Liferaft Equipment's as per SOLAS

Life raft on board ship in a life-saving appliance that can be launched manually or will get inflated automatically when the vessel sinks. To survive inside the liferaft with the survivers, certain equipment's are to be available mandatorily as guided by the SOLAS and same amended in LSA code.   

The normal equipment of every liferaft shall consist of:

1. Buoyant Rescue quoit:

• One buoyant rescue quoit, attached to not less than 30 meters of buoyant line. It is used for the recovery of additional survivors.

2. Knife:

• One non-folding knife with a buoyant handle and lanyard and stowed in a pocket on the exterior of the canopy near the point at which the painter is attached to the liferaft.

• In addition, a liferaft that is permitted to accommodate 13 persons or more shall be provided with a second knife which need not be the non-folding type.

3. Bailer:

• One Buoyant bailer for a liferaft which is permitted to accommodate not more than 12 persons.

• Two Buoyant bailers for liferafts that are permitted to accommodate 13 persons or more.  

4. Sponge:

• Two sponges to collect the water inside the canopy, actually to remove or collect the water condensation or accumulation inside the canopy.

5. Sea anchors:

• Two sea anchors with shock-resistant hawser and tripping line.

• One sea anchor is permanently attached to the liferaft in such a way that when the liferaft inflates or is waterborne it will cause the liferaft to lie oriented to the wind in the most stable manner. 

• The strength of each sea-anchor and its hawser and tripping shall be adequate in all sea conditions.

• A sea anchor is provided to reduce the drift rate of the liferaft and reduce the risk of capsize.

6. Paddles:

• Two buoyant paddles were used for manoeuvring the liferaft away from the sinking ship and to move to the other survival crafts.

• These can normally be used in combination along with sea anchors.  

7. Tin Opener & Scissors:

• Three tin Openers are to be there as per the requirement of the code.

• A pair of knives

• Safety knives containing special tin-opener blades are satisfactory for this requirement. 

8. Whistle:

• One whistle or equivalent sound signal.

9. Rocket parachute Flares:

• Four rocket parachute flares that comply with the requirements of the code.

• When the rocket is fired vertically it shall reach an altitude of not less than 300m.

• The rocket shall eject parachute flares which shall burn with a bright red colour.

• A parachute shall open and decent at a reduced rate to remain at a height and to provide a clear view to nearby ships. 

10. Hand Flares:

• Six hand flares that comply with the requirements of the code.

• Hand flare shall produce smoke with bright red colour.

• It shall be designed as not to cause discomfort to the person holding the casing when used. 

11. Buoyant smoke signal:

• Two buoyant smoke signals comply with the requirements of the code.

• It shall emit smoke of a highly visible colour at a uniform rate for a period of not less than 3 min when floating in calm water.

• It shall not emit any flame during the entire emission time.

12. First-aid Kit:

• One first-aid outfit in a waterproof case capable of being closed tightly after use.

13. Waterproof Torch:

• One waterproof electric torch suitable for Morse signalling together with one spare set of batteries and one spare bulb.

• Torch and spares should be in a waterproof container.

14. Radar Reflector:

• One efficient radar reflector, unless the survival craft radar transponder is stowed in the liferaft

• Used to inform the position of the survival craft in the open sea.

15. Daylight Signalling Mirror:

• One daylight signalling mirror with the instructions on its use for signalling to ships and aircraft.

• It is used to reflect the sun's rays to the rescue ships and aircraft.

16. Signal diagram:

• One copy of the life-saving signals on a waterproof card or in a waterproof container.

17. Fishing tackle:

• One set of fishing tackle, comprising of one fishing line and six hooks.

18. Food Ration:

• A food ration consisting of not less than 10,000 KJ for each person the liferaft is permitted to accommodate.

• The food ration shall be packed in a manner which can be readily divided and easily opened, taking into account immersion suit gloved hands.

• The rations shall be packed in permanently sealed metal containers.

• The packing shall be clearly marked with the date of packing and the date of expiry.  

19. Fresh Water:

• Fresh water in sealed watertight containers/packets that are of corrosion-resistant material amounting to 1.5 litres per person that the raft is permitted to accommodate, of which 0.5 litres per person may be replaced by a resalting apparatus capable of producing an equal amount of water in two days or 1.0 litres per person may be replaced by a manually powered reverse osmosis desalinator in two days.

• Each water container/packet shall have a method of spill-proof enclosure.

• Each water container/packet shall be clearly marked with the date of packing, the date of expiry, the production lot number, the quantity of water in the container/packet and the instructions for consumption. 

• The water containers/packets shall be easy-open, taking into account immersion suit gloved hands.

20. Drinking Vessel:

• One rustproof graduated drinking vessel (usually plastic)

21. Survival Instructions:

• One set of instructions for how to survive.

22. Immediate action card:

• One set of instructions for immediate action.

23. Anti-seasickness medicine:

• One seasickness bag for each person the liferaft is permitted to accommodate.

• Anti-seasickness medicine is sufficient for at least 48 hours.

24. Thermal Protective aids:

• A thermal protective aid shall be made of waterproof material having a thermal conductance of not more than 7800 W/(m²K) and shall be so constructed that, when used to enclose a person, it shall reduce both the convective and evaporative heat loss from the wearer's body. 

• A thermal protective aid shall be of sufficient numbers for 10% of the number of persons the liferaft is permitted to accommodate or two, whichever is greater. 

Reference: 

1. IMO Publications & Documents - International Codes - LSA Code - Chapter IV - Survival Craft.
2. IMO Publications & Documents - Resolutions - Maritime Safety Committee - Resolutions.MSC.48(66).