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For nearly 100 years, ocean going vessels have carried evacuation craft. Completely open to the elements, lifeboats originally were built with no apparent consideration for the human beings that would be accommodated, often waiting for days to be rescued.
Even though advancements have been made in nearly every other aspect of vessel construction and functionality, the lifeboats in use today have remained virtually unchanged for nearly a century. Fortunately, the maritime community has begun to recognize that standards need to be set not only for the safety of personnel in need of a lifeboat, but also for the usability and habitability of equipment.
The Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention (established in 1914 in response to the Titanic disaster) set basic lifeboat design requirements. Based on these standards and those set forth by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), changes regarding the design and requirements of lifeboats are beginning to take place.