in the solas convention and other maritime related standards, the safety of human life is paramount. ships and other watercraft carry life saving appliances including lifeboats, lifebuoys, life-jackets, life raft and many others. passengers and crew are informed of their availability in case of emergency. life-saving appliances are mandatory as per chapter 3 of the solas convention. the international life-saving appliance (lsa) code gives specific technical requirements for the manufacture, maintenance and record keeping of life-saving appliances. the number and type of life-saving appliances differ from vessel to vessel, and the code gives a minimum requirement to comply in order to make a ship seaworthy.