Life rafts are not something you can buy off the fly. Owning and operating a life raft requires you to know what you are doing. This necessity is why there are many life raft safety standards put into place for life raft operators. Chapter III of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) introduces many such practices. This chapter lays out the importance of safety equipment on boats, such as life rafts.
Here at Aviation Survival, we aim to help all our clients with any marine safety help they need. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about marine life raft safety procedures, don't hesitate to contact us! Call us today at 321-821-4724 to talk to Ron or any other of our experienced team.
LIFE RAFT SAFETY STANDARDS
Suppose you want to learn about the SOLAS Chapter III requirements. Unfortunately, you don't have the time to read the entire chapter. There is no need to worry! Here are some of the most critical parts of this marine life raft safety document. You will be thankful you knew some of these crucial standards.
Float-Free Arrangements
When you have a raft, you need to ensure that it is available to you immediately when you need it the most. This immediacy is why SOLAS Chapter III requires that you arrange your rafts. What this term means is that each raft should deploy or inflate as soon as it is necessary. Make sure your rafts are accessible and can inflate immediately.
Individual Deployment
Setting off all your life rafts at once could result in chaos on deck. While you might be panicking, releasing or inflating all rafts at the same time can damage the crafts. Not only that, but the sudden impact could severely injure bystanders. This potential for damage is why a manual, individual release is necessary for each float. By allowing the rafts to inflate one at a time, you can reduce your stress during a difficult time.
Ease of Launch
Nobody wants to have their ship go overboard. Unfortunately, there is a chance that it could happen. This possibility is why manufacturers specially make some rafts for overboard launching. Each of these rafts should be easy to carry, transfer, and throw. You should not have to worry about having an inconvenient raft when you should be getting to safety.
Buy Your Life Rafts With Us
To learn more about the guidelines of SOLAS Chapter III, read Marine Insight's excellent article on it here. Give Aviation Survival a call today at 321-821-4724 to talk to one of our life raft experts. You can also fill out our online contact form. No matter how you contact us, we can help you learn more about marine life raft safety.