Liferafts, lifebuoys and recovery equipment

Reaching someone in the water does not complete recovery. Freeboard may be high, the casualty exhausted or unconscious, and crew unable to lift them. A liferaft serves another function rather than automatically returning someone aboard. Separate recovery to the boat, survival outside it and transfer to rescue. Each needs identified equipment, prepared people and a plan appropriate to the actual vessel.

This chapter introduces the subject and bounded exercises. It replaces neither training, equipment instructions nor applicable requirements.