Small boat carried on ships for use in case of emergency. There are many types of lifeboats such as freefall lifeboats, totally enclosed lifeboats or partially enclosed lifeboats. Seating is provided inside the lifeboat on thwarts, benches or fixed chairs. Each survival craft shall be fully equipped and stowed as per SOLAS regulations. Lifeboats carried on passenger ships are subject to higher regulations in the SOLAS convention.
Lifeboats are used as a last resort, when case of emergency occurs and passengers and/or crew must be evacuated. In passenger ships some of them are used as tenders, in order to embark and disembark passengers and crew when the ship is at anchor.
Lifeboats are stowed on davits. They have rigid hulls and as per regulations shall be capable of maintain positive stability when in an upright position and totally loaded, supporting a 100kg weigh for each seat. They are provided with an engine that can be started either with a manual starting system, or a power starting system. They are fitted with watertight lockers to store equipment, water and provisions.
The capacity of the lifeboat will be the first factor to take into account. All Lifeboats carried on ships must satisfy the regulations of SOLAS chapter III, and might satisfy other requirements of the Administration. Each lifeboat shall be fitted with a certificate of approval, endorsed by the Administration. As per regulations, no lifeboat shall be approved to accommodate more than 150 persons.
