There are two types of deployment of inflatable life rafts, namely, mechanical lifting and throwing. The mechanically suspended raft has been inflated before entering the water; Throwing liferafts are inflated and formed on the sea surface. During the process of inflatable forming, the liferafts may be overturned, so they need to be manually launched and straightened before they can be used for boarding.

Life rafts refer to the boat gear without self-propelled ability for life saving on board. There is a certain amount of food and fresh water in the life raft for the crew to drift at sea for rescue. Life rafts can be divided into rigid life rafts and inflatable life rafts according to their structural forms.