What type of pack do the life rafts carry?

The life rafts on Fast Response Cutters are required to carry a SOLAS A pack. This is designed in accordance with the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention, which sets minimum safety standards for merchant ships. The SOLAS A pack encompasses essential survival equipment and supplies intended for use in oceanic environments, including signaling devices, food, water, first aid supplies, and other survival gear that can be crucial in a life-threatening situation at sea. The goal of this pack is to enhance the chances of survival until rescue can be achieved.

In contrast to the SOLAS A pack, the SOLAS B pack is less comprehensive and is tailored for use on ships that operate in coastal regions, which may not require the extensive equipment needed for open ocean survival. Coastal Emergency packs and Inland Waters packs, on the other hand, are designed for specific, limited geographic areas and do not include the same level of safety provisions necessary for longer durations at sea, making them unsuitable for the operational requirements of a Fast Response Cutter.