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Los botes salvavidas hinchables pueden estar equipados con bombonas de [[dióxido de carbono]] o bombas mecánicas para facilitar su hinchado. De esta forma, un mecanismo hincha rápidamente el bote al tiempo que lo libera del buque madre. Los aviones comerciales están obligados a portar botes salvavidas hinchables en caso de un [[amerizaje]] de emergencia. También se tienen en plataformas petrolíferas y similares.
[[Categoría:Tipos de barcos]] ▼== Botes salvavidas lanzados desde barcos ==
[[Imagen:Life raft.jpg|thumb|Un bote salvavidas hinchable]]
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These are large [[whaleboat]]s designed to be lowered from [[davit]]s on a ship's deck. They are designed to be unsinkable, with buoyancy that cannot be damaged. They have a cover that can be erected to form a storm shelter and sunshade. The cover can usually collect rainwater, and is visible from the air. They usually carry flares and mirrors for signaling, three days of food and water, oars, an engine, heater and basic navigational equipment.
The [[International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea]] (SOLAS) and the [[International Life-Saving Appliance Code]] (LSA) require a specific list of emergency equipment to be carried on each lifeboat and liferaft used on international voyages. Modern lifeboats should also carry an [[Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon]] (EPIRB) and either a [[radar reflector]] or [[search and rescue radar transponder]].
Traditionally lifeboats for passages in the [[Pacific]] or [[Indian Ocean]]s were thought unsafe unless they permitted self-rescue. Thus these traditionally included [[sailing]] equipment, [[navigation]]al equipment, solar water stills, rainwater catchments and [[fishing]] equipment. Lifeboats for the [[North Sea]] include an electric heater for the engine oil, which is left on in cold weather.
[[Image:Amandine33.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Inflatable lifeboat, in hard-shelled canister]]
A very commonly used lifeboat is a 25-man inflatable; in the [[United States Navy]] it is named the Mark 6. The lifeboat is compact and made of separate compartments, or ''tubes'', as a redundancy against puncture. [[Carbon dioxide]] canisters and hand [[pumps|pump]] facilitate inflation of the vessel. A built-in canopy is often included as part of a lifeboat against harsh weather. Lifeboats furthermore carry essential [[survival kit|survival gear]], including food, water, [[Water purification|de-salter]] kits, bags, sea [[dye]], [[first aid]] kits, [[fishing]] kits, light/smoke distress signals (Mark 13), and [[heliograph]] [[mirror]]s.
Most yachts carry lifeboats. Some use dual-purpose [[dinghy|dinghies]], often with the express plan of self-rescue, while others use inflatable life-rafts. The equipment and arrangements are very similar to larger commercial lifeboats.
==Origins of the lifeboats onboard ships==
[[Image:Titanic lifeboat.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Lifeboat carrying passengers from the sunken RMS ''Titanic.'']]
By the turn of the [[20th Century]] larger ships meant more people could travel, but safety rules in regard with lifeboats stayed out of date. It was after the sinking of the [[RMS Titanic|RMS ''Titanic'']] on [[April 15]], [[1912]], that a movement began to require a sufficient number of lifeboats on passenger ships for all people on board.
The need for so many more lifeboats on the decks of passenger ships after [[1912]] led to the use of most of the deck space available even on the large ships, creating the problem of restricted passageways. This was resolved by the introduction of collapsible lifeboats, a number of which had been installed on the ''Titanic'' (see [[Birthon Boat]] Company).
[[Image:engine.room.of.lifeboat.17-31.arp.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The engine room of a [[Severn class lifeboat]]. This is the largest class of UK lifeboat, 17 metres long, with a crew of seven. Two [[diesel engine]]s can be seen, each of 1250 HP]]
[[Image:controls.of.lifeboat.17-31.arp.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Part of the main control panel of a [[Severn class lifeboat]]]]
The [[ship's tender]]s of modern [[cruise ship]]s are often designed to double as lifeboats.
Also see the discussion in [[dinghy]] and [[liferaft]].
==Modern life boats==
Modern [[motor life boat]]s (MLB) originated as life boats that had been modified with the addition of an [[Internal combustion engine|engine]] and provided more power to get in and out of the swell area inside the surf. They can be launched from shore in any weather and perform rescues further distances out. Older lifeboats relied on sails and oars, which are slower and dependent on wind conditions or manpower. Both types remain in use. All lifeboats of this type generally have modern electronic devices such as [[Marine VHF radio|radios]] and [[radar]] to help locate the party in distress and carry medical and food supplies for the survivors.
[[Image:47mlbBigSurf.jpg|thumb|left|200px|A 47 [[Motor life boat|MLB]] charges through the surf]]
The MLB was initially developed by the [[United States Life Saving Service]] in [[1899]], of which models derived from this hull design remained in use until [[1987]]. The United States Life Saving Service later would become the [[United States Coast Guard]] and continue in its original mission of saving lives.
The [[Royal National Lifeboat Institution]] (or RNLI) maintains lifeboats around the coasts of the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Republic of Ireland]], manned by unpaid volunteers with equipment funded through voluntary donation - web-site at [http://www.rnli.org.uk www.rnli.org.uk]. Most [[Scandinavia]]n countries also have volunteer lifeboat societies. The local branch of a society generally schedules practices, maintains a lifeboat and shed, and is contacted by commercial marine radio operators when a rescue is needed.
In [[Australasia]], [[surf lifesaving]] clubs operate inflatable rescue boats (IRB) for in-shore rescues of swimmers and surfers. These boats are best typified by the rubber Zodiac and are powered by an outboard motor. The rescue personnel wear wet suits.
The [[Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boat]] (RIB) is now seen as the best type of craft for in-shore rescues as they are less likely to be tipped over by the wind or breakers. Specially designed [[jetboat|Jet]] rescue boats have also been used successfully. Unlike ordinary pleasure craft, these small to medium sized rescue craft often have very low freeboard so that victims can be taken aboard without lifting. This means that the boats are designed to operate with water inside the boat hull and rely on flotation tanks rather than hull displacement to stay afloat and upright.
[[Image:Lifeboat_tender.jpg|right|250px|thumb|[[ship's tender|Lifeboat tender]] of the ''[[MS Oosterdam|Oosterdam]]'' showing the "face mask" over the front windows, and the rolled-up tarp that can be brought down over the entry port to make the boat watertight]]
The Dutch lifeboat association (KNRM) has put many efforts in developing jet-driven RIB lifeboats. This had resulted in 3 classes. The largest is the "Arie Visser-class: length 18,80 m, twin jet, 2 x 1000 hp, max. speed 35 kts, capacity 120 persons.
Lifeboats are also operated inland at specific events, organisations such as the [[Royal Life Saving Society UK|Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS UK)]] provide coverage of rivers, lakes and such like.
==External references==
{{commonscat|lifeboats}}
* [http://www.sea-rescue.de/english/ Life Boat Services Around the World]
* [http://www.titanic-titanic.com/lifeboats.shtml Titanic's Lifeboats]
* [http://www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/ Garde côtière canadienne] Canadian Coast Guard
* [http://www.uscg.mil USCG National Motor Life Boat School] USCG Station Cape Disappointment, WA
* [http://www.rnli.org.uk/ Royal National Lifeboat Institution] United Kingdom
{{wiktionarypar|lifeboat}}
* [http://www.astronautix.com/craftfam/rescue.htm Historic overview of lifeboats in space]
*[http://www.lifeboats24-7.com Lifeboats24-7 - The Leading Maritime Search & Rescue Resource Site]
*[http://www.independent-lifeboats.org.uk/ Independent Lifeboat Stations of the UK (Non RNLI)]
[[Category:Boat types]]
[[Category:English inventions]]
[[Category:Rescue equipment]]
[[Category:Lifeboats]]
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▲[[Categoría:Tipos de barcos]]
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