Throw Overboard Liferaft
Throw overboard liferaft meets the SOLAS standard. As the name suggests, this type of SOLAS life raft is built to be launched by getting thrown over from a ship. Others are designed to fall freely. Immediately this happens, the painter is pulled to inflate it instantly and passengers can climb down using a ladder or by jumping in. It is therefore stowed within easy reach at either side of the vessel.
In other instances, the ship sinks much faster than the throw overboard liferaft can be launched. A special feature known as the hydrostatic release unit prevents the liferaft from going under with the ship. At 4 meter depth, it causes the liferaft to quickly detach from the ship and float up. As the vessel goes deeper, water pressure builds up forcing the painter to pull tighter and inflate the life raft. Throw overboard liferaft is best suited for the international voyage.
Davit Launched Liferaft
The davit-launched liferaft is transferable by a davit. This is a specialized launching device with a lifting hook used to mechanically transfer the liferaft as opposed to being lifted and thrown over. Inflation and embarking occur at the deck after which pulling a winch lower the liferaft into the water using steel ropes.
Davit-launched liferaft also meets the SOLAS requirement. Davit-launched liferaft follows the same process as the throw overboard liferaft to activate the hydrostatic release unit and auto-inflates when a vessel begins sinking and manual inflation is impossible. In other circumstances when the davit fails, it can still be thrown over.
The davit-launched liferaft is suitable for both passenger and cargo ships and it has an essential advantage overthrow overboard type. Embarking on the deck shields passengers from getting wet which is very critical in preventing hypothermia especially in cold climates. Also, survivors who are hurt or unconscious and thereby unable to board on their own can be helped by others to embark easily.
Self Righting Life Raft
Self-righting life raft can turn over itself if it is launched in an upside down position. At times before gaining stability due to ballast bags being empty, an inflatable life raft tends to roll over to an inverted position. The moments spent in water by a survivor trying to flip it back up is enough to cause the massive escape of body heat. Self-righting life raft uses a combination of systems that ensure it automatically rolls upright without requiring any help from the crew.
Open Reversible Liferafts
Open reversible liferafts are designed to be purposeful on either side of the liferaft. It has twin buoyancy tubes and circularly shaped construction that makes it operational regardless of the side it lands on water when being launched. As a result, passengers do not need to worry about overturning it because both sides are usable in the same way.
It may have a boarding ramp or another alternative method of embarking directly from the deck into the raft without encountering any splashes. Open reversible liferafts come with HSC pack and are ideal for high speed and coded vessels traversing the coast or inland waters.
Leisure Life Raft
Leisure life raft, also known as a recreational life raft, is among the most compact of inflatable life rafts with minimal weight. It is built to serve passengers on small watercraft undertaking recreational activities such as fishing, boat or yacht riding, sailing on the coastline or inshore. A leisure life raft is not full featured like the other commercial high seas SOLAS standard inflatable life rafts, it is constructed with the ISO 9650 standards. The leisure life raft comes in a valise, it has some canopy shelter, inflation gas cylinder, and HRU too
