# SOLAS Liferaft Types Explained: Which Vessel Needs Which

> SOLAS inflatable liferaft types compared: throw-overboard, davit-launched, self-righting, open-reversible and polar rafts, and which vessels need each one.

- URL: https://www.marine-equipment-supply.com/blog/solas-inflatable-liferaft-types-explained/
- Published: 2026-01-14
- Updated: 2026-02-03
- Author: MARS Engineering & Sales Team, Shanghai Mars Industrial Co., Ltd.

The right SOLAS inflatable liferaft depends on how the raft is launched, who has to board it, and where the ship trades. Most cargo ships use throw-overboard rafts on float-free cradles, passenger ships add davit-launched rafts, ro-ro passenger ships need self-righting or canopied reversible rafts, high-speed craft commonly use open-reversible rafts under the HSC Code, and ships in polar waters need equipment suited to the Polar Code.

## Key takeaways
- SOLAS Chapter III sets out *how many* survival craft a ship must carry; the International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code sets out *how* each liferaft must be built and equipped.
- The LSA Code does not approve any liferaft with a capacity of less than six persons, and every liferaft must work after being dropped into the water from a height of 18 m.
- Liferafts on ro-ro passenger ships must be automatically self-righting or canopied reversible, and fitted with a boarding ramp (SOLAS III/26).
- Open-reversible liferafts are defined under the High-Speed Craft (HSC) Code, not as general SOLAS liferafts for conventional ships.
- The Polar Code requires life-saving appliances that stay functional at the ship's polar service temperature, which in practice means polar-rated rafts and extra survival equipment.
- The flag state and classification society have the final word; always confirm the raft type against the ship's approved safety plan.

## What is the difference between SOLAS Chapter III and the LSA Code?
SOLAS Chapter III is the carriage rule. It tells you how much survival craft capacity each ship type needs, where rafts must be stowed and how they must be launched and maintained. The LSA Code, made mandatory through SOLAS, is the product standard: construction, buoyancy, canopy, drop height, equipment packs and markings.

When a buyer asks "which liferaft do I need?", the answer comes from both documents. It also depends on the flag administration's interpretations and the ship's approved life-saving appliance arrangement.

## Which liferaft types are available, and how do they compare?

| Type | How it is launched | Typical vessels | Key rule reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Throw-overboard (float-free) | Thrown over the side or released by a hydrostatic release unit (HRU); the painter line triggers inflation | Cargo ships, tankers, many passenger ships, offshore support vessels | SOLAS III/13, III/31; LSA Code ch. IV |
| Davit-launched | Inflated at the embarkation deck, boarded, then lowered by a davit with an automatic release hook | Passenger ships, some cargo ships where rafts must be davit-served | SOLAS III/21, III/31; LSA Code 4.1.4 and ch. VI |
| Self-righting | Throw-over or davit-launched; a buoyancy chamber rights the raft automatically after capsize | Ro-ro passenger ships; owners wanting extra rough-weather margin | SOLAS III/26 |
| Open-reversible | Container released or thrown; the raft works either side up, with no canopy | High-speed craft, fast ferries | HSC Code annex on open reversible liferafts |
| Polar variants | Same launching modes, with cold-weather construction and equipment | Ships certified for polar waters | Polar Code (MSC.385(94)) |

## Where does a throw-overboard liferaft fit?
The throw-overboard raft is the workhorse of the merchant fleet. It is packed in a rigid container in a deck cradle. The crew can launch it by hand, or it floats free through an HRU if the ship sinks. SOLAS III/13.4 requires float-free arrangements so the raft floats free and, if inflatable, inflates automatically.

Under SOLAS III/31, a conventional cargo ship typically carries totally enclosed lifeboats plus liferafts for everyone on board. If the rafts cannot easily be moved from one side of the ship to the other at a single open deck level, each side needs enough capacity for everyone. Cargo ships under 85 m (other than tankers) may use a liferaft-only arrangement instead, with at least 150% capacity on each side if the rafts are not easily transferable. Where the survival craft are more than 100 m from the stem or stern, an extra raft is required as far forward or aft as is reasonable and practicable.

Two limits in the LSA Code matter for stowage:
1. **Drop height.** Every liferaft must operate satisfactorily after an 18 m drop. If the stowage position is higher than 18 m above the lightest seagoing waterline, the raft type must have passed a drop test from at least that height. Our product listings state a maximum stowage height for this reason. The [ATOB throw-overboard series](/products/marine-safety-equipment/throw-overboard-inflatable-liferaft-atob-series-6-35-persons/) is listed for up to 50 m.
2. **Mass.** If a raft must be stowed for easy side-to-side transfer and is not launched by an approved launching appliance, its total mass (raft, container and equipment) may not exceed 185 kg. Larger capacities therefore tend to be davit-launched or stowed in fixed positions on each side.

## When is a davit-launched liferaft required?
Davit-launched rafts let people board at the embarkation deck and be lowered already inside the raft. That matters wherever passengers, elderly people or untrained persons must evacuate, or where the freeboard is high. SOLAS passenger ship rules (III/21) require liferafts served by launching appliances, and some cargo ship arrangements under III/31 need at least one side served by a launching appliance.

The LSA Code sets tougher construction rules for davit-launched rafts. They must withstand a lateral impact against the ship's side at 3.5 m/s and a 3 m drop into the water without damage that affects their function. They must also have a way to hold the raft alongside the embarkation deck during boarding. On cargo ships, the full complement of a davit-launched raft must be able to board within three minutes of the boarding instruction.

Buyers also need to plan the davit and its automatic release hook, which have their own servicing and load-test regime. For newbuilds and conversions, match the raft's lifting-point design and mass to the davit's safe working load. The [ADL davit-launched series](/products/marine-safety-equipment/davit-launched-inflatable-liferaft-adl-series-12-35-persons/) covers 12 to 35 persons.

## Who needs a self-righting liferaft?
A conventional canopied raft that capsizes must be righted by hand, which is hard for cold, exhausted or injured survivors. A self-righting raft has a buoyancy chamber, usually on top of the canopy, that turns it upright automatically.

SOLAS III/26 makes this a requirement for **ro-ro passenger ships**. Every liferaft must have a boarding ramp and must be either automatically self-righting or a canopied reversible liferaft that is stable in a seaway. There is an alternative: the ship may carry extra self-righting or canopied reversible rafts with capacity for at least 50% of persons not accommodated in lifeboats.

Outside ro-ro passenger service, self-righting rafts are optional but often chosen for offshore support vessels, exposed coastal routes and fishing fleets. Relevant options include the [SOLAS self-righting ASR series](/products/marine-safety-equipment/solas-self-righting-inflatable-liferaft-asr-series-6-100-persons/) (6 to 100 persons) and the [davit-launched self-righting ADLSR series](/products/marine-safety-equipment/davit-launched-self-righting-inflatable-liferaft-adlsr-series-12-39-persons/).

## What is an open-reversible liferaft, and who may use it?
An open-reversible liferaft has no canopy and floats and works whichever side lands up. This allows very fast mass embarkation, often straight from a marine evacuation system or from low-freeboard decks. The trade-off is less protection from weather and cold.

Open-reversible rafts are defined under the **HSC Code**, which accepts them for high-speed craft on routes with short rescue times and benign enough conditions. They are not a general substitute for SOLAS canopied rafts on conventional ships. Whether they are acceptable on a given craft depends on the craft's HSC certification and the flag administration. The [AOR open-reversible series](/products/marine-safety-equipment/open-reversible-inflatable-liferaft-aor-series-for-hsc-6-152-persons/) is supplied with an HSC pack for this reason.

## What changes for ships operating in polar waters?
The Polar Code (IMO resolution MSC.385(94) for the safety part, in force since 1 January 2017) applies to SOLAS ships operating in Arctic and Antarctic waters. It requires life-saving appliances to remain fully operational at the ship's **polar service temperature**. It also requires survival resources, such as personal and group survival equipment, for the *maximum expected time of rescue*, which may not be less than five days.

For liferafts, that generally means:
- insulated or double-layer canopies and floors for thermal protection;
- inflation systems and materials approved for low-temperature operation;
- stowage that limits ice accretion on containers and release gear;
- additional survival equipment beyond the standard SOLAS A pack, as set out in the ship's Polar Ship Certificate and operating manual.

Polar variants exist for each launching mode: throw-overboard, davit-launched and self-righting. One example is the [polar self-righting ASR+P series](/products/marine-safety-equipment/polar-self-righting-inflatable-liferaft-asr-p-series-6-50-persons/). Requirements depend on the ship's category (A, B or C) and its polar service temperature, so check the Polar Ship Certificate before specifying.

## What about fishing vessels and yachts?
SOLAS Chapter III generally does not apply to fishing vessels or pleasure yachts not engaged in trade. These vessels fall under national rules. For fishing vessels, those rules are sometimes based on the Torremolinos framework or regional codes. Some administrations accept liferafts certified to a national fishery standard, while others require SOLAS-approved rafts. The owner should confirm which certification the flag accepts before ordering.

## How should buyers specify a liferaft order?
A complete enquiry avoids the most common delays at dry-dock. Include:
1. Ship type, flag, class society and trading area (including any polar or HSC certification).
2. Launching method and stowage height above the lightest seagoing waterline.
3. Capacity per raft and the number of rafts per side, taken from the approved safety plan.
4. Equipment pack (SOLAS A, SOLAS B where permitted, or HSC pack).
5. Required approvals and certificates, such as flag-accepted type approval and marine equipment directive marking if relevant.
6. Accessories: HRU, cradle, painter line, davit lifting arrangements.

In our [merchant fleet renewal project](/projects/solas-liferaft-renewal-merchant-fleet/), MARS built a per-vessel raft schedule covering throw-overboard, davit-launched and self-righting rafts before quoting. That schedule was what kept deliveries to three dry-docks on track. For a quote against your ship's safety plan, [contact our team](/contact/).

## Frequently asked questions
### What is the minimum capacity of a SOLAS liferaft?
The LSA Code does not approve any liferaft with a carrying capacity of less than six persons. Smaller rafts exist for yachts and small craft, but they are not SOLAS liferafts.

### Do all passenger ships need self-righting liferafts?
No. SOLAS III/26 makes self-righting or canopied reversible rafts mandatory on ro-ro passenger ships. Other passenger ships may use conventional canopied rafts unless their flag state requires otherwise.

### Can a throw-overboard liferaft be stowed higher than 18 m?
Yes, but only if that raft type has passed a drop test from at least its stowage height. Check the maximum stowage height on the type approval certificate against your ship's arrangement.

### Is an open-reversible liferaft acceptable on a conventional cargo ship?
Generally not. Open-reversible rafts are provided for under the HSC Code for high-speed craft. Conventional SOLAS ships normally need canopied liferafts that comply with the LSA Code.

### What makes a liferaft "polar"?
A polar liferaft is designed and approved to work at low polar service temperatures. It typically has an insulated canopy and floor, low-temperature inflation and extra survival equipment. Exact requirements follow the ship's Polar Ship Certificate and flag-state guidance.