
touches the surface of water, the
load on the fall and hence the
hook releases and due to its
mechanism the hook detaches
from the fall. If the detachment
dose not takes place, any of the
crew members can remove the
hook from the fall. Most of the
times the offload mechanism is
manually disengaged in case of
malfunction; however, in case of
fire, it is dangerous to go out and
release the hook.

22. Davit: on load Mechanism
• On load mechanism can release
the lifeboat from the wire, with
the ship above the water level
and with all the crew members
inside the boat. The load will be
still on the fall as the boat would
not have touched the water.
Normally the height of about 1 m
is kept for the on load release, so
that the fall is smooth without
damaging the boat and harming
the crew inside. A lever is
provided inside the boat to
operate this mechanism. As the
lever is operated from inside, it is
safe to free the boat without
going of the out lifeboat, when
there is a fire on ship.

23. Free Fall
• Doors, ventilators, ports,
operly are properly closed
before launching.
• Survivors are seated with their
seatbelt properly adjusted.
• Should ensure that is clear
below and give ample warning
that he is about to let go the
boat fall and allow sufficient
time for unready survivor to
object, before actually
launching the boat.

24. Safe Launching of Lifeboat
• The launch area onboard the ship
• The side of the ship
• The drop zone

25. Rescue Boat
• Serve as a command center for survival craft once
they are in the water.
• When ship is evacuated, the main job of rescue boat
is to tow lifeboats and liferafts to safety and tie them
together.

26. PERSONAL LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES

27. • Lifebuoy
– Made from buoyant material, do not require inflation
– They can float and support the weight of a person in
the water.
– Practically evenly distributed on the ship and one
shall be placed in the vicinity of the stern.

28. • Self igniting lights
• Self activating smoke signal
• Bouyant Lifelines (8mm, 5k N)

30. • Immersion Suit
– Keeps the wearer warm and dry.
– Conserves body heat while allowing freedom of
movements
– Covers the body except face
– Some are designed to wear without a lifejacket.

31. • TPA ( Thermal Protective Aid)
– Designed to keep survivors warm and protected
against rain, wind and cold.
– Helps to preserve body heat.
– Can accommodate a mother and a child.

32. • Life Jacket
– Of 5 types
– (must be approved of Solas)
• Solid Life jacket and Fully automatic life jacket

33. Type I - Offshore Lifejacket, Type II - Near Shore Buoyant Vest, Type III - Flotation Aid, Type IV - Throwable
Device, Type V - Special Use Device
This PFD is designed
for extended
survival in rough,
open water. It
usually will turn an
unconscious person
face up and has
over 22 pounds of
buoyancy. This is
the best PFD to
keep you afloat in
remote regions
where rescue may
be slow in coming.
This "classic" PFD
comes in several
sizes for adults and
children and is for
calm inland water
where there is
chance of fast
rescue. It is less
bulky and less
expensive than a
Type I, and many
will turn an
unconscious person
face-up in the
water.
These life jackets
are generally
considered the
most comfortable,
with styles for
different boating
activities and
sports. They are for
use in calm water
where there is good
chance of fast
rescue since they
will generally not
turn an unconscious
person face-up.
Flotation aids come
in many sizes and
styles.
These are designed
to be thrown to a
person in the water.
They are not
designed to be
worn and must be
supplemented by
wearable PFD. It is
important to keep
these devices
immediately
available for
emergencies, and
they should not be
used for small
children, non-swimmers,
or
unconscious
people.
Special use PFDs
include work vests,
deck suits, and
hybrids for
restricted use.
Hybrid vests
contain some
internal buoyancy
and are inflatable to
provide additional
flotation.