Lifeboats &
Life Rafts
Both ships' lifeboats and rescue lifeboats
may be rigid or inflatable vessels. A lifeboat is a boat designed to
save the lives of people in trouble at sea. The term is used for vessels
carried by ships to allow passengers and crew to escape in an emergency.
The first boat specialized as a lifeboat was tested on the River Tyne
on January 29, 1790.
In U.S. waters, rescue-at-sea is part of the duties of the United States
Coast Guard, which employs its multipurpose ships and aircraft in this
role. The Coast Guard is also responsible for making sure that the proper
type and number of lifeboats (American usage) are available and kept
in good repair on any large ship. "Lifeboat drills" are a part of a
cruise experience.
Inflatable lifeboats, also
called life rafts, may be equipped with auto-inflation carbon dioxide
canisters or mechanical pumps. A quick release and pressure release
mechanism is fitted on board ships so that the canister or pump automatically
inflates the lifeboat, and the lifeboat breaks free of the sinking vessel.
Commercial aircraft are also required to carry auto-inflating life rafts
in case of an emergency water landing. They are also kept on offshore
platforms.
Traditionally lifeboats
for passages in the Pacific or Indian Oceans were thought unsafe unless
they permitted self-rescue. Thus these traditionally included sailing
equipment, navigational equipment, solar water stills, rainwater catchments
and fishing equipment. Lifeboats for the North Sea include an electric
heater for the engine oil, which is left on in cold weather.
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