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RightShip Guide

THE DEEPDRAFT · RIGHTSHIP PREPARATION

Liferaft stowage and hydrostatic releases

RISQ 4.19Section 4 · ISM SystemSource marking: V & M

Applicability: All vessel types; apply the equipment and operational conditions stated in this entry.

What is being checked

Rafts can be released correctly and float-free arrangements are maintained.

Ready on board

0 / 6 checked

Check the vessel’s actual procedures, equipment and records against these points from RISQ 3.2.

Check raft condition and service/HRU maintenance evidence; match capacity and stowage to the ship’s arrangement.For transferable rafts on one open deck level, provide total-person capacity; if easy side-to-side transfer is unavailable, have that capacity on each side.With a free-fall lifeboat, have full-person raft capacity on each side and launching appliances serving at least one side.Check painter attachment, float-free arrangements and ability to manually release one raft/container at a time, subject to the source’s forward-raft exception.Follow HRU maker arrangements; if multiple rafts share an HRU, each has its own weak link. The source says forward-stowed rafts do not require an HRU.For davit rafts, check the automatic release arrangement and setting indication; the separate on-load control requires at least two actions and is clearly distinguished from automatic release.

Practice questions

Preparation prompts derived from this entry, not an official inspector interview script.

1Can two rafts on one HRU share a single weak link?

No. The source requires a separate weak link for each raft.

2Is an HRU required on the forward raft under this entry?

The PDF states that an HRU is not required for rafts stowed in the forward part of the vessel.

Where a finding may arise

Missing evidence, ineffective implementation or defects in the arrangements listed above may prevent a satisfactory answer to this question.

Past observations for practice

Anonymised reports, manually reviewed before publication. These are reported experiences, not additional inspection requirements.

No reviewed observations have been added for this entry.

Share an observation for private review

Remove vessel, company and inspector names, report numbers, exact dates and confidential information. Do not paste a complete inspection report.

References and source status

RightShip Inspection Ship Questionnaire, November 2025, version 3.2. Section 4, page 57, reference 4.19.

The explanation, checklist and practice answer derive from the supplied questionnaire. Reported observations are separately contributed and manually reviewed; they are not official RISQ guidance.

Independent DeepDraft preparation guide, based on the supplied RISQ 3.2 questionnaire. Not an official RightShip product or inspection report.