A lifeboat is a rigid or inflatable boat planned to save the lives of people in trouble at sea. The term has somewhat special meanings in British and American usage. The British usage emphasizes particular vessels kept in harbor or near a harbor, often manned by volunteers, considered to quickly reach a ship in trouble. The term "lifeboat" in American usage normally refers to rigid or inflatable vessels accepted by larger ships to allow passengers and crew to escape in an emergency.
The first boat expert as a lifeboat was tested on the River Tyne on January 29, 1790. William would have and Lionel Lufkin both claim to be the inventor of the first lifeboat. One example of an early lifeboat was the Land guard Fort Lifeboat of 1821, considered by Richard Hall Gower.
In U.S. waters, rescue-at-sea is part of the duty of the United States Coast Guard, which employs its multipurpose ships and aircraft in this role. The Coast Guard is also responsible for making sure that the proper type and number of lifeboats (American usage) is available and kept in good repair on any large ship. "Lifeboat drills" are a division of a cruise experience.
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