Course on the use of life jackets and life rafts
Why this course?
The Use of Life Jackets and Life Rafts
This course prepares you to act confidently and effectively in maritime emergencies. You will learn essential safety regulations, the operation and maintenance of life jackets and life rafts, and the most effective survival techniques. This program combines theory and practice to ensure you are ready to protect yourself and others.
Differentiating Advantages
- Practical Simulations: Real-world experience with safety equipment in controlled environments.
- Expert Instructors: Professionals with extensive experience in maritime safety and survival.
- Up-to-Date Knowledge: Information on the latest safety regulations and technologies.
- Leadership Skills: Develop the ability to guide and support others in crisis situations.
- Recognized Certification: Obtain a credential that validates your competence in maritime safety.
- Modality: Online
- Level: Cursos
- Hours: 150 H
- Start date: 26-07-2026
Availability: 1 in stock
Who is it aimed at?
- Recreational and professional vessel crew members seeking to in-depth knowledge of the operation, maintenance, and correct use of life jackets and life rafts.
- Safety managers in nautical companies and marinas who need to update their protocols and ensure regulatory compliance in rescue matters.
- Navigation instructors and nautical schools who wish to delve deeper into the technical and practical aspects of rescue equipment for comprehensive training.
- Maritime emergency and rescue personnel interested in optimizing their interventions through a thorough understanding of flotation and survival devices.
- Sailing and water sports enthusiasts seeking to increase their safety and be prepared for emergency situations.
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Learning Flexibility
Adapted to your pace: 24/7 accessible online content, simulated practical assessments, and personalized consultations with maritime safety experts.
Objectives and competencies
Ensuring survival in aquatic emergency situations:
“Use life jackets and rafts, demonstrating survival skills, first aid, and emergency communication.”
Mastering the techniques for putting on and using life jackets and life rafts correctly:
“Inspect, adjust, and operate safely and effectively, demonstrating knowledge of types, capabilities, and emergency procedures.”
Perform basic maintenance and inspection of life jackets and life rafts:
“Following the manufacturer’s instructions, detecting damage and replacing minor components.”
Effectively coordinate evacuation and rescue procedures in the water:
“Assess risks, assign roles and lead the execution of the emergency plan, ensuring the safety of people and minimizing damage to the environment.”
Implement prevention and response strategies for aquatic risks:
“Establish clear protocols for action, regular drills and continuous training in rescue techniques and first aid, adapted to the specific characteristics of the aquatic environment.”
To correctly interpret maritime safety regulations and recommendations:
Identify and apply the relevant SOLAS, MARPOL and convention regulations, adapting them to the specific operation and type of vessel.
Curriculum - Modules
- Comprehensive Maritime Incident Management: protocols, roles, and chain of command for coordinated response
- Operational Planning and Execution: briefing, routes, weather windows, and go/no-go criteria
- Rapid Risk Assessment: criticality matrix, scene control, and decision-making under pressure
- Operational Communication: VHF/GMDSS, standardized reports, and inter-agency liaison
- Tactical Mobility and Safe Boarding: RHIB maneuvers, approach, mooring, and recovery
- Equipment and Technologies: PPE, signaling, satellite tracking, and field data logging
- Immediate Care of the Affected: primary assessment, hypothermia, trauma, and stabilization for evacuation
- Adverse Environmental Conditions: swell, Visibility, flows, and operational mitigation
Simulation and training: critical scenarios, use of VR/AR, and exercises with performance metrics
Documentation and continuous improvement: lessons learned, indicators (MTTA/MTTR), and SOP updates
- Introduction to Maritime Safety Equipment: Regulations and Standards
- Life Jackets: Types, Characteristics, Selection, and Correct Use
- Maintenance and Inspection of Life Jackets: Procedures and Records
- Life Rafts: Types, Capacities, Deployment, and Operation
- Emergency Equipment in Life Rafts: Description and Use
- Survival at Sea: Basic Techniques and First Aid
- Abandon Ship Procedures: Preparation and Drills
- Launching and Retrieving Life Rafts: Methods and Precautions
- National and International Legislation on Lifesaving Equipment
- Inspection and Certification of Life Rafts: Requirements and Frequency
‘
- Types of life jackets: SOLAS classification, inflatable and foam life jackets.
- Regulations and certifications: ISO standards, DGMM approval.
- Maintenance and inspection: procedures, frequency, and records.
- Proper use of life jackets: adjustment, activation, and special considerations (children, people with reduced mobility).
- Life rafts: types, capacities, and emergency equipment.
- Deployment and launching of life rafts: manual and automatic, emergency procedures.
- Life raft survival: resource management, first aid, and distress signals.
- Signaling equipment: flares, smoke signals, and EPIRBs.
- Drills and training: procedures, evaluation, and continuous improvement.
- Specific considerations: maritime environment, water temperature, and estimated rescue duration.
‘
- Introduction to Emergency Equipment: Types and Regulations (SOLAS, IMO)
- Life Jackets: Types, Components, Testing, and Maintenance
- Inflatable Life Jackets: Activation, Recharging, and Precautions
- Life Rafts: Types (Free Launch, Stowed), Capacity, and Stowage
- Life Raft Equipment: Rations, Water, Signals, First Aid Kit
- Abandon Ship Procedures: Signals, Raft Assignment, and Safety
- Raft Launching and Deployment: Techniques, Risks, and Solutions
- Survival at Sea: Hypothermia, Dehydration, and First Aid
- Distress Signals: Types and Use Proper and communication
- Inspection and maintenance of life jackets and rafts: Checklists and records
‘
- International Standards and Regulations on Life Jackets and Life Rafts: SOLAS, IMO, ISO
- Types of Life Jackets: Characteristics, Uses, and Limitations (Inflatable, Foam, etc.)
- Inspection and Maintenance of Life Jackets: Procedures, Checklist, and Frequency
- Additional Equipment on Life Jackets: Lights, Whistles, Reflectors
- Types of Life Rafts: Capacity, Equipment, and Deployment (Free Launch, Hoisting)
- Life Raft Launching and Deployment Procedures: Manual and Automatic
- Emergency Equipment on Life Rafts: Rations, Water, First Aid Kit, Signals
- Life Raft Survival: Rationing Techniques, Water Purification, Weather Protection
- Distress signals: flares, smoke, EPIRB beacons, SART
- Ship abandonment training and drills: procedures and crew roles
‘
- System Architecture and Components: Structural design, materials, and subsystems (mechanical, electrical, electronic, and fluid) with selection and assembly criteria for marine environments
- Fundamentals and Principles of Operation: Physical and engineering foundations (thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, electricity, control, and materials) that explain performance and operating limits
- Safety and Environmental (SHE): Risk analysis, PPE, LOTO, hazardous atmospheres, spill and waste management, and emergency response plans
- Applicable Regulations and Standards: IMO/ISO/IEC requirements and local regulations;
- Conformance criteria, certification, and best practices for operation and maintenance
- Inspection, testing, and diagnostics: Visual/dimensional inspection, functional testing, data analysis, and predictive techniques (vibration, thermography, fluid analysis) to identify root causes
- Preventive and predictive maintenance: Hourly/cycle/seasonal plans, lubrication, adjustments, calibrations, consumable replacement, post-service verification, and operational reliability
- Instrumentation, tools, and metrology: Measuring and testing equipment, diagnostic software, calibration and traceability; selection criteria, safe use, and storage
- Onboard integration and interfaces: Mechanical, electrical, fluid, and data compatibility; Sealing and watertightness, EMC/EMI, corrosion protection, and interoperability testing.
Quality, acceptance testing, and commissioning: process and materials control, FAT/SAT, bench and sea trials, go/no-go criteria, and evidence documentation.
Technical documentation and integrated practice: logs, checklists, reports, and a complete case study (safety → diagnosis → intervention → verification → report) applicable to any system.
Plan de estudio - Módulos
- Comprehensive Maritime Incident Management: protocols, roles, and chain of command for coordinated response
- Operational Planning and Execution: briefing, routes, weather windows, and go/no-go criteria
- Rapid Risk Assessment: criticality matrix, scene control, and decision-making under pressure
- Operational Communication: VHF/GMDSS, standardized reports, and inter-agency liaison
- Tactical Mobility and Safe Boarding: RHIB maneuvers, approach, mooring, and recovery
- Equipment and Technologies: PPE, signaling, satellite tracking, and field data logging
- Immediate Care of the Affected: primary assessment, hypothermia, trauma, and stabilization for evacuation
- Adverse Environmental Conditions: swell, Visibility, flows, and operational mitigation
Simulation and training: critical scenarios, use of VR/AR, and exercises with performance metrics
Documentation and continuous improvement: lessons learned, indicators (MTTA/MTTR), and SOP updates
- Introduction to Maritime Safety Equipment: Regulations and Standards
- Life Jackets: Types, Characteristics, Selection, and Correct Use
- Maintenance and Inspection of Life Jackets: Procedures and Records
- Life Rafts: Types, Capacities, Deployment, and Operation
- Emergency Equipment in Life Rafts: Description and Use
- Survival at Sea: Basic Techniques and First Aid
- Abandon Ship Procedures: Preparation and Drills
- Launching and Retrieving Life Rafts: Methods and Precautions
- National and International Legislation on Lifesaving Equipment
- Inspection and Certification of Life Rafts: Requirements and Frequency
‘
- Types of life jackets: SOLAS classification, inflatable and foam life jackets.
- Regulations and certifications: ISO standards, DGMM approval.
- Maintenance and inspection: procedures, frequency, and records.
- Proper use of life jackets: adjustment, activation, and special considerations (children, people with reduced mobility).
- Life rafts: types, capacities, and emergency equipment.
- Deployment and launching of life rafts: manual and automatic, emergency procedures.
- Life raft survival: resource management, first aid, and distress signals.
- Signaling equipment: flares, smoke signals, and EPIRBs.
- Drills and training: procedures, evaluation, and continuous improvement.
- Specific considerations: maritime environment, water temperature, and estimated rescue duration.
‘
- Introduction to Emergency Equipment: Types and Regulations (SOLAS, IMO)
- Life Jackets: Types, Components, Testing, and Maintenance
- Inflatable Life Jackets: Activation, Recharging, and Precautions
- Life Rafts: Types (Free Launch, Stowed), Capacity, and Stowage
- Life Raft Equipment: Rations, Water, Signals, First Aid Kit
- Abandon Ship Procedures: Signals, Raft Assignment, and Safety
- Raft Launching and Deployment: Techniques, Risks, and Solutions
- Survival at Sea: Hypothermia, Dehydration, and First Aid
- Distress Signals: Types and Use Proper and communication
- Inspection and maintenance of life jackets and rafts: Checklists and records
‘
- International Standards and Regulations on Life Jackets and Life Rafts: SOLAS, IMO, ISO
- Types of Life Jackets: Characteristics, Uses, and Limitations (Inflatable, Foam, etc.)
- Inspection and Maintenance of Life Jackets: Procedures, Checklist, and Frequency
- Additional Equipment on Life Jackets: Lights, Whistles, Reflectors
- Types of Life Rafts: Capacity, Equipment, and Deployment (Free Launch, Hoisting)
- Life Raft Launching and Deployment Procedures: Manual and Automatic
- Emergency Equipment on Life Rafts: Rations, Water, First Aid Kit, Signals
- Life Raft Survival: Rationing Techniques, Water Purification, Weather Protection
- Distress signals: flares, smoke, EPIRB beacons, SART
- Ship abandonment training and drills: procedures and crew roles
‘
- System Architecture and Components: Structural design, materials, and subsystems (mechanical, electrical, electronic, and fluid) with selection and assembly criteria for marine environments
- Fundamentals and Principles of Operation: Physical and engineering foundations (thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, electricity, control, and materials) that explain performance and operating limits
- Safety and Environmental (SHE): Risk analysis, PPE, LOTO, hazardous atmospheres, spill and waste management, and emergency response plans
- Applicable Regulations and Standards: IMO/ISO/IEC requirements and local regulations;
- Conformance criteria, certification, and best practices for operation and maintenance
- Inspection, testing, and diagnostics: Visual/dimensional inspection, functional testing, data analysis, and predictive techniques (vibration, thermography, fluid analysis) to identify root causes
- Preventive and predictive maintenance: Hourly/cycle/seasonal plans, lubrication, adjustments, calibrations, consumable replacement, post-service verification, and operational reliability
- Instrumentation, tools, and metrology: Measuring and testing equipment, diagnostic software, calibration and traceability; selection criteria, safe use, and storage
- Onboard integration and interfaces: Mechanical, electrical, fluid, and data compatibility; Sealing and watertightness, EMC/EMI, corrosion protection, and interoperability testing.
Quality, acceptance testing, and commissioning: process and materials control, FAT/SAT, bench and sea trials, go/no-go criteria, and evidence documentation.
Technical documentation and integrated practice: logs, checklists, reports, and a complete case study (safety → diagnosis → intervention → verification → report) applicable to any system.
- Types of Life Jackets: Classification, SOLAS regulations, capacities.
- Inspection and Maintenance of Life Jackets: Procedures, frequency, records.
- Proper Use of a Life Jacket: Adjustment, donning in different situations, immersion.
- Types of Life Rafts: Capacity, emergency equipment, deployment.
- Raft Activation Mechanisms: Manual, hydrostatic, emergency procedures.
- Raft Survival Equipment: Water, food, signals, first aid kit.
- Abandon Ship Procedures: Roles and responsibilities, communication, safe evacuation.
- Survival Techniques at Sea: Maintaining body heat, obtaining drinking water, signals Emergency response.
- Exercises and drills: Abandonment drills, equipment familiarization, coordination.
- Relevant regulations and legislation: SOLAS, international conventions, national regulations.
‘
- Regulations and Standards: SOLAS, ISO, EN, National Regulations
- Types of Life Jackets: inflatable, foam, hybrid; uses and limitations
- Types of Life Rafts: self-inflating, launchable; capacity and deployment
- Maintenance and Inspection of Life Jackets and Rafts: checklist, frequency, repairs
- Life Jacket Components: whistles, lights, reflective tape; Batteries and activation
Life raft equipment: rations, water, first aid kit, distress signals
Emergency procedures: abandoning ship, use of life jackets and life rafts
Water survival techniques: flotation, signaling, rescue
Storage and stowage: location, access, protection from damage
Training and drills: personnel training, equipment familiarization
‘
- Introduction to Maritime Safety Equipment: Regulations and Types
- Life Jackets: Types, Regulations (SOLAS), Characteristics and Proper Use
- Maintenance and Inspection of Life Jackets: Procedures and Frequency
- Life Rafts: Types, Capacities, Components and Operation
- Deployment and Boarding of Life Rafts: Emergency Procedures
- Survival Equipment in Life Rafts: Rations, Water, Signals
- Distress Signals: Flares, Smoke Signals, Radio Transmitters (EPIRB, SART)
- Maintenance and Inspection of Life Rafts: Procedures and Regulations
- Ship Abandonment Drills: Practice with Life Jackets and Life Rafts
- International Legislation and Regulations: Relevant Amendments and Updates
‘
- Types of Life Jackets: SOLAS regulations, capacities, materials, activation.
- Life Jacket Maintenance and Inspection: Procedures, frequency, record keeping.
- Proper Use of a Life Jacket: Adjustment, donning in different situations, distress signals.
- Types of Life Rafts: Capacity, emergency equipment, manual and automatic launching.
- Life Raft Maintenance and Inspection: Hydrostatic testing, equipment check, spare parts.
- Deployment of a Life Raft: Safe procedures, environmental factors, risks.
- Survival in a Life Raft: Resource management (water, food), first aid, communication.
- Distress Signals: Use of flares, Radio beacons (EPIRBs), search and rescue transponders (SARTs).
- Applicable legislation and regulations: Compliance with international standards, certifications.
- Drills and training: Emergency preparedness, improved response.
‘
Career opportunities
- Seafarer Crew: Compliance with safety and emergency procedures.
- Offshore Platform Personnel: Familiarization with evacuation and survival equipment.
- Fishing Industry Personnel: Correct use of life jackets and rafts in hazardous situations.
- Lifeguards: Rescue and assistance to people in danger in the water.
- Recreational Craft Personnel: Knowledge and application of navigational safety measures.
- Port Workers: Preparedness for emergencies in maritime environments.
- Cruise and Ferry Personnel: Assistance to passengers in evacuation situations.
- Maritime Safety Instructors: Training in the use of lifesaving equipment.
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Admission requirements
Academic/professional profile:
Degree/Bachelor's degree in Nautical Science/Maritime Transport, Naval/Marine Engineering, or a related field; or proven professional experience in bridge/operations.
Language proficiency:
Recommended functional maritime English (SMCP) for simulations and technical materials.
5. Induction
Updated resume, copy of degree or seaman's book, ID card/passport, letter of motivation.
Technical requirements (for online):
Equipment with camera/microphone, stable connection, ≥ 24” monitor recommended for ECDIS/Radar-ARPA.
Admission process and dates
1. Online
application
(form + documents).
2. Academic review and interview
(profile/objectives/schedule compatibility).
3. Admission decision
(+ scholarship proposal if applicable).
4. Reservation of place
(deposit) and registration.
5. Induction
(access to campus, calendars, simulator guides).
Scholarships and grants
- Know the Types: Learn to identify and select the appropriate life jacket or life raft for each situation.
- Usage Techniques: Master the correct donning, inflation, and maintenance techniques for maximum effectiveness.
- Survival at Sea: Acquire essential skills to increase your chances of survival in an emergency.
- Regulations and Safety: Familiarize yourself with current regulations and best practices for maritime safety.
- Practical Drills: Participate in realistic exercises to test your knowledge and gain confidence.
Testimonials
During a ship abandonment drill, I reacted calmly and efficiently thanks to my training. I located and correctly put on my life jacket in less than a minute, and then assisted other passengers in distress. Upon reaching the life raft, I helped deploy and safely board, following all the protocols I had learned.
I applied the survival techniques I had learned during an unexpected engine failure on my sailboat, 20 miles offshore. Thanks to the calm and efficient way I deployed the emergency beacon and prepared the life raft, rescue arrived quickly and everyone on board was safely evacuated.
“During the ship abandonment drill, I was able to put on my life jacket in less than 30 seconds and access the raft in an orderly and efficient manner thanks to the training I received. I feel much safer in the water now that I know how to act in an emergency.”
During a simulated abandon ship exercise, I was able to put on my life jacket in less than 15 seconds and assist two comrades in distress, calmly guiding them towards the life raft and helping them board safely.
Frequently asked questions
During navigation in small boats, in rough waters or in bad weather.
Yes. The itinerary includes ECDIS/Radar-ARPA/BRM with harbor, ocean, fog, storm, and SAR scenarios.
Online with live sessions; hybrid option for simulator/practical placements through agreements.
During navigation in small boats, in rough waters or in bad weather.
Recommended functional SMCP. We offer support materials for standard phraseology.
Yes, with a relevant degree or experience in maritime/port operations. The admissions interview will confirm suitability.
Optional (3–6 months) through Companies & Collaborations and the Alumni Network.
Simulator practice (rubrics), defeat plans, SOPs, checklists, micro-tests and applied TFM.
A degree from Navalis Magna University + operational portfolio (tracks, SOPs, reports and KPIs) useful for audits and employment.
- Types of Life Jackets: SOLAS regulations, capacities, materials, activation.
- Life Jacket Maintenance and Inspection: Procedures, frequency, record keeping.
- Proper Use of a Life Jacket: Adjustment, donning in different situations, distress signals.
- Types of Life Rafts: Capacity, emergency equipment, manual and automatic launching.
- Life Raft Maintenance and Inspection: Hydrostatic testing, equipment check, spare parts.
- Deployment of a Life Raft: Safe procedures, environmental factors, risks.
- Survival in a Life Raft: Resource management (water, food), first aid, communication.
- Distress Signals: Use of flares, Radio beacons (EPIRBs), search and rescue transponders (SARTs).
- Applicable legislation and regulations: Compliance with international standards, certifications.
- Drills and training: Emergency preparedness, improved response.
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Request information
- Complete the Application Form
- Attach your CV/Qualifications (if you have them to hand).
- Indicate your preferred cohort (January/May/September) and whether you want the hybrid option with simulator sessions.
Teachers
Eng. Tomás Riera
Full Professor
Eng. Tomás Riera
Full Professor
Naval engineer specializing in the selection, integration, and optimization of propulsion systems for yachts, high-speed craft, and service vessels.
Eng. Sofía Marquina
Full Professor
Eng. Sofía Marquina
Full Professor
Materials engineer specializing in marine composites and corrosion protection systems for ships, yachts, and port structures.
Eng. Javier Bañuls
Full Professor
Eng. Javier Bañuls
Full Professor
Naval electrical engineer with over fifteen years of experience in the design, integration, and operation of power and automation systems.
Dr. Nuria Llobregat
Full Professor
Dr. Nuria Llobregat
Full Professor
Specialist in meteorological and operational decision-making for coastal and offshore navigation, integrating wind, wave, and current models.
Dr. Pau Ferrer
Full Professor
Dr. Pau Ferrer
Full Professor
Naval engineer with a PhD in applied hydrodynamics and over a decade of experience designing high-performance hulls and marine structures.
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)
Full Professor
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)
Full Professor
MCA-certified captain with command of ocean-going vessels, specializing in advanced maneuvering, navigation management, and bridge safety.