A lifeboat is a rigid, typically fully enclosed survival craft carried aboard merchant ships specifically for emergency evacuation, sized to accommodate the vessel’s total complement of crew (and passengers, where applicable).
Key Requirements
- Capacity — SOLAS requires sufficient lifeboat capacity for the full crew/passenger complement, with redundancy requirements (typically both port and starboard side capacity) in case one side becomes unusable
- Davit launching systems — mechanical systems for lowering lifeboats from stowed position into the water, designed to function even with the vessel listing or in adverse weather
- Self-righting and enclosed design — modern lifeboats are designed to right themselves if capsized and fully enclose occupants, protecting against weather and sea spray
- Engine and supplies — lifeboats carry their own engine, along with mandated survival supplies (food, water, signaling equipment, first aid)
Mandatory Drills
Lifeboat drills — including actual lowering and, at required intervals, launching with the engine running — are mandated under SOLAS at regular intervals, ensuring both equipment reliability and crew familiarity with launching procedures under time pressure.
Free-Fall Lifeboats
Some vessels, particularly certain bulk carriers and tankers, use free-fall lifeboats — launched by release mechanism allowing the boat to fall directly into the water rather than being lowered by davit, designed for rapid evacuation in situations where the stern area needs to be cleared quickly.
Hydrostatic Release
Lifeboat release mechanisms and associated equipment are periodically serviced and tested to ensure reliable function in a genuine emergency, given how much depends on them working correctly under stress.
Exam Relevance
Lifeboat equipment, launching procedures, and drill requirements are core Safety topics across all deck and engine officer competency exams.