Every Davit Launched Life Raft shall comply with the general requirements regarding life rafts, and in addition, Davit launched rafts shall be used with an approved launching appliance and shall:

(a) when the life raft is loaded with its full complement of persons and equipment, be capable of withstanding a lateral impact against the ship’s side at an impact velocity of not less than 3.5 m/s and also the drop into the water from a height of not less than 3 m, without damage that will affect its function.

(b )be provided with the means for bringing the life raft alongside the embarkation deck and holding it securely during embarkation.

Every passenger ship davit launched life raft shall be so arranged that it can be boarded by its full complement of persons. Every cargo ship davit launched life raft shall be so arranged that it can be boarded by its full complement of persons in not more than 3 minutes from the time the instruction to board is given.

When suspended from the lifting hook or bridle shall withstand a load of:

(a)4 times the mass of its full complement of persons and equipment at an ambient temperature and a stabilised raft temperature of 20°±3, with all relief valves inoperative; and

(b)1.1 times the mass of its full complement of persons and equipment at an ambient temperature and a stabilised raft temperature of -30℃, with all relief valves operative. Rigid containers for life rafts to be launched by a launching appliance shall be so secured that the container or parts of it are prevented from falling into the sea during and after inflation and launching of the contained raft.

Rigid containers for life rafts to be launched by a launching appliance shall be so secured that the container or parts of it are prevented from falling into the sea during and after inflation and launching of the contained raft.

Davit Launched Inflatable Life Raft

A rigid life raft for use with an approved launching appliance shall, when suspended from its lifting hook or bridle, withstand a load of 4 times the mass of its full complement of persons and equipment.

Davit launched survival craft muster and embarkation stations shall be so arranged as to enable stretcher cases to be placed in the survival craft. They shall also be stowed within easy reach of the lifting hooks, unless some means of transfer is provided which is not rendered inoperable within the limits of trim and list specified by the regulations.

Where necessary, means shall be provided for bringing the davit launched life raft against the ship’s side and holding it alongside so that persons can be safely embarked.

Every life raft launching appliance shall comply with the general requirements (paragraphs 1 and 2) for launching appliances except with regard to use of gravity for turning out the appliance, embarkation in the stowed position and recovery of the loaded raft. The arrangement should not allow premature release during lowering and shall release the raft when waterborne.

Comment on Davit Launched Life Raft

The davit launched life raft system is designed to be a speedy method of evacuation for would-be survivors. The obvious advantage over the inflatable raft being that persons can board in the dry condition without running the risk of having to enter the water, bearing in mind that the body loses heat approximately 26 times faster in water than when in a dry condition. Also casualties can be lifted directly into the raft at the embarkation deck level without the risks of getting close to the surface.

Its operation usually takes the form of several rafts stowed in racks. These can all be launched by recovery of the fall/release hook by means of the tricing line without the necessity for turning the davit back inboard for each raft. The fall returning to embarkation deck level after each launch by the winch.

Great care should be taken with every system and the manufacturer’s instructions closely followed. The real danger of confusing similar types of systems and causing inflation at the wrong moment could cause bowsing lines to part and damage the raft and render the raft incapable for use in the intended way.