A liferaft is a vital piece of safety equipment on board a ship that can provide refuge for crew members in the event of an emergency. It is one of those survival crafts that seafarers use during an abandon ship situation. In order to ensure the survivability of those on board the raft, it is essential to have the proper liferaft equipments in place.
When it comes to the equipments inside these rafts, there are two main categories or “packs” that regulations put into place. They vary depending on the type, size, and voyage of the ship to which the rafts must also conform. These packs are known as SOLAS A and SOLAS B.
Liferaft equipment
The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) is an international treaty that sets minimum safety standards for ships engaged in international voyages. It requires that all ships carry inflatable liferafts as part of their life-saving appliance. It is the job of the seafarers working in that ship to ensure that the rafts are properly equipped, especially on the type of emergency packs they have.
Emergency Packs
The SOLAS A pack is designed to be used on passenger ships operating on international voyages, as well as on other vessels that fall under Safety of Life at Sea regulations for domestic or international voyages. This pack is more comprehensive than the next one.
Liferafts in this category shall be marked “SOLAS A PACK” in block capitals.
Meanwhile, SOLAS B pack is intended for use on ships or passenger ships engaged in short international voyages and domestic voyages. Life rafts in this category shall be marked “SOLAS B PACK” in block capitals.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) sets these rules for ships to have flexibility in choosing their lifesaving appliance depending on their voyage. If your vessel is sailing worldwide, you must know which liferaft you have on board to ensure that the accessories inside them confirm to the standards.
Liferafts SOLAS Packs
Under these categories, we will further subdivide them into raft kits, personal survival equipment, and signalling tools to give an overview about these liferaft equipments.
SOLAS PACK A
This pack is the most comprehensive since they are carried by passenger ships and merchant vessels sailing across the world’s oceans.
Raft kits
Assist in maneuvering and keeps the raft seaworthy.
- one buoyant rescue quoit, attached to not less than 30 metres of buoyant line with a breaking strain of at least l.0 kiloNewton
- one safety knife of the non-folding type for less than 12 person rafts and two for more than 12
- one buoyant bailer for less than 12 person rafts and two for more than 12
- two sponges
- two sea-anchors with one spare and the other ready to deploy overboard
- two buoyant paddles
- three tin openers and a pair of scissors
Personal Survival Kits
Increases survivability of the seafarers inside the inflatable raft while they float offshore waiting for rescue.
- one first-aid outfit
- one set fishing tackle
- food ration totalling not less than 10,000 kilojoules for each person the life raft
- watertight receptacles containing a total of 1.5 litres of fresh water
- one rust-proof drinking vessel graduated in millilitres
- six doses of anti-seasickness medicine and one seasickness bag for each person
- instructions printed in English on how to survive
- 3 instructions for immediate action
- thermal protective aids
Signalling Accessories
Assists is search, in a way that the rescuers can find the crew quickly.
- one whistle or equivalent sound signal
- four rocket parachute flares
- six hand flares
- two buoyant smoke signals
- one waterproof electric torch suitable for Morse signalling together with a spare set of batteries and a spare bulb in a waterproof container
- an efficient radar reflector unless a radar transponder is stowed in the liferaft
- one heliograph with instructions on its use
- one copy of the Department of Transport’s Rescue Signal Table published by Her Majesty’s Stationery Office One set of fishing tackle
SOLAS B PACK
The packs inside these life rafts contain less stringent requirements since they navigate only in domestic or short international voyage. In case of emergencies, help may be able to arrive within 24 hours.
Raft Kits
- one buoyant rescue quoit, attached to not less than 30 metres of buoyant line with a breaking strain of at least l.0 kiloNewton
- one safety knife of the non-folding type for less than 12 person rafts and two for more than 1
- one buoyant bailer for less than 12 person rafts and two for more than 12
- two sponges
- two sea-anchors
- two paddles
Personal Survival Kits
- one first-aid outfit
- one copy of the Department of Transport’s Rescue Signal Table published by Her Majesty’s Stationery Office One set of fishing tackle
- six doses of anti-seasickness medicine and one seasickness bag for each person
- instructions printed in English on how to survive
- 3 instructions for immediate action
- thermal protective aids
Signalling Accessories
- two rocket parachute flares
- 3 hand flares
- 1 buoyant smoke signal
- one whistle or equivalent sound signal
- one waterproof electric torch suitable for Morse signalling together with a spare battery and a spare bulb in a waterproof container
- an efficient radar reflector unless a radar transponder is stowed in the liferaft
- one heliograph with instructions on its use
USCG Requirements
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has specific requirements regarding the liferaft equipment packs specified in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). However, they are similar to the ones stated in the Safety of Life at Sea regulations.
Standard Equipment
Every pack of equipment contains the standard equipment.
Raft Kits
- Insulated canopy
- Insulated inflatable floor (optional)
- Painter
- CO2 cylinder
- Sea anchor
- Towing bridles
- Righting strap
- Lifelines
- Heaving line
- Paddles
- Leak stoppers
- Repair kit
- Knife
- Pressure relief valves
- Water stabilizing pockets
- Quoit with heaving line
- Pressure relief valve plug
- Sponge
- Pump or Bellows
- Inflating and bilge pump
Personal Survival Kits
- Survival manual
- Rainwater catchments
- Rainwater storage bags
- Survival instructions
- Immediate action instructions
Signalling Tools
- Automatic locator light
- Automatic interior light
- Whistle
- Signal mirror
SOLAS B (formerly Limited Service)
Contains standard equipment and the following accessories:
Raft Kits
- Sponge
- Bailer
- Jackknife
Personal Survival Kits
- First Aid kit
- Thermal Protection Aid
- Anti seasickness pills
Signalling Tools
- Parachute distress flares
- Hand-held flares
- Smoke flare (optional)
- Copy of lifesaving signals
- Flashlight
- 2 spare flashlight bulbs
- 3 spare flashlight batteries
SOLAS A (formerly Ocean Service)
Contains the standard equipment, the “B” items, and the following:
Raft Kits
- Pressure relief valves
- Additional bailer
- Additional sponge
- Fishing kit
- Tin opener
Personal Survival Kits
- 1½ quarts water per person
- 2375 calories food/person
- Anti-seasickness pills
- Graduated drinking cup
Signalling Tools
- Signal mirror
- Additional parachute flare
- 4-6 hand flares
- Signal whistle
Coastal Service Liferaft Equipment
These inflatable life rafts are designed for use only in domestic service. They have the following accessories.
Raft Kits
- Rescue quoit and heaving line
- Knife
- Bailer
- Sponge
- Sea anchor
- Paddles
- Repair outfit
- Pump or bellows
- Plugs for pressure-relief valves
Personal Survival Kits
- Survival instructions
- Instructions for immediate action
Signalling Tools
- Whistle
- Flashlight
- Signalling mirror (heliograph)
Properly equipped liferafts are an essential component of life-saving equipment on board a ship. As a seafarer, we must adhere to regulations because they are critical to ensure their effectiveness.
Check your ship’s life raft and see which emergency packs they’re marked with. Does it conform with your voyage?
May the winds be in your favor.
