Cruise Lifeboats and Life Rafts: How Your Ship Can Prepare for Emergencies

Are there enough lifeboats on the cruise ship for everyone? This is a question that comes to the mind of many cruisers, especially when they are hesitant to cross the ocean, far from land.

You can rest assured that cruise lines have a number of safety systems in place to deal with the rare occurrence of a major emergency at sea. Of course, these systems include brightly colored lifeboats lining the sides of the boat. Not only can they transport passengers to safety when ships need to be scrapped, but they can also be used as supply ships in ports where ships cannot dock.

You may have other questions about lifeboats out of curiosity or safety considerations. How reliable are small ships? What supplies are on board? Do they have bathrooms? Here is important information about cruise ship lifeboats so you can feel safe and confident on your next voyage.

WHAT DOES A LIFEBOAT LOOK LIKE?

Lifeboats are orange or yellow boats that line the sides of the boat. On many cruise ships, you will find two main types of lifeboats: closed lifeboats and lifeboat dinghys. Most cruise ship lifeboats are enclosed lifeboats that are rugged, have superior watertight integrity, and can easily recover on their own if tossed by rough waves.

Lifeboat dinghies are partially enclosed and designed for two main functions: to act as lifeboats when needed, and to transport guests from the boat to shore during calls at ports where ships cannot dock. Lifeboat supply ships are more expensive to maintain than traditional lifeboats, so there are usually only enough lifeboat supply ships on cruise ships to operate port supply services, and the rest are standard closed lifeboats.

The interior of the lifeboat consists of several rows of seats, which may or may not have a back. The steering area with windows and hatches is located on the roof of the ship. According to lifeboat manufacturer Fasmer, enclosed lifeboats have no windows other than the steering area, while lifeboat dinghies have windows to view their surroundings from their seats. These windows won’t open.

Fun fact: When Disney Cruise Line introduced in the 90s, regulations required all cruise ship lifeboats to be orange. However, Disney wanted the appearance of its ships to match the colors of Mickey Mouse, so it asked for an exemption to paint its lifeboats yellow to match Mickey Mouse’s shoes.

The U.S. Coast Guard approved this unique request, and the lifeboats were painted Mickey Yellow (Pantone 99), a patented color that only Disney could use. Since then, other cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean Cruises and Costa Cruises have also painted lifeboats yellow.

What Is the Typical Capacity of a Cruise Ship Lifeboat?

According to the International Maritime Organization’s International Code for Lifesaving Equipment, cruise ship lifeboats can carry up to a maximum of 150 passengers. Most cruise ships are equipped with lifeboats capable of accommodating the maximum number of passengers, as it is easier, more cost-effective and takes up less space to have fewer large lifeboats than to have more smaller lifeboats.

Although the LSA limits lifeboats to 150 passengers, the exception is to allow larger lifeboats on some of the world’s largest cruise ships.

With a combined capacity of 8,880 passengers and crew, Royal Caribbean’s Large Ocean Oasis is the first vessel to use the 370-man CRV55 catamaran lifeboat, or “Rescue Boat”, designed and built by marine lifesaving equipment company Umoe Schat, Harding. Closed vessels are unique in that they can be placed directly into the water from the ship’s storage location (without moving outward), and passengers can board on both tiers at the same time, reducing loading times. The catamaran-style hull improves stability, while twin diesel engines and twin propellers allow these “giant” lifeboats to move at speeds of up to 6 knots.

According to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, there must be enough lifeboats on board a cruise ship to accommodate 37.5% of the passengers and crew on both sides (75% of the total). What will happen to the other 25%? This brings us to our next question.

Are There Inflatable Life Rafts on Cruise Ships?

The remaining 25% of passengers who cannot accommodate conventional lifeboats can use cruise ship inflatable life rafts. These are usually designated for the crew, and guests will first board the lifeboat – although a life raft can also be used for guests if necessary.

Collapsible cruise ship life rafts are stored in fiberglass tanks that are usually self-inflated with high-pressure gas after unfolding. Lifeboats have engines, while life rafts do not. However, they do have oars. Ships may also be equipped with rigid non-inflatable life rafts, which are not common on large cruise ships.

On newer cruise ships, life rafts can be used with a marine evacuation system that utilizes a fully enclosed inflatable spiral slide to transfer passengers from the boarding deck to a self-inflating life raft in the water.

If some lifeboats are damaged or cannot be lowered in an emergency, there will be additional life rafts on board the cruise ship to compensate for this deficiency. SOLAS requires an additional life raft with sufficient capacity of 25% of the vessel’s capacity. The design of the cruise ship also allows lifeboats and life rafts to be deployed, even if the ship is tilted up to 20 degrees.

Where Are the Lifeboats on Cruise Ships Located?

Lifeboats are located on the outboard on either side of the cruise ship and are usually stored on or directly above one of the middle decks, with outdoor promenades so that passengers can easily board the lifeboats. The location is ideal as it is central to the upper and lower deck guest cabins as well as many public indoor and outdoor venues and facilities.

It can also keep the lifeboats high enough away from the water so that they don’t get in the way when the boat docks, and most likely not affected by rough waves. On the other hand, it keeps them low enough that they don’t have to lower the height of the entire boat (plus, no one wants a view of a lifeboat from a Lido pool or an upperdeck suite).

In an emergency, passengers should not go directly to the lifeboat. Instead, each compartment was assigned a rendezvous station, where they would meet with the crew and be escorted to lifeboats if evacuation was deemed necessary. Passengers must participate in assembly drills to identify their meeting point and understand emergency procedures on board. These exercises must take place before the cruise ship sets sail.

How Are Lifeboats Tested?

During the manufacturing process, lifeboats are tested using water weights that simulate the weight of passengers at various points around the vessel. This water weight is pumped for remote filling and drainage. Throughout the test, they were placed in different locations of the lifeboats to collect data on how the lifeboats handle passenger weights in different locations and scenarios.

Once the lifeboats are delivered to the shipyard for installation on board, the inspection and testing does not stop. Throughout the life of a cruise ship, time, weather, and use all mean – just like any type of equipment – that things on a lifeboat degrade and wear out over time. That’s why SOLAS includes regular lifeboat drills and inspection requirements.

Cruise ship crews conduct weekly and monthly lifeboat inspections and receive regular training to keep a clear head on lifeboat operation.

Each year, a more thorough inspection is carried out by a certified lifeboat technician of an independent company or an inspector from the lifeboat manufacturer itself. According to the IMO, the process includes inspections of the following key components:

• Inspect the hull for cracks, damage, or other defects.
• Check the propulsion system, including the engine, to ensure it is in good working order. The cooling, exhaust and fuel systems were also checked.
• Inspect electrical systems, including batteries, charging, lighting, and communication systems, for defects or malfunctions.
• Check the handling system, including the steering mechanism, rudders, and other steering devices.
• Check lifeboat equipment, such as life jackets and lifesaving equipment, to ensure it is in good condition.
• Inspect the gondola frame and winch system, including the winch and wire rope, for defects or damage.
• Lifeboats are load tested to ensure they can withstand the maximum weight of the crew and passengers.

Any equipment or system found to be defective or defective during the inspection will be repaired or replaced.

The likelihood of passengers experiencing an emergency on a cruise ship that requires abandonment by lifeboat is very small. Still, it’s nice to know that your boat is equipped with safety equipment that will give you peace of mind on your next cruise.