Official (Open)

Life Raft

 Official (Open)

Life Raft Construction


Be capable of withstanding exposure for 30
days afloat in all sea conditions.

The life raft and its fittings shall be so

constructed as to enable it to be towed at a
speed of 3 knots in calm water when loaded
with its full complement of persons .
 Official (Open)

Life Raft Construction


 The life raft shall be so constructed that when it is
dropped into the water in its container from a height
of 18 m, the life raft and its equipment will operate
satisfactorily.

 If the life raft is to be stowed at a height of more than

18 m above the waterline in the lightest seagoing
condition:
 it shall be of a type which has been satisfactorily drop-tested from
at least that height.
Official (Open)


 Official (Open)

Life Raft Construction


The floating life raft shall be capable of
withstanding repeated jumps from a height
of not more than 4.5 metres both with and
without the canopy erected.

The life raft shall be inflated with a non-toxic

gas by an inflation system.

At ambient temperature of between 18°C

and 20°C, inflation shall be completed
within a period of 1 minute and within a
period of 3 minutes at an ambient
temperature of -30°C.
 Official (Open)

Life Raft Construction


Canopy:
Each entrance can be quickly opened from
inside and outside the life raft so as to permit
ventilation but exclude seawater, wind and
cold.

Life rafts accommodating more than eight

persons shall have at least two opposite
entrances.
 Official (Open)

Life Raft Construction

 Official (Open)

Life Raft

Canopy:
shall admit sufficient air for the occupants at all
times, even with the entrances closed.
25 persons type - at least 1 viewing port.
>25 persons type - at least 2 viewing ports.
shall be provided with means of collecting rain
water.
shall have sufficient headroom for seated
occupants under all parts of the canopy.
Official (Open)


 Official (Open)

Life Raft Fittings


Lifelines shall be securely becketed around the
inside and outside of the life raft.
Life raft shall be fitted with an efficient painter
of length equal to not less than 10m plus the
distance from the stowed position to the
waterline in the lightest seagoing condition or
15 metres whichever is the greater.
Official (Open)


 Official (Open)

Life Raft Fittings


There shall be means inside the life raft to
assist persons to pull themselves into the life
raft from the ladder.

The stability of the life raft when loaded

with its full complement of persons and
equipment shall be such that it can be towed
at speeds of up to 3 knots in calm water.
 Official (Open)

Becket Lines & Pull

Straps

 Official (Open)

Water Pockets & Light


 Official (Open)

Life Raft Markings


 Maker's name or trade mark
 Serial number
 Name of approving authority
 The number of persons it is permitted to carry
 SOLAS
 Date when last serviced
 Length of painter
 Maximum permitted height of stowage above
waterline
 Launching instructions
 Official (Open)

Life Raft Equipment


Two sea-anchor permanently attached to the
life raft in such a way as to be readily
deployable when the life raft inflates.
Two buoyant paddles.
One first-aid outfit in a waterproof case capable
of being closed tightly after use.
3 tin-openers (safety type).
A pair of scissors (safety type).
One whistle or equivalent sound signal.
 Official (Open)

Pyrotechnics

 Buoyant Smoke Signal x 2pcs
 Highly visible colour- not less than 3 min
 Rocket Parachute Flare x 4pcs
 Burn with bright red colour-not less than 40 sec
30000 cd at a height 300 m
 Hand Flare x 6 pcs
 Burn with bright red colour-not less than 60 sec
15000 cd
 Official (Open)

Additional Equipment
for Inflatable Life Raft

 One repair outfit for repairing punctures in
buoyancy compartments
 One topping-up pump or bellows
 Length of life raft hawser = 9 metres

Where appropriate the equipment shall be

stowed in a container which permanently
attached to the life raft, capable of floating in
water for at least 30 minutes without damage
to its contents.
Parts of An Inflatable Life
Official (Open)

1. Shackle
Raft
2. Lifting
arrangement/suspension
straps (fitted on davit-
launched life rafts only)
3. Rainwater catchment and
collecting unit.
4. Internal grab line
5. Suspension strap
6. Patch for lifting arrangement
7. Upper buoyancy tube
8. Lower buoyancy tube
9. External grab line
10. Stabilizing pockets
11. Floor in middle
12. Floor at bottom
13. Boarding ladder
Parts of An Inflatable Life
Official (Open)

Raft 14. C02 cylinder

15. Arch tube
16. External, automatically activated
lt
17. Internal, automatically activated
lt
18 Arch tube
19 Inner canopy
20 Outer canopy
21 Retro-reflective tape
22 Viewing port
23 Double floor
24 Bilge arrangement
25 Drain
26 Double zip closure
27 Emergency pack
 Official (Open)

Manual Launching of a
Life Raft

1. Check that all is clear over the side. Let-go lashings
and take the raft to the ship’s side. Remove a section of
railing if necessary.
2. Secure the end of the painter to a strong point on the
ship’s side.
3. Launch the life raft by throwing it overboard together
with its container.
4. Pull the remainder of the painter out of the floating
container and tug it hard to trigger the gas bottle.
5. The life raft will take about a minute to inflate. A
whistling sound can be heard towards the completion
of inflation, which is actually the relief valve venting
the excess charge.
 Official (Open)

Manual Launching of a
Life Raft

6. Board the life raft from a side ladder, a rope or
from the sea.
7. Jettison all sharp objects.
8. Cut the painter once it is ensured that everyone
is accounted for in the life raft.
9. In cold weather inflate the double floor. Leave it
deflated in the tropics to keep the interior cool.
10. Try to remain in the vicinity of other lifeboats
and life rafts.
 Official (Open)

Launching


 Official (Open)

Life Raft Launching


Note: Give the painter another hard tug if the
raft fails to inflate.

 Jump into the life raft from the ladder without

foot wear. This is only if the entrance is clear and
also if it is not more than 4.5 m high.
 On no account should a member of the crew
jump from a height of more than 4.5 m.
 Do not jump onto the canopy or into the
entrance when another person is there.
 Official (Open)

Abandon Ship by Life

Raft

Paddle the life raft to a safe distance
Stream the sea anchor
Post lookout
Issue a seasick tablet to everyone
Check for any leak and dry the life raft
Check all equipment on board
Read “immediate action instructions”
 Official (Open)

Float-Free Arrangement

Painter System
 Shall provide a connection between the ship
and the life raft and shall be so arranged as to
ensure that the life raft when released and in
the case of an inflatable life raft when
inflated, is not dragged under by the sinking
ship.
Weak link
 Breaking under a strain of 2.2 KN, so that the
raft is not dragged under by the sinking ship.
Official (Open)

HRU


 Official (Open)

Hydrostatic Release
Unit

 the materials used are compatible so as to
prevent malfunction of the unit.
 it has drains to prevent the accumulation of
water in the hydrostatic chamber when the unit
is in its normal position.
 each part connected to the painter system has a
strength not less than that required by the
painter.
 it can readily be removed for replacement or
annual servicing.
 Official (Open)

HRU

Automatically release the life raft at a depth
of not more than 4 metres.
Be so constructed as to prevent release when
seas wash over the unit.
Be permanently marked on its exterior with
its type, serial number and date of
manufacture.
If disposable type, to be marked with a
means of determining its date of expiry.
Official (Open)
Official (Open)
 Official (Open)

Davit-launched Life Raft


When the life raft is loaded with its full
complement of persons and equipment:
Shall be capable of withstanding a lateral
impact against the ship's side at an impact
velocity of not less than 3.5 metres per
second.
Capable of withstanding a drop into the
water from a height of not less than 3 metres
without damage that will affect its function.
 Official (Open)

Davit-launched Life Raft


Shall be provided with means for bringing
the life raft alongside the embarkation deck
and holding it securely during embarkation;
Passenger ship shall be so arranged that it
can be rapidly boarded by its full
complement of persons.
Cargo ship shall be so arranged that it can be
boarded by its full complement of persons in
not more than 3 mins from the time
instruction to board is given.
 Official (Open)

Davit-launched Life Raft


When suspended from its lifting hook or bridle,
withstand a load of:
4 times the mass of its full complement of
persons and equipment at ambient temp. 20 +
3°C with all relief valve inoperative.
1.1 times the mass of its full complement of
persons and equipment at ambient temp. - 30°C
with all relief valve inoperative.
Official (Open)


 Official (Open)

Boarding Life Raft


 Boarding a life raft from the water without help is
hard.
 Pull yourself in head first using the boarding ladder
and lifelines at the raft entrance to get your upper
body aboard. It may help to bob down and use the
buoyancy of exposure suit to help lift you out of the
water.
 Once your upper body is on the buoyancy tube,
there should be internal lifelines to help you pull
yourself all the way in.
 Try to pull yourself in with the boarding ladder and
lifelines rather than the canopy, which could be torn
by your weight.
Official (Open)


 Official (Open)

Righting A Capsized
Life Raft

One person can easily right a capsized raft if it is
done soon enough, before the canopy fills with
water.
Swim to the side marked Right Here.
If there is no marking, go to the side with the
CO2 cylinder.
Manoeuvre the cylinder side of the raft so that it
is downwind, then reach up and grab the
righting strap.
Start by pulling yourself up onto the raft. It may
help to kick your feet out as if swimming.
Official (Open)


 Official (Open)

Righting A Capsized Life

Raft

If this doesn't work, try putting your feet or
knees into the external lifelines to help you
pull yourself up on the raft.
Some rafts may right while you are climbing
onto them.
If not, stand on the very edge, where the CO2
cylinder is located.
Lean back with all your weight and pull on
the righting strap.