Ditch Bags & Emergency Gear
The hierarchy of life raft survival packs ranges from a basic emergency kit (E-type) that the manufacturer puts together to the internationally standardized Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) A-package, which is more comprehensive and nearly twice as heavy as the E-type kits. The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) have their own guidelines for what should be included in the packs, and these kits tend to be less comprehensive than commercial-grade SOLAS A (offshore) and B (coastal) survival packs.
In our view, none of these standardized packages is ideal. Even those sailors who have a customized life raft survival kit should be prepared to pack additional gear and supplies in an overboard bag.
The contents of all life raft survival packs can be divided into three categories: vessel gear, crew aids, and signaling equipment. Vessel gear includes items like paddles, a heaving device, a bailer and a drogue-equipment that helps in recovering crew, getting away from a sinking or burning vessel, and keeping the life raft afloat.
The essentials packed for crew well-being included seasickness medication, sunblock, and reflective coveralls that help conserve body heat-similar to emergency “space blankets.”
For signaling equipment, the more diverse your distress signaling ability, the greater your chance of rescue. Flares, flashlights, and mirrors are a must but more technological options like EPIRBs, 406MHz Personal Locator Beacons (PLB), a portable satellite phone, a cost-effective, 121.5MHz handheld, aviation VHF transceiver for contacting planes overhead and a handheld VHF should all be seriously considered.
For more information on life raft survival packs, purchase Practical Sailors downloadable ebook, Survival at Sea, Volume 2: Ditch Bags & Emergency Gear today!
